Working and Pregnant « Back to Group Discussions

[Sweet Huck]

Anyone else out there finding it challenging to juggle pregnancy and full time work?  I sure am.

My reliable work clothes are suddenly not fitting (BOOBS!!), I keep puking during my commute and in the office, I have to pee 100 times a day, and I am pretty much brain-fried and good for nothing. I struggle to make it through the day and once I get home, I pass out on the couch before 8 pm. Cooking, laundry, cleaning, and bills are piling up fast... but I simply am too exhausted, having spent all my energy trying to get through the day at work.

I'm in awe of other mamas-to-be who work more demanding jobs, or who have to juggle other kids around once they get home. I simply cannot imagine! Ya'll are amazing.

I am not planning on telling my boss for as long as I can get away with it. He's not a very perceptive guy, though, so maybe I'll be lucky and he won't realize I'm pregnant until I hit week 40. ; )   

 Tips for juggling work, pregnancy, and life are welcome!

Anyone got any good and easy crock-pot recipes?!

[jr'smom]

I feel you!  Unfortunately my best recommendation is a good stay at home husband!  Thank God for mine! 

I only work 3 days a week but I work 12-14 hours those days on my feet without a break (other than running to the bathroom when I can and eating lunch while I do some paperwork.)

I get up everyday and wonder HOW am I going to do it today?  How have I done this 4 times before?  Is it just worse this time because I'm older?  When will it get better?

Well, this morning I was beyond my normal nauseous and fatigued.  I had a pounding headache (that started yesterday) and swollen ankles and dizziness and weakness.  I decided to call in sick. (I am the owner and believe it or not that actually makes it harder!)  I discovered I'm really anemic.  I'm glad to have an answer and hopefully when I get my iron levels up I won't be as fatigued as before. That would be great!  I feel like 100 years old!

[mamacatsbaby]

I've never worked a FT WOHM job while PG so hats off to all who do. I'd be (yes, I really would be all these ) . I did have a PT job with my pregnancies with my boys though and that was hard enough! Yes, good support at home was key for me as well.

Some crockpot ideas I have are salmon chowder, turkey legs, veggie soup, and chili off the top of my head. Sorry I can't help in the recipes department as I usually work it out when I'm putting things together lol. Good luck though! I feel for you.

[staycalm]

I work full time too, and it has been hard. I am super distracted and tired all the time. I have a million little snacks stashed away so depending on what I feel like, I can munch on something (which helps with the nausea!). I also have had to go to the bathroom a zillion times, and my clothes are not fitting right anymore. I haven't told anyone at work, and hope to keep it under wraps for a least a couple more months.  I have noticed I have been cooking MUCH easier recipes lately (like soups, spaghetti, left-overs...) It is hard to come home and cook when I don't feel good!

[shanna-cat]

this is my first pregnancy working FT and man is it hard!! My job requires me to be very active and on the move, and I'm not ready to tell my clients yet that I'm pregnant so I am constantly reminding myself to normally energetic. I have been carrying around dried fruit with me everywhere- especially dried apples and mangos and snacking as much as possible. I also have a few little tins of mints that I use when I become especially nauseated. Thankfully I don't really vomit while prego, just feel cruddy all day long so I haven't had to deal with puking in front of clients and co- workers.

I keep reminding myself that the next 8 months are my last at this position (contract ends in July and I'll have a new babe) so I better enjoy it now!

As far as dinners go my kids have been eating a lot of scrambled eggs, soup, tacos, and other easy mom-doesn't-have-to-do-anything meals. I just don't have the energy to plan or cook good meals these days.  

[dayiscoming2006]

I remember when I was working full time early in pregnancy with my first. It sucked so bad. I actually was fed up with my job. I was working at walmart and they don't treat you that well. And my hubby was making enough money to support us, so I called in one day and said I'm not coming to work. I would not normally give such short notice, but I was pretty mad at them for various reasons and just fed up. I went to work part-time later in the pregnancy for the college my dad worked for and that was nice because it was really EASY work. It was cashiering and you could just sit and ring things up. I stopped working once my first was born. I am so thankful. I feel for you guys! :)

[outerspacemama]

I hear you!! Here's a couple things we've started doing that help:
1. Hire someone to deep clean on e a month - takes a huge load off!
2. Cook 3-4 meals & prep healthy snacks (hard boiled eggs, banana bread etc) all on Sunday - then we never cook during the week - no time!
3, keep high quality frozen stuff in freezer - like gourmet ravioli - for when we gotta just do frozen at least it's a decent meal
4. Try to not plan anything on weekends except shopping cooking & playing outside with kids. Of course this never works - this weekend we are going to a funeral and i have a work event and we might have a brunch to go to - but it's a good goal to shoot for to reserve family time & time to plan good meals & get organized & man, just have some time to recuperate from the rat race. It is very hard to be FT and have a family and be pregnant!!!!! My husband also helps a great deal. I don't know how I'd do it otherwise.

