Benefits and Drawbacks to Working While Pregnant

The test was positive. You’re going to be a Mom. Either you’ve already balanced the work and pregnant life and are switching things up this time or you are about to embark on it for the first time and want some feedback from those who have gone before you in this strategic undertaking.

Either way, we asked around from women who have multiple backgrounds from corporate America to military servicewomen and found out what women like best and least about working a 9-5 (or even sporadically from home) while also creating human life.

Most women were able to share both sides of the coin and offer their responses.  From this, we encourage you to weigh what is most important to you and perhaps write a PRO/PRO list.

That’s right! Not Pro/Con but Pro/Pro. The benefits of working while pregnant and not working mid-maternity.  This way, you can see which list is longest and boasts the most important items as deemed by your unique needs and wants for your growing family…and belly!

Melissa L. writes, “I worked up until D day with all my kids. I can’t say there were any pros but no cons either. I guess I just didn’t know any different. I must say working and nursing sucks! I pumped for a year for all my kids and the last one included a lot of airport bathrooms. That was the only part of being a working mom that I really hated.

Casey K. shares, “Hard. Hard. Hard! I worked until my due date with all 3 (a couple were over their due date) and it only got worse. Especially when I became a nurse. 12-13 hours on my feet with very few breaks was tough! Thankfully, I have only had 1 as a nurse. I didn’t pump or breastfeed, but I work with moms that do and they are pretty much saints. I honestly don’t know how they do it. The best part was getting to have 12 weeks off and also teaching my girls to not only pursue their dreams when it comes to a job, but that it is possible to balance a home life and also love what you do for a job.”

Stephanie A. frankly stated, “Pro- it’s good to keep moving while pregnant and I guess depending on what kind of job you have, if you have to work, it forces you to keep moving. Although it can be a con if you are forced to sit for long periods.”

Amen to not being sedentary the whole pregnancy! We agree movement, however slight, is important!

Jana D. commented, “I only worked up until D day with my oldest & it was fine except for the morning sickness, sleepiness, & trying to get to work on time, lol! 3rd trimester the afternoons were hard to stay awake after lunch.”  

The fatigue is real, girl! We hear you!   

Our Head of West Coast Ops, Stevie, mentioned, “I think staying active is good. I know having a work-from-home, sedentary job, I gained a lot more weight and rested TOO MUCH with LOTS OF FOOD to comfort body aches. A pro is that I was earning income up until the due date and beyond since I was able to do more work ahead of my maternity time frame.

Melissa T., a servicewoman, shared her two cents, “Being Army now and pregnant is a pro. Still paying the bills and my unit is really considerate of my needs. If I’m not feeling good they let me just leave for work. And here soon I’ll be working half days and still getting paid as much which will be awesome. I also have to work out every day still which keeps me in better shape. “

Kudos to women balancing the pressures of the service and their cervix!

Jenna got straight to the point with a  simple, “Pros- staying active, insurance coverage, friendships and a supportive community in the workplace.

Cons- I did not have paid maternity leave, I was so sick that I had to pull over on the freeway to and from work, exhaustion when home, exposure to germs.”

 So, let's hear from more of you.  What's your current dilemma or have you mde a decision that works for you?