Tips for Surviving Pregnancy in the Corporate World

A Better Delegator

Being pregnant in the workplace has also made me better at delegating and learning that it's not a bad thing if I can't do everything; that's what teamwork is all about. Besides, women need a lot of help while on maternity leave, so it's a good time to start sharing job duties with others. (A bit of advice for employees planning on taking extended maternity leave: Spread out your duties among several co-workers. If you entrust all of your secrets and duties to one person, she might just take your job!)

Workplace Checklist

Below are some more tips to help you survive pregnancy in the business world.

1. Avoid or reschedule early or late meetings. Chances are you may be too nauseated before 9:30 AM and too tired after 4 PM.
2. Wait until the second trimester to announce your pregnancy to co-workers. Though there are laws to protect your job, the truth is the moment people find out they will start wondering, "can she handle this?" and will closely watch everything you do. Your superiors may pass you up when it comes to bigger projects, and co-workers may start vying for your job. Waiting until your second trimester is recommended because you regain your energy and a bit of your clarity. So just as co-workers start wondering if they can step into your position, or superiors consider passing you up on bigger projects or promotions, you'll be able to keep up the pace (at least for a few more months!).
3. Keep snacks and drinks on hand. You never know when you'll get called into an all-day meeting or have a deadline that doesn't let you leave the office. Being a strong, pregnant, career women means not passing out in front of your co-workers.
4. You don't have to give up your morning coffee. I'm not a doctor, but from everything I've read (and according to my own doctor) one to two cups of coffee a day is just fine. Dr. Amos Grunebaum, MD, of WebMD agrees. "If you really need your daily fix, one or two regular cups of coffee are OK—as long as you measure your cups correctly and keep your total caffeine consumption at 300 mg or less per day," he writes.
5. Limit social engagements to the weekend. If you are a serious career woman and pregnant, you'll have to make sacrifices, because no matter what we women think, we simply cannot physically and emotionally do it all, all the time. That means start saying no to social engagements that don't have a major significance (such as a best friend's birthday or a wedding) because you won't have the energy to maintain a social life and climb the corporate ladder. Your true friends will understand, while much of the corporate world is not as forgiving.
6. Don't volunteer to work on the weekends. It's all about balance, and balance means you must see your friends and family as well as make time for yourself. This is important to your pregnancy and overall emotional and physical well-being. Part of the balancing act means dedicating certain hours for work and specific hours for social time. Now is not the time to start impressing the boss with extra-long hours or cramming in long nights or weekend work. It will wear you out and make the transition into having the new baby and being away from the office more abrupt to your superiors and co-workers. Instead, show them that you can accomplish your work goals efficiently and effectively without working late hours or weekends.
7. No more long chats at the water cooler. If you can't work late or weekends, you must be as productive as possible during your work day. It is a good time to seriously limit socialization at work—a tough task if you have a chatty office mate or social work environment. It's all about priorities.
8. Set an appointment for regular exercise. Last, but definitely not least, don't forget to exercise. Regular exercise clears your head, balances your emotions, and makes you more productive and happier throughout your pregnancy. Whether it's a weekly yoga class or a long walk with the dog, treating exercise like a business appointment is a great way to ensure that you make time for this important part of your life.