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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:

Some foods and smells can trigger nausea during pregnancy. The sweet roll you used to love for your morning snack may now cause your stomach to churn. Recognize these changes and stay clear of these foods and smells so you don't make your nausea worse. Keep crackers in your desk at work and use them to stave off nausea - a stomach that is very empty or very full will cause more problems.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Stay dehydrated by drinking lots of water every day. Get plenty of sleep and allow yourself more time to get ready for work in the morning. Stress and tiredness will exacerbate 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. Try to get lots of fresh air and move around by taking regular breaks. . If your job is physical, try to take more rest periods. Concentration will be improved as a result of these breaks. 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. Schedule your day so that you are busiest in the morning while you still have energy. 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. Energy levels can be improved through light exercise. Speak to your physician about continuing your pre-pregnancy exercise routine. You should also seek his/her advice if you are looking to start exercising during pregnancy.

All help should be gratefully accepted whether in the workplace or at home. Don't feel guilty, you can do good turns after baby comes and you are back to normal. Get others to do the daily, physical tasks like housework and shopping and, if you can afford it, hire someone to do these jobs. This way you can conserve energy for work. Don't fear the bed and sleep when you need to. The extra hours and late nights you used to put in for work can wait until your pregnancy is over. Your baby and your overburdened body need all the sleep they can get.

Your back and muscles take a beating during pregnancy so keep moving and supple. Your body will tell you, in it's own language of tiredness and ache, when any of the mundane, simple daily tasks are too much, so listen attentively. Get a physician's letter and present it at work and they may be able to give you an ergonomic chair. A well supported back plus adjustable height and arms make for a wonderful pregnancy chair. Your lower back needs all the support it can get so use a small cushion. Reduce pressure on your lower back plus minimize leg and foot swelling by keeping your feet elevated. Go to the bathroom when you need to. Trying to ignore the urge is not good.

A stressful job may necessitate time off. Neither you nor your baby need the grief. Discuss options for alleviating stress with your boss and coworkers. Seek the advice of your doctor also. They may have suggestions and advice. Yoga and other forms of relaxation classes can be hugely beneficial for pregnant women. Physical and mental relaxation are achieved via these methods and will help you cope much better with the stresses of work. Fill your doctor in on pressures within your job. The risk of pregnancy complications are higher in some jobs than others.

Jobs that should be carefully evaluated 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 Jobs with lots of standing or strenuous climbing or walking (prolonged standing at work is also associated with increased incidence of premature birth). %u2022 Working in close proximity to toxic chemicals, dust, radiation, infectious diseases or fumes. %u2022 Environs with constant loud noise or where machines are very loud or have lots of vibration. %u2022 Any prolonged travelling. %u2022 Jobs with very long hours or frequent shift changes (shift work and increased levels of work related fatigue are also associated with premature birth). %u2022 Extremes of temperatures. %u2022 Jobs that require a lot of flexibility or balance.

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. Talk to your doctor and/or your midwife about what you are feeling and change your plans if your pregnancy or health is being affected by work.

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