If you are a working woman, if you are healthy during your pregnancy, and if your job is one you can continue without risk or strain, you can probably plan to work until your due date or until your labor starts!

Consider your needs and decide how long you wish to work. Maternity leave is valuable and often best used when baby is born rather than eaten into before the birth so you may wish to continue working for as long as possible. Others get tired or uncomfortable and it becomes difficult for them to work, especially if they have a strenuous or stressful job or commute. Take counsel from your physician and spend some time considering your decision. While you are working, you want to maintain your health and ensure that your baby has a healthy environment in which to grow and develop. Here are a few guidelines to that end:

Nausea can be a big part of pregnancy triggered by certain smells and foods. What you once loved may now make you queasy. Alleviate nausea by recognizing and avoiding the offending foods. Both hunger and an overly full tummy can cause increased queasiness so have a stash of crackers nearby to nibble on when nausea hits.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Dehydration will make your morning sickness worse. Get plenty of sleep and allow yourself more time to get ready for work in the morning. Fatigue and stress will also increase nausea. You might feel tired much of the time, especially during the first and third trimesters and even more so after a long day at work. Take regular breaks, take a short walk (outside if you can) and move around. If your job is physical, try to take more rest periods. Rest periods will also help you concentrate. You may want to close your office door, put your feet up and close your eyes for a few minutes during lunch or on a break.

Afternoon tiredness is common in early and late pregnancy. In this case, change your work schedule if you can so that you can get the higher-energy tasks out of the way in the morning while you are feeling fresh. . Depending on the demands of your job you may need to curtail personal, out of work activities so that rest is a priority thus helping you remain fresh for the workplace. Regular exercise will help your energy level as well. Speak to your physician about continuing your pre-pregnancy exercise routine. If you want to start exercising during pregnancy talk to your doctor about what you can do to stay active.

Don't be too proud to accept help at home and at work where you can. You can always return the favor after you and your baby are on a regular schedule and you are feeling like your old self again. Cleaning, mowing the lawn, or grocery shopping can be done by others or, if you have the financial wherewithal, you can hire someone to do these things for you until you can take on these responsibilities again. That way, you can get the extra rest you'll need to do your job every day. Go to bed when you are tired! You don't have to stay up until midnight to get that extra work done, just because you always did before. Your body is changing and you and your baby deserve a little extra sleep.

Move around frequently to ease the stress on your muscles and back. You may find that standing, lifting and even sitting for long periods of time will make you tired or sore now, so listen to your body. Many companies supply an ergonomic chair for office workers if you have a note from your doctor. Chairs with adjustable arms and height, and a firm back can help. You can also bring in a small pillow to support your lower back while you sit. Put your feet up on a box, wastebasket or stool to take the weight off your lower back and reduce foot and leg swelling. Plan for those extra trips to the bathroom. Don't try to hold it!

A stressful job may necessitate time off. Stress can be much harder on a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Discuss options for alleviating stress with your boss and coworkers. Talk to your doctor so she knows what you are up against. She may have suggestions and advice. Learn relaxation exercises, or take a Yoga class for pregnant women. Physical and mental relaxation are achieved via these methods and will help you cope much better with the stresses of work. Be sure you talk to your doctor about the demands of your particular job. The risk of pregnancy complications are higher in some jobs than others.

High risk jobs include: %u2022 The aforementioned lifting especially heavy lifting (strenuous work has been shown to increase the risk of premature birth. Also, the likelihood of pre-eclampsia or hypertension and low birth weight babies is increased). %u2022 Lots of demanding walking or ascending and prolonged standing (premature birth is also associated with long periods of standing). %u2022 Working in close proximity to toxic chemicals, dust, radiation, infectious diseases or fumes. %u2022 An extremely, consistently noisy environment especially if there is a lot of vibration. %u2022 Any prolonged travelling. %u2022 Irregular, shift work with long hours or frequent changes of shift causes fatigue which increases risk. %u2022 Extremes of temperatures. %u2022 You're not going to be terribly supple or have amazing balance so if you job requires those attributes you may have a problem.

If your job is high risk but you must continue to work talk to your boss and see if there is any way you could transfer or tailor your job somewhat until after the birth. Discuss any concerns or negative effects work may be having on your pregnancy with your doctor.

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