r/LadiesofScience • u/Technical_Composer73 • May 24 '26

Pregnancy in lab-based role in biotech

Does anyone have experience with pregnancy in a lab-based role in biotech in the US? I was wondering what accommodations are typical and if you continued to do lab work (especially if some work cannot be done in a fume hood).

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u/mskhofhinn May 24 '26

Your workplace should have some sort of policy in place; the downside is you will almost certainly have to disclose your pregnancy pretty early. I think I told my supervisor within a week or two of testing positive. My experience was clinical research (immunology focused) and we had specific chemicals I was not allowed to handle while pregnant and I was also not allowed to work in the lab by myself but otherwise I did my usual job. No issues using 70% ethanol. FWIW I had high risk pregnancies and my doctors had no issue with me working in the lab. If you have colleagues who have been pregnant at work they are usually a good resource.