YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Is pregnancy that hard?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Is pregnancy that hard? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:37:01 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php rachylou on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1010542 Wed, 21 Aug 2013 17:20:36 +0000 rachylou 1010542@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anna, yeah, I think you guys need to bring on the temp already. You seem to really be taking a beating. I mean, you're asking how hard can it be to have a foot in your kidneys all day long and a bowling ball hung off your internal organs. You are tired girl. ...Not that I've ever been pregnant. On the other hand (TMI alert), menstrual cramps have caused me to black out. My general feeling is, the system is not what you'd call smooth... velvetychocolate on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1010020 Wed, 21 Aug 2013 02:31:22 +0000 velvetychocolate 1010020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agree with cinnamon fern and Kari - its not pregnancy - its the way your workplace is handling the "picking up the slack" bit. It does seem unfair to me, and I'm impressed with Kari and cinnamon fern for figuring out that the unfairness isn't with your co-worker's pregnancy or whether it's "that bad" or not - but rather, how your employer handles these situations. It shouldn't be all on one person to pick up the slack all the time. cinnamon fern on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1009566 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 12:29:03 +0000 cinnamon fern 1009566@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like Kari's way of thinking about it - the unfairness is not that she's getting accommodations, but their way of picking up the slack (ie making you do it all).  That puts the blame where it belongs. Kari on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1009460 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 05:42:16 +0000 Kari 1009460@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think the issue I'm most bothered about is the fact that you're not just picking up the slack for this woman, but that you're having to pick up the slack for the entire team due to accommodations made for medical conditions/pregnancy, or now for a possible move that might prevent your colleague from being available for on-call shifts, and it sounds like you are pretty much being expected to cover for everyone.  That, to me, is what is unfair.   Sara L. on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1009219 Mon, 19 Aug 2013 23:51:13 +0000 Sara L. 1009219@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That sucks that you are picking up someone else's slack, for whatever the reason.  My work situation is so different from yours that I almost didn't comment on your post.  I'm an engineer and work at a computer so I'm rarely on my feet and eating at my desk is no big deal - I can eat a banana and read email or check plans at the same time.  My pregnancies have all been relatively easy and I've worked up until the day the baby was born.  I basically try to never mention my pregnancy at work unless asked about it.  I figure nobody else really cares and I only pull the pregnancy card on my husband (who absolutely deserves it - he's a stay at home dad and it is maddening to come home from work to a sink full of dirty dishes).  I hope they are able to work out the staffing situation so you aren't so overworked. Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1007899 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 19:10:22 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1007899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You have my total sympathy.  I have never been pregnant, or had a child - but I have experienced the same frustration at having a ridiculously increased workload, while the person with the baby-on-the-way or 'health issues' props their feet up, and takes more liberties than I could ever imagine was reasonable.  And don't get me started on the co-workers with kids who thought that, because I don't have kids, I should obviously take all the holiday shifts. All of this being said - the ladies on this forum are right - there is a very real human issue, and I have never liked to rock the boat, because I feel there is very real discrimination against women in the workplace, because they have babies, or the ability to have babies - and I think that underlying discrimination keeps many deserving women out of higher-paid positions. Since you already tried talking to your supervisor, and really are getting nowhere, I would sit down and re-think all of this.   If you complain further, are you going to be branded a troublemaker?    (Sad fact, but true).  Can you vent here, and feel a little more at peace with the situation, which, in the end, isn't a forever-thing?    If you are still really bothered by this, I would I would request an appointment with someone in your human resources office, and talk to them about the situation.  At the very least, if your co-worker is going to get to sit down and have a meal on the company clock, everyone in your office should be afforded the same privilege. Gaylene on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1007419 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:08:38 +0000 Gaylene 1007419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is such a tricky issue because there are no easy answers. There are obviously legal issues and requirements, but I think there is also an important human element that too often gets lost in the shuffle. I've been on both sides of this issue, and I've come to the conclusion that reducing ill-feeling boils down to my accepting personal responsibility for how the changes I require are affecting my colleagues. While I fully understand that, legally, I don't have to provide them with any explanation, I still think it makes for a much better work environment if the people who are affected by the changes don't have to operate in a vacuum. Showing appreciation and providing some explanation goes a long way towards lessening the resentment, while acting with a sense of entitlement and ignoring the effect of the changes on those who have to pick up the extra workload just pits colleagues against one another. A good boss, or supervisor, ought to understand this, but so should the person who is temporarily requiring the accommodation. None of us know when our personal needs might affect how we can perform our jobs, but we can acknowledge and appreciate the efforts that others make to help us through these periods. Nicole D on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard/page/2#post-1007347 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 23:06:47 +0000 Nicole D 1007347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I actually have no idea how women who are pregnant or have kids can work full time at all.  