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!

Much depends on your individual needs and desire 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. However, you may find the demands of your job and travelling coupled with the physical difficulties of pregnancy too much and need to cease working some time before your due date. Take counsel from your physician and spend some time considering your decision. The welfare of you and your baby is paramount during pregnancy and you should ensure a healthy environment exists while you continue to work. Here are a few guidelines to that end:

Some foods and smells can trigger nausea during pregnancy. What you once loved may now make you queasy. Recognize these changes and stay clear of these foods and smells so you don't make your nausea worse. Both hunger and an overly full tummy can cause increased queasiness so have a stash of crackers nearby to nibble on when nausea hits.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Dehydration will make your morning sickness worse. Get plenty of sleep and allow yourself more time to get ready for work in the morning. Fatigue and stress will also increase 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. Take regular breaks, take a short walk (outside if you can) and move around. If your job is physical, try to take more rest periods. Rest periods will also help you concentrate. 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. In this case, change your work schedule if you can so that you can get the higher-energy tasks out of the way in the morning while you are feeling fresh. . 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. Regular exercise will help your energy level as well. Speak to your physician about continuing your pre-pregnancy exercise routine. If you want to start exercising during pregnancy talk to your doctor about what you can do to stay active.

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.

Move around frequently to ease the stress on your muscles and back. 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. Many companies supply an ergonomic chair for office workers if you have a note from your doctor. . A well supported back plus adjustable height and arms make for a wonderful pregnancy chair. You can also bring in a small pillow to support your lower back while you sit. Reduce pressure on your lower back plus minimize leg and foot swelling by keeping your feet elevated. Plan for those extra trips to the bathroom. Trying to ignore the urge is not good.

A stressful job may necessitate time off. Stress can be much harder on a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Discuss options for alleviating stress with your boss and coworkers. Talk to your doctor so she knows what you are up against. She may have suggestions and advice. Learn relaxation exercises, or take a Yoga class for pregnant women. Physical and mental relaxation are achieved via these methods and will help you cope much better with the stresses of work. Be sure you talk to your doctor about the demands of your particular job. The risk of pregnancy complications are higher in some jobs than others.

High risk jobs 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 Lots of demanding walking or ascending and prolonged standing (premature birth is also associated with long periods of standing). %u2022 Working in close proximity to toxic chemicals, dust, radiation, infectious diseases or fumes. %u2022 An extremely, consistently noisy environment especially if there is a lot of vibration. %u2022 Any prolonged travelling. %u2022 Irregular, shift work with long hours or frequent changes of shift causes fatigue which increases risk. %u2022 Extremes of temperatures. %u2022 You're not going to be terribly supple or have amazing balance so if you job requires those attributes you may have a problem.

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. Discuss any concerns or negative effects work may be having on your pregnancy with your doctor.