Imagine being at the peak of your career… and then you got pregnant, or you realize it’s the time you want to get pregnant and have a baby.
How would you feel?
PREGNANCY STIGMA IN THE WORKPLACE
Although not admitted, we all know the quiet stigma of pregnancy in the workplace. Pregnancy will cause work delays, there are expected “unexpected” (you get it) leaves, and then the maternity leave causes more delay…
Hence, the avoidance of hiring pregnant women, unless really necessary.
But what about those at the peak of their career?
SOMETIMES, IT FEELS LIKE THEIR WORLD SUDDENLY STOPS.
A little backstory here by the way. The reason this came to my mind right now is that I got my second grandchild recently – a healthy little boy — and the pregnancy journey of my daughter has evoked a lot of memories, or flashbacks, from my own birth-giving time and the stress plus anxiety during those years.
We have different stories, BUT THE BASICS ARE ALMOST THE SAME.
We at some point ask ourselves the same question… or the first question when planning motherhood – is it ever a specific RIGHT TIME?
No!
You will never know how long it will take to become pregnant.
Sometimes, you just need one intimate moment and sometimes people try for years. So it is very hard to plan A SPECIFIC TIME.
Then come to our careers.
IS THERE EVEN A PERFECT TIME?
No!
And since you can’t plan the time to become pregnant it is impossible to plan a time in your career too. Which leaves it to…
“Just start trying to get pregnant when you start thinking of it – and when it happens – adjust your life to what’s possible then.”
I GAVE BIRTH TO 4 GIRLS — WITHIN 6 YEARS.
I myself have given birth to 4 girls – all within 6 years.
As you might know, if you have looked at my website or heard any of my TEDx talks, our first daughter died at only 10 weeks old, as she had a severe genetic illness…
During my pregnancy with her, I was at the far end of my medical school time and it was tough to study but I was not really stressed.
Next pregnancy, yes all 3 next ones were very stressed – we had a 25 % risk of the baby having the same disorder as the first one – and that was a very stressful experience. But somehow, I kept saying – it is a 75% chance it is okay – and that kept me going, working my first years as a doctor.
These are my experiences – and I guess you have stories to share too.
WORKING PREGNANT CAN BE A BIT OF A STRETCH…
IN ANY JOB.
In Sweden, it is probably okay in most jobs, even though some probably still think women shall stay home.
We have rules too. For example, working on call in health care, you don’t have to take nights in the last 3 months.
I have met patients as well who have had a hard time also working in a store – it is heavier when you are pregnant and if your surroundings don’t support you – it can be tough.
Not to mention what I’ve just talked about – the office stigma, like being pregnant while working in the office is too sloppy.
WE MAY NOT HAVE THE SOLUTION TO THIS,
BUT…
I can cheer you on!
Without new children to the world, we shrink as a species…
It is, as in so many other cases, affecting half the population.
MEDICALLY SPEAKING…
You can work during the pregnancy – not lift heavy, or do something out of the ordinary things your body’s used to.
And of course, still all with extra care.
And given that there are all these pregnancy stigmas, worries and fears, and the feeling of getting “limited”…
Always remember:
YES, CAREER AND PREGNANCY CAN GO TOGETHER PERFECTLY.
As long as you take proper care of yourself by NOT STRESSING too much, keeping the balance in between – eating right, sleeping right, and resting right…
You can still thrive in the workplace.
And as to the stigmas… best to shrug them off and do your thing.
Worse comes to worst…
Know your rights as a pregnant working woman.
ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOU AND THE BABY COME FIRST!
In the end, always know your priority as it always comes in handy when it comes to decision-making.
If you need more tips on how you can have a stress-less career, especially in a leadership position, here’s a free resource you can download!
To your success and happiness,