If I didn't have the flexibility that I do (being self employed as a physician) I would never have had the number of kids that I did, and would probably have left the workforce.  As it is though, when I don't work , I don't get paid, so I feel less guilt about keeping my workload manageable.  Also, we have a small call group and the time I take off for kids is balanced by others taking extended time off (weeks or months) for international travel.  Our call is thankfully not onerous as well. Part of it may be that my partner has a much more hectic schedule than I do and is the main breadwinner, so I am the MRP (most responsible parent).   I would advise any young lady of child bearing age that if you have a choice about whether to work or not, choose a career that has the needed flexibility to allow you to work part time while pregnant or parenting small kids. Otherwise, everyone is at risk of getting shortchanged: most of all your kids. And, lyn*, anyone who gets pregnant on purpose to get out of call is also out of their mind,   I don't want to offend any working moms out there - I am not saying no one can do it....I just know my limits and am fortunate that I can work within them. Sona on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007327 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 22:45:14 +0000 Sona 1007327@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anna: I hope this can help you : The number of induced labor, C-sections and preterm deliveries has gone up dramatically and there is a significant link between women working full time and the abovementioned outcomes. I needed to sleep for 12 hours during my first trimester- so I pretty much worked and slept. In my seventh month  the resident doctor on my team at work was extremely incompetent and mouthy. My blood pressure rose and my OB told me he would put me on permanent restrictions unless I took a nap daily. I lied and said sure I will do that. You cannot be a busy hospitalist supervising an incompetent resident and take a nap! As soon as he got off my service my blood pressure normalized. However a week prior I was hospitalized with preterm labor and syncope. My last month I had unexpected bleeding and was taken off work. In the end I worked to my maximum capacity for 9 months and ended up with induced labor, an emergency C-section, a baby who needed to be in the neonatal intensive care unit and lost three liters of blood. So yes, pregnancy can be devastating on the body. Some need to eat all the time, some need more sleep, some need a nap! ( Doctor's orders!!) cheryle (Dianthus) on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007313 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 22:29:47 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 1007313@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Interesting and varied responses.  Another factor is that if you are in a female dominated profession and if there happens to be a shortage of individuals trained in that profession, the employer is exposed to risk of not finding enough qualified employees if they disregard the personal needs of their employees.  Having said that, it is equally risky to allow the others in the unit to become disenchanted as a result of the accommodations. In Canada, we have stronger social programs in some areas and maternity and parental leave is one of them.  Although mothers are entitled to 15 weeks of maternity leave, there is an additional period up to a year of leave that either parent can take.  Most government and many large corporations provide a top-up to the employment insurance benefits during this period so often the father will take the leave if he's the higher earner and has this benefit.  It has been a great equalizer for young women seeking employment as employers did have a tendency to be concerned about finding maternity leave replacements. I had a relatively easy pregnancy but was beyond exhausted for the first month or two and took a few days off work because I couldn't get moving.  I worked on Friday, was admitted to the hospital Saturday, and had my child on Sunday.  A friend of mine was not so lucky.  She was ill the entire time, carried a huge amount of fluid and could barely walk for the last 4 months.  I sympathize with those women who are so large and cumbersome that you can see it is a chore to just get out of a chair. Irene on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007286 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 21:18:42 +0000 Irene 1007286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Is having your period that hard? I think it's the same idea. Actually, I think any kind of 'abnormal' bodily experience can be different from one person to the other. Friends of mine go through their periods without feeling anything apart from it being a chore. One of my closests friends, however, is known for going to the hospital in various occasions because of how much it hurt. Personally, it doesn't get that bad for me but it does get bad. I get sick. I'm literally ill on my two first days of my period. Even when I take pills to make the pain bearable, I still feel very dizzy, sick and weak. As if I had the flu. And I need to eat all the time. Actually, I always need to eat all the time, otherwise I may faint (quite literally). It's embarrassing to admit to other female colleagues that you can't be a perfect worker on those days because