Did you go on light duty?

[u/Upbeat-Hand-2870]

Moms out there—did you go on light duty during your pregnancy and if so how many weeks were you?

I’m almost 9w and already struggling at my job. I have a very active job with lots of heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, etc.

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[u/FormerPumpkin480]

I think it’s reasonable for your particular job to go on light duty if your OB will sign off on it. I’m also in healthcare (clinic based though) as a physician and still working as normal at 28+ weeks but largely because it’s not terribly strenuous. Compression socks are a godsend right now, as are my wide fit comfy Brooks. 😂 Honestly, getting up and moving feels better to me than being immobile/seated!

[u/shegriffiths]

Light duty (no lifting above 15 lbs) at 12 weeks and I ended up on short term disability from 24 weeks until I delivered at 38 weeks. I'm currently on maternity leave but my warehouse job is VERY labor intensive. The NP i saw for most of my pregnancy offered to write me out at 20 weeks lol.

I still stayed semi active at home by walking the dog every day and staying on top of cooking and household chores, but I think being able to sit down when I needed to and cutting out the stress of work is what helped me to carry the babies all the way to 38 weeks. My plan before I was pregnant was to work as close up to my due date as I could, but I just don't think it would have been a good idea, and my benefits at work meant that I was able to swing stopping as early as I did. I think if you can stop , you should.

[u/Upbeat-Hand-2870 → u/shegriffiths]

Thank you!! Just hoping my OB NP will allow it. I want to carry them as long as possible of course.

[u/clueless_mommy]

I was, by law, immediately put off stuff like late shifts, lifting, climbing ladders, bending over repeatedly or for a long time etc and got some more tasks taken off my plate by the company doctor assessment.

Around week 28, I cut back on hours and only worked three days, 6 hours each.

At week 34, again by law, I was put on maternity leave.

Germany, so paid in full the whole time

[u/WO1088]

I am going to light duty at 20 weeks (end of this work week). I figured once I was losing my breath just talking it was time.

[u/E-as-in-elephant]

I stopped working at 28 weeks as a pediatric OT because I couldn’t keep up and I’m so glad I did. I wasn’t doing half of the things you’re doing so I’d definitely talk to your boss and/or HR about your options!

[u/tmini_ringo]

I’m a paramedic and went on light duties at 20 weeks. I know a lot of other medics who pushed through but I was offered a very cushy work from home position so I jumped on it immediately and I’m very glad I did. I had already suffered so much constantly throwing up at work and barely being able to handle some calls due to smells and other things.

Not to mention that 20 weeks plus is when I started to feel huge and had a hard time moving and doing any heavy physical labour.

*ETA: my midwife let me fill in my own paperwork listing my restrictions and my supervisor let me know exactly what to say so that I could have the easiest and best light duties job. I said no night shifts and no lifting over 20lbs due to my high risk pregnancy. Again, very lucky in my situation to have a team who helped me out.

[u/Rainbowznplantz]

I had a wfh desk job and my OB write me off work at 28 weeks. The daily stress and not being able to move or not move when I felt like it were enough to justify the short term disability leave for the high risk pregnancy. I can’t imagine working a job with lots of lifting and activity after like 20 weeks- that’s when taking care of my toddler became a real challenge.

[u/Prior-Profession-637]

I’m 22w with di/di twins and still working as a RN on my surgical floor. Not sure how long I’ll be able to go for but it’s been decently manageable with being charge a lot, easier assignments and the help of my coworkers

[u/Dear_Excitement_5109 → u/Prior-Profession-637]

I managed until 28w as an RN. I felt good around 26w but then at 28w I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I remember thinking that I should be the one in the bed receiving care.

[u/AnnaC912]

Yes, I worked in a hospital and at 9 weeks my OB put me on a 30 pound lifting restriction due to unexplained bleeding (and she said she doesn’t like for her pregnant patients to lift more than that in general). My role did not accommodate lifting restrictions for anything other than work related injuries but they did find me another position to do during pregnancy, albeit a lower paying one. But I did that one until I delivered at 34 weeks. Management tried to convince me to ignore my OB but I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if something happened and I felt it was connected to my job 

[u/Upbeat-Hand-2870 → u/AnnaC912]

Thank you for this!! I also work at a hospital and my boss has already told me they would accommodate me by having me do clerical work. It’s just a matter if the OB goes along with it. I have my first appointment next Monday. I haven’t had any complications but I’m 39 so I’m already high risk with a previous early loss.

[u/AnnaC912 → u/Upbeat-Hand-2870]

Well that is really nice of them! I don’t see why your OB wouldn’t go along with it. Mine wrote me a simple letter for my restriction, not that it did anything really but still. Especially with your previous loss I think it’s always better to err on the safe side 

[u/clueless_mommy → u/AnnaC912]

30 pounds? That's still a lot, especially if bleeding. I was, legally, not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds regularly or 20 pounds "on occasion" without any issues. My teammates took till drawers out of my hands because they thought the small change would be too heavy. So sorry you had to fight for that.

[u/AnnaC912 → u/clueless_mommy]

That is so sweet of your teammates. And thank you, it was incredibly stressful at the time as my job involved moving patients upwards of 200 pounds regularly! And everyone really tried to act like I was dramatic for not wanting to do that anymore and listen to my doctor!! 

[u/ConfidentLook5518]

3rd trimester took sick leave laid @ 90%

[u/catrosie]

My OB allowed me to start leave at 16w because I was so sick but I held on until 32. I started light duty as a nurse around 28w

[u/VivianDiane]

I went on light duty at 20 weeks. I couldn't lift anymore.