[Sweet Huck]

Thank you all for posting! It's so nice to connect, know I'm not alone, and to hear all your tips!

I've been working 6 day work weeks since early September ... but today, hopefully, was my last Saturday of work for a while and I am so excited to have a little more time!  My hubby works full time, too, and goes to graduate school at night. He does what he can to help out around, but we're both spread a little thin right now  and trying to incorporate whatever tricks we can to make our days a little easier.

I definitely just stocked up on frozen ravioli today and am planning on making a bunch of burritos to wrap and freeze in sandwich bags as easy microwave lunches. Yesterday I found a neighbor kid to mow the lawn, too, and just that little chore was an incredible weight off my shoulders! 

[JNajla]

Thankfully, I've felt pretty good so far, no nausea, and 'some' fatigue.  My work days have been pretty managable.  My biggest issue is that prior to pregnancy I took ambien to sleep at night and now I can't take it anymore, and I've only been sleeping about 4 hours a night.  I work 36 hours a week (sometimes up to 40 hours).  Although I'm not really 'tired' at work, I'm exhausted by 6 pm and I haven't gone to the gym in a month.  I feel better when I exercise, so that has been a hard thing to adjust to.  Thankfully I've only gained a pound, but like Sweet Huck, I've gained about a cup size (my boobs are huge and will be the thing to give me away before a baby bump!).  What I'm most worried about, is that I won't be able to take a very long maternity leave (I'm the benefits carrier) and we need both incomes, and I'm already worried about how I will manage working full-time with a baby and no sleep!  Daycare in my area is >$1k per month, and we're barely making it as it is, so I worry about finances constantly.  I just started using Sundays to cook a few meals and freeze them, which has helped tremendously in the eveings.  I love the idea about the hiring someone to do a monthly deep clean.  Perhaps having someone scrub the house on a Saturday morning while I go to a yoga class would be energizing!  :)

[FreeRangeMama]

I have 4 kids and work part-time.  It has been challenging.  I am 10 weeks and still exhausted and nauseous all the time.  Work doesn't know and that has been hard.  My work requires a great deal of energy.  I nap whenever possible.  I lay down for 30 minutes after kids leave for the bus for a quick refresher before work.  If I am working all day I also have a quick nap on my lunch break.  I lay down for a while when I get home.  My 5 year old has been watching WAY too much tv while I just try to survive.  I try to eat every hour to prevent the very worst nausea.  Meals are simple or dh cooks while I have a late afternoon nap.  The house is filthy and chaotic, but I am really just unable to do anything about it.  Exercise?  Haven't managed that since the positive test.  I just have no energy and the movement just makes me feel worse.  If I manage to do one small chore or deal with school assignments, homework, paperwork, etc. for the kids I feel like it has been a successful day  LOL.  I keep thinking this week will better......no luck yet.  Maybe next week will be better.....I can hope  :)

[Sweet Huck]

Originally Posted by FreeRangeMama 

I have 4 kids and work part-time.  It has been challenging.  I am 10 weeks and still exhausted and nauseous all the time.  Work doesn't know and that has been hard.  My work requires a great deal of energy.  I nap whenever possible.  I lay down for 30 minutes after kids leave for the bus for a quick refresher before work.  If I am working all day I also have a quick nap on my lunch break.  I lay down for a while when I get home.  My 5 year old has been watching WAY too much tv while I just try to survive.  I try to eat every hour to prevent the very worst nausea.  Meals are simple or dh cooks while I have a late afternoon nap.  The house is filthy and chaotic, but I am really just unable to do anything about it.  Exercise?  Haven't managed that since the positive test.  I just have no energy and the movement just makes me feel worse.  If I manage to do one small chore or deal with school assignments, homework, paperwork, etc. for the kids I feel like it has been a successful day  LOL.  I keep thinking this week will better......no luck yet.  Maybe next week will be better.....I can hope  :)

Wishing you strength, FreeRangeMama, and hoping your symptoms ease soon! To run after 4 kids while baking your 5th!? Amazing.

I was just thinking the other day how very tired old time mama's must have been with NO electricity and 12 or so kidlets! At least we have modern marvels like washing machines, microwaves, and tvs... or else I *really* wouldn't know how to get through.

[Murph12334]

I'm a single mother of two.  It was a bit of a struggle even before getting pregnant.  Now with being pregnant and two kids to keep raising and a full time job, with no assistance from the father...yeah it's hard.  I just work through it though.  I try not to worry about feeding them quick meals.  I've been having problems with the cyst I have hurting like crazy and had some spotting and cramping.  This weekend I've been trying to take it easy per dr's orders.  But it's hard when I'm going it on my own.