they might or might not understand, depending on how they personally experience it. And it's not like you can take a monthly day-leave just because you are an ovulating woman. If I could choose to have it on the weekends, I would, just to be able to stay in bed all day, but I don't think I can do that. I've been lucky enough that my female bosses have always understood my needs -probably because I tried to be a good worker during the rest of the month- and have even told me to go home and take some rest just by the look of my washed-out face. I think that if we women can't be condescending with each other when only-women things like this happen to us, I don't know who will. I can't say whether your colleague is taking advantage of the situation or not. She might be. But then again, she might really need to eat more often and not stand for long periods of times. Who knows. What are the rights for a pregnant woman/new-mother? Do they get paid even when they are not working? Can they return to their previous jobs when the leave is over? I know the first one is pretty secured in my country. The second one, not so much. Hil on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007275 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 20:52:13 +0000 Hil 1007275@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This woman is in her third trimester right? That is a hard and tiring time even for a good pregnancy. Unless you have been through it, I don't think you can really get it - but I appreciate that you are at least trying to be empathetic. I agree with some of the other posters that it is really not ideal for a woman to be working late into her pregnancy and that working hard and long can lead to some nasty complications like preterm labour. I hope things ease up for you soon! amiable on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007254 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 20:27:24 +0000 amiable 1007254@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for trying to be empathetic.  It really does suck that you have to pick up this girl's slack. Preganancy can be that hard sometimes.  With my last one, I thought I was being a wimp to feel crummy all the time, and pushed through it.  In fact, I pushed too hard, and the baby was born preemie and had to be in the NICU for 2.5 weeks and closely monitored for 3 months after that.  (That to say, that pushing too hard during pregnancy really can endanger both mom and baby). annagybe on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007183 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 19:02:22 +0000 annagybe 1007183@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for all you insight. I think it boils down to staffing issues. We just don't have coverage sometimes. Right now I'm in the middle of a hell day due to multiple people being out. ironkurtin on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007143 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 17:35:45 +0000 ironkurtin 1007143@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm seeing a real schism here between women who have been pregnant and women who haven't. Anna, the short answer is that yes, pregnancy can be hard.  It's easy to assume a person is in full control of their body functions at all times but a pregnant woman absolutely is not.  This is a strange concept to most Western woman who think the mind controls the body, but trust me, it is true. Many women can soldier through the weirdness, some women can't.  Some women feel like they deserve to pamper themselves, others set their jaws.  It depends on the person and the pregnancy.  But saying a pregnant lady should suck it up and be just like a nonpregnant lady is just not right. I also say, as a working mother, that the US system is absolutely set up to screw you when you are pregnant and having kids, so taking advantage of what you can get is A-OK by me. I don't agree with your friends who say the woman is a lazy bitch.  That really IS a lack of empathy IMO.  Think of this woman as having a broken leg or migraines and unable to take the full time off she needs and cut her a break. RoseandJoan on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007139 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 17:31:05 +0000 RoseandJoan 1007139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If women were given the opportunity to stay home during their pregnancy, plus had the right to additional maternity leave, would this situation in turn negatively affect the employability of all women of childbearing age whether they have a desire for children or not?   These are really complicated issues with wide reaching ramifications. kkards on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007106 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:48:05 +0000 kkards 1007106@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ i don't have any experiance with being pregnant. but i do have experiance with being part of (or all of) the team left to pick up the workload. i'm going to suggest talking to your boss about what happens during your co-workers maternity break. how/who will be covering etc. then start the conversation about if any of these plans could be started or phased in now, so that the dept has time to adapt/adjust them. Archer on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007102 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:43:54 +0000 Archer 1007102@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It can be difficult for some people to understand why everyone is not embracing their pregnancy with awe of the incredible thing that you feel you are doing, when you are pregnant. It can be equally difficult for people who crave attention to realise why everything they do doesn't get as much attention as having a baby. Hard to judge your manager's response properly without knowing how regularly he hears you (or other's hear you) complaining about the unfairness of your workload. He knows pregnancy is not an illness and it doesn't tend to be an ongoing drag for him. MsMary on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007055 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 15:41:38 +0000 MsMary 1007055@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, it can definitely be that hard on some women. And it's easy to say women shouldn't work through their pregnancies if they are not operating at the top of their game, but in this country we have no social policies in place to permit pregnant women and mothers to stay home when they need to, and I don't think it's good social policy to say "don't get pregnant if you're not wealthy enough to stay home for 9 months," even if such a thing were enforceable.  