 Congratulations on your pregnancy! This is a wonderful
time in your life and one that should be embraced and enjoyed.
Continuing to work is not harmful for you, or for your
baby, though you need to ensure your health and safety
at this time.
Pregnancy is a unique experience, and if this is your
first pregnancy, then you will have already realised the
enormous changes that happen to your body, as well as to
how you view the world, and your future. Being pregnant
requires a whole new body of knowledge and all of a sudden
you are introduced to a new language with words such as
trimester, expected date of birth, risks, and perhaps hypertension
or gestational diabetes. These terms and conditions can
be confusing and it is essential that you find out what
these mean for you and your pregnancy.
Women sometimes experience difficulty
in trying to understand what is happening to them and
they cannot seem to take control of events that can occur
in pregnancy. The story of Amanda is an example of this.
Amanda was 30 weeks pregnant and had been well in her
pregnancy. However her doctor informed her that her blood
pressure was rising, but she was not to worry about this.
Amanda was, however, very worried particularly as she
lived in a rural town where the maternity unit was not
equipped to care for women who experienced complications.
Amanda tried to ask her doctor more about her blood pressure
and the potential risks, but found that she was not able
to get sufficient information as the doctor simply tried
to reassure her that ‘all
was in hand’ and that ‘everything would be
ok’. Amanda did not feel reassured at all and sought
advice from a friend who suggested that she make contact
with a maternity unit in a nearby town that was able to
care for women whose pregnancy became complicated. Amanda
did this, and was able to speak with midwives and doctors
who specialised in complicated pregnancies. Amanda was
therefore able to gain a better understanding of the risks
involved with high blood pressure and she felt more in
control of her pregnancy. Amanda was relieved that she
sought alternative advice and she gained confidence in
her ability to manage her pregnancy. This confidence served
her well into her labour and birth, and then as she adjusted
to her role as a new mother as she knew it was important
to seek answers to questions that were concerning her,
and to make sure she did not simply accept reassurances,
or advice that she was uncomfortable with.
What skills are important then in pregnancy? Amanda used
her research and assertiveness skills and she utilised
available resources. The skills that you already have and
use everyday in your workplace can help you in your pregnancy.
Organisation skills
- Remember to plan your activities in
your work day to ensure you are eating well, drinking
sufficient water, and finding time for exercise.
- Organise your visits to your midwife
or doctor so that you are not rushed having just finished
your day at work, or in a hurry to get to a work appointment.
These visits are important for you and your baby and
you need to feel calm and focussed on your pregnancy
and your needs (rather than what is happening at your
workplace!) at this time.
Research skills
This is your baby, your pregnancy, and your family’s
future. Your strong workplace research skills can be used
to ensure you are getting the information and care that
you need during your pregnancy. There are a number of great
websites that you can access to gain more information about
your pregnancy:
Assertiveness skills
There are times that you do need to be assertive
in ensuring that you receive the care you need during your
pregnancy. If you are concerned about any aspect of your
care, you should speak with your midwife or doctor and
seek further information and advice from them if you are
uncertain or worried. Use ‘I’ statements, keep
the focus on the issue you have, present the facts without
judgement, and be clear and direct about what needs to
happen.
Negotiation skills
Speak with your manager, or the human resources
department of your organisation to talk about your needs
during pregnancy. It is always important to approach issues
in your workplace from a negotiation perspective so that
there is discussion from all parties on how you can work
together to achieve change, or understanding in a workplace.
Use your negotiation skills then to
talk about perhaps needing time off to attend your antenatal
visits, or to ensure you don’t have long periods of standing
if you are feeling tired. Check your organisation’s
policy on maternity leave and other relevant policies to
ensure you know your rights and the organisation’s
expectations.
Your body, your baby, your future
Remember, you know your body, you know what your needs
are and it is important to work with your midwife or doctor,
and your workplace to ensure you have a pregnancy experience
that is right for you.
Take care and enjoy your pregnancy.
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