I'm a Mum of two boys, and 34 weeks pregnant with my third child
I'm having another boy, so I'll be totally outnumbered at home! Staying focused at work when your pregnant can be a trying time, in the First trimester it can difficult to keep your excitment under check before making your official announcement, and if you suffer from morning sickness it can be even more difficult, with those frequent trips to the bathroom or just wanting to put your feet up!
In the Second and Third Trimester, tiredness can settle in and baby brain can have a major effect on your working day. Here's an article in the The Daily Telegraph you may find interesting "Baby Brain really does exist"
Related Post Balancing Parenthood and your Career
I've put together a few tips I used to keep myself comfortable, motivated and focused at work while I was pregnant.
Travel outside peak hour
Depending on your job, this may or may not be possible, but I found travelling from 9.15am onwards was always a much more pleasent journey. Have a chat with your employer.
Baby on Board badge from TFL
I loved my badge and not only used it on public transport, but would pin it to my suit jacket or blouse while in the office. It wasn't about attention grabbing, it was more to let people know I'm pregnant and to avoid those akward glances. Order your badge
Comfy Clothes and Shoes
Invest in super comfy maternity clothes and shoes, these will be a life saver especially if you are office based. And as your baby belly (and sometimes your feet) get bigger and bigger you'll want to feel comfortable in loose and light clothing.
Snacks and Drinks
When I was in the First and Third Trimester of pregnancy I was constantly hungry, having healthy (and some chocolate) snacks and drinks in my desk draw was super handy and stopped all those trips to shops on a daily basis.
Health and Safety
This is a legal requirement for all employers, and your employer is required to assess the risks. Check out the Pregnant Employee Rights on Gov.uk website. I also requested a footstool and asked the Health & Safety officer to refresh my memory on how to readjust the office chair.
Maternity Appointments
I always booked my maternity appointments in the morning around 10.00am - this gave me the opportunity to have a mini sleep in and then make my way to my appointment. Instead of rushing into the office and then rushing to ensure I made my appointment.
Working from Home
If you can, try and request some working from days as an otpion, this will become a life saver especially as your energy levels start to dwindle over the months.
Back-pack or Wheelie suitcase
Changing over from a handbag to a backpack or a wheelie suitcase was a dream, having to lug around your laptop or work equipment can be a nightmare.
Maternity App
I love my Maternity App, Pregnancy+, with lot's of helpful tips and tricks, links to blogs and a place to record baby names. It would also let me know exactly how many weeks pregnant I was and had a diary to record my maternity appointments.
Maternity Policy
This seems like a logical thing to do, but try and do it as soon as you possibly can, this will help you determine when you may like to start your maternity leave and what benefits you are entitled to.
Cut back on the baby talk
As excited as you'll be about the arrival of your new baby, not everyone else will actually be that interested and won't want to engage in any kind of baby chit chat.
But in saying that....
Be Prepared for personal questions and Hands on the Belly
Some people can be over familair with you when it comes to pregancy, and may ask inappropriate and personal questions. You may also encounter other colleagues who offer advise and randomly put their hands on your belly.
Emergency Bag / Supplies
This is not a hospital bag, it's a work emergency bag, basically consisting of a few items I may need incase of any pregancy/female issues. In this I would include a spare pair of underwear, sanitry pads, wet wipes, lip balm, hair-tie and an XL pair of tights.