I think if I were in your place, Anna, it would be easier on my own mental health to assume the co-worker is operating in good faith and just put my head down and count the days until things get back to normal. elpgal on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007041 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 15:25:48 +0000 elpgal 1007041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anna, can you or your boss talk to HR to figure out whether this is a case of reasonable accommodations or advantage taking? Elly on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007011 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 14:16:44 +0000 Elly 1007011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is a rough one. Some pregnancies can be very uncomfortable and/or have serious complications. Eating after a certain time of day may be the only way to keep it down. Some people's morning sickness can be exacerbated by motion, so she may not be able to eat before work unless she could commute earlier. Some people really do develop complications that keep them from standing for long-- the blood pressure issues mentioned, and or skeletal issues with the back and pelvis. That said, some people work the system and take advantage of things. The only way you'd be able to tell for sure is if she feels comfortable discussing her pregnancy with you/bitching to you. Is she doing any exams at all? Do they have her on a modified duty plan? I would consider asking my boss if she  could do "x" for you because you are doing the call/her exams. Not complaining to him about what she isn't doing, but suggest that you could use help with "x". It plays to a supervisors love of teamwork and team players. If she does have a modified duty plan but it doesn't involve her doing things to help her colleagues, I would suggest you and others mention to your supervisor that since you are doing more exams that you have less time for "X". Although I don't know exactly what you do, it does sound as though your supervisor is maybe clueless about how to really handle the situation. Either it is a very serious medical issue, she is refusing to try certain things, or your supervisor is afraid of recourse or just not willing to suggest things like doing exams from a stool, ect. Some supervisors that don't regularly deal with injuries or disabilities on the job don't really understand what reasonable accommodation is under the law. I hope it is a case of a real medical need. As a person with a disability I do my very best to never rest on that designation or inconvenience others, which means the few times I have to avoid pulling my weight with a certain task most people are understanding because they know I am hardworking and can relate to having a day where they are well enough to work but don't feel up to lifting, ect. People that shirk duties make it a lot harder for women and people with legitimate medical problems and disabilities to get hired and maintain good rapport with co-workers. texstyle on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1007001 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 14:08:34 +0000 texstyle 1007001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ugh, lost my first response. Basically I think society is expected to do far more than is really fair to accommodate people's personal choices these days. I think if a person is unable to fulfill their job duties they should take their leave of absence or maybe switch to a different job (and maybe lower pay if that lesser job doesn't pay as well) and not create additional workload and stress on the rest of the staff.  Edit: I should have added that I realize you don't choose to be sick or unable to do your job in pregnancy but it certainly comes with the territory in a large number of women (most?) so if you don't anticipate it, you're probably in denial. I meant that having children is a choice.  I've had at least 5 experiences working with pregnant women myself and none were able to get through it without taking at least some sick time off and also leaving unexpectedly during the day or taking 3 hours at the doc's office because they were behind schedule. I think it would be much more fair to speak to the employer early on and try to figure out a solution that will work for all involved, instead of just expecting everyone to deal with it when it happens. Transcona Shannon on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006991 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 13:57:13 +0000 Transcona Shannon 1006991@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Every pregnancy is different and they can't really be compared. I've only been pregnant the one time but I threw up several times a day every single day of the entire pregnancy and then developed sciatica and high blood pressure in my 8th month and had to leave work and get bed rest until my due date. BUT I never called in sick, arrived late, left early or shirked my duties while working. However not everyone is able to do that. I do think it's unfortunate that your colleague's pregnancy is resulting in more work for you Anna and there are definitely people who take advantage of the situation.  