Gestating on The Job – Many for working while pregnant pregnancy guides offer practical tips: remember to leave your desk and extend at least twice an hour, prop up your feet whenever you can, stock your desk drawers with healthy snacks.
While this advice is useful, it will not help you browse through the interesting social situations that appear for pregnant women on the job–like how to focus on responding to e-mail when all you want to do is work on your Pinterest baby board, or how to exit a dialog with someone who, despite the advancements in modern maternity policy, insists on referring to your pregnancy as an “impending medical condition.”
I have been fortunate in that my colleagues and supervisor have been appropriately interested and very supportive about my pregnancy. That said, like all women that were pregnant, I have encountered some interesting workplace predicaments. I highly recommend implementing these five guidelines to assist you keep sane while gestating at work.
1. Allow yourself 30 minutes of baby time every day
It’s a fact the routine activities of the workday serve as diversions that are powerful from a number of the discomforts of pregnancy. It is not difficult to dismiss cravings and the backaches when I’m running (soon to be waddling) from one-hour long meeting to the next. However, around once a day, I’ll be intensely involved in a project or conversation with a co-worker and suddenly think, “OHMIGOD THERE IS A TINY, HELPLESS HUMAN BEING GROWING INSIDE OF ME!”
This realization is generally followed by a mini-panic attack, in which I convince myself that I’m neglecting to prepare thoroughly for my baby’s arrival. I will start cataloguing books I haven’t read yet, baby essentials I haven’t purchased, and scenarios I feel ill equipped to handle (I am supposed to choose his temperature where?)
To avoid this daily mind-rupture, I Have started to allow myself 30 minutes of “baby time” each day, generally as I eat my lunch(es) at my desk. I use this time add things to my baby registry to research day care providers, and list the names of parents than I ‘ll mine, I knew growing up who absolutely screwed up their kids much worse. It is very soothing.
2. Just let them touch your belly
Everyone loves pregnant women’s bellies. People just can’t get enough of them. Comments that would have sent me into a rage months ago —“You’re so big! Your stomach is huge!”—are now considered words of endearment.
It can be uncomfortable when your belly touch. And several pregnancy guides provide hints for “setting boundaries” and being firm about your belly-rubbing preferences. My advice? Just let people touch your stomach. Sometimes it is odd, but it’s significantly less awkward than having a dialogue about how you had rather not to be touched as your co worker stands in front of you, hands hovering 5 inches from your navel.
3. Encourage people to spread the word
When you’re pregnant, you’re asked the same questions over and over—is it a boy or a girl? Have you chosen a name? Are you craving anything? When are you due?
I have saved lots of energy over the past couple of months by being quite explicit with my co-workers when I give pregnancy updates to them: This advice was approved for distribution. For example, when I learned that I was having a lad, I made sure everyone understood which they could tell anyone.
Of course, it is wonderful that your co-workers want to be in the know, but answering the same questions over and over can be exhausting. You will save yourself some useful breath by making all info public knowledge. knowledge. Place it in your e-mail signature, make it your PowerPoint, chat about it in line for coffee– whatever’s opening slide. I decided that if it means I have to tell one less person, great!
4. Smile and say thank you
People lie to pregnant women. Over the past 5 months, I’ve been shocked by how many people lie right to my face. Almost all of these lies are in the type of reassurances and compliments. For example, “I have never seen you look more amazing in your own life. Your skin is absolutely luminous.” That’s nice of you to say, but my skin is a disaster, and I’m pretty sure I looked slightly more beautiful five months ago, sans varicose veins and stretch marks.
Although you might feel like reacting with a long list of why you feel and seem your worst, it is better to accept these compliments with a thank you. Enjoy the therapy while you can–I have noticed that people don’t tend to see new mothers’ dark circles or flabby bellies in rather the same light.
5. Listen to all of the advice. Some of it will be good
Many of your co-workers likely need to share their war stories with you as well as offer words of wisdom because pregnancy and parenthood are milestones that they have experienced. (this happening may be remembered by You from when you were planning your wedding.)
It is important to accept all advice gratefully, even if you wholeheartedly disagree. For instance , if a co-worker insists that his wife just gained 20 pounds during her pregnancy by cutting out sugar and processed carbs, do what you can to stretch your face into an interested, appreciative grimace (you might want to practice at home by means of your partner) and react, “Well good for her. GREAT FOR HER.” But if, in the other hand, a co-worker mentions that her baby slept through the night at six weeks because of her wonder nighttime bath routine–place some time on her calendar and take notes!
Obviously, there continue to be days when the mixture of exhaustion and irritability leaves me less than an ideal worker, but, heeding the great guidance (see #5) of many mother-experts, I cut myself a little slack, and also you need to also. Life is being created by you, in the end.
Article publié pour la première fois le 18/09/2015