Janet on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006957 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 13:19:42 +0000 Janet 1006957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Bottom line, some people -- male or female -- will take advantage of ay situation that allows them some leeway to skate through their responsibilities, while others pick up the slack. This might describe your colleague. Or she might really be unable to do much right now. Either way, it sucks, and I'm sorry it's making your already-stressful job harder. Reading this thread has made me kinda glad I've never been (and never will be) through a pregnancy. Kristin L on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006940 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:44:18 +0000 Kristin L 1006940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If she's always been inconsiderate, then I can totally why you feel how you do. I haven't been pregnant, but I do remember one friend how would eat breakfast when she got into work because she usually spent the drive there getting sick in a bucket. I think she had morning sickness her whole pregnancy, so she became very good at getting sick and driving at the same time. But, she still did her best to do her job the whole time. Is it possible for your co-worker to sit down and do her exams? Or to do paperwork or something like that while she eats? Thistle on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006923 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:18:54 +0000 Thistle 1006923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, it can be. Depends on the woman and the pregnancy. Mine was hard. I had heat induced high blood pressure. I get hot, my blood pressure spiked, and I got so dizzy I could fall over. I work a desk job, in an air conditioned office, so I was not taken out of work. I also was carrying 4 times as much fluid as I was supposed to me, making it a very heavy and difficult pregnancy. And my uterus expanded upward not outward, meaning the baby was pushing on my lungs. She would somewhat regularly end up with a foot under my rib age and it hurt a great deal. I also had a very hard time eating. Because of the way my uterus grew, she was also pushing on my stomach. By the third trimester, I could eat almost nothing without acid reflux so bad I would vomit. I had to eat tiny meals all the time to keep it down. DH and I struggled a bit to have her, so I was Advanced Maternal Age before she was born. That didn't help, but the biggest issue was the way my uterus expanded to accommodate her. Nothing I could do about it. So yes, it is really hard for some of us. Eliza on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006922 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:18:16 +0000 Eliza 1006922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ These issues in a work place can be so polarizing.  Who has to leave early for daycare pick up? Who has a dying relative?   Who gets the late night and weekend coverage?  I agree that the problem is often best looked at in an organizational context, as it can become quite personal on the ground.   There is considerable concern about privacy in regards to employee health concerns in most work settings now.  That makes good sense to me.   When my colleagues left slack to be picked up for a health related reason, I felt that the shoe could easily be on the other foot and they would have stepped up to help me. That said, it would be  good if with something as obvious as pregnancy or recovery from an accident or illness, etc., where disruption of schedules is a strong possibility,  departments were both realistic and pro-active in anticipating needs.  Then the responsibilities could be as shared as possible, important areas could be covered, people could chose where to step up a bit, and perhaps some tasks or procedures could be streamlined to accommodate what is essentially a decrease in staff hours.  The problem here seems to be a lack of acknowledgment that there is more for others to do and the way this has become so personal.  "I can't do that...so you have to" is the subtext of these exchanges, when it could be "this is how we are operating now, and we want it to work as smoothly as possible for all staff and patients.  Let's talk in a week and see how it's going and if we need to tweak anything in service of our mission."  I am always aggravated when "chronic" issues in work places are each viewed as an anomaly and addressed without context.   Good luck.  All these variables can create a lot of stress and everyone needs breathing room, with breaks from work.  Traci on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006904 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 11:49:26 +0000 Traci 1006904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm glad you asked, because my short answer is "Yes, it can be that hard." Somehow it seems like the loudest voices are often those who worked a 12 hour shift the night before delivering a baby.  I don't think those are the norm, those are the super stars.  It seems to get lost how hard pregnancy can be.  I remember when I found out I was pregnant with my first hearing story after story of women who worked up until the last day, even women who worked while in labor for several hours!  Because of all these stories, when I was feeling exhausted and unable to work my full time hours, I pushed myself anyway.  Looking back on that time a few years later, I felt like such a dolt for letting some sort of "should be able to" script running through my head impact health decisions I made, instead of listening to my body telling me to slow down.  And I had a normal, healthy pregnancy! She could be needing to stop for breakfast due to gestational diabetes (incredibly common!) or simply to curb nausea.  Would you be annoyed if she had to break to take an insulin shot or anti nausea meds? In situations like yours, I think the problem is more with the system that is so reliant on a very few people that if one is pulling a bit less weight the other  has to shoulder it all.  Instead of complaining to your boss about the concessions the coworker is getting, how about asking what can be done to help take some of the burden off of you.  Are you the only two in the department?  Is anyone else cross trained to step in occasionally?  Say that you are compassionate to her situation, but you're simply not able to cover in all these ways.  Ask who else can  help out the prego.  I assume there's going to be more back up when she's out on leave.  What will they do then?  They can't be planning to simply double your hours, right? In short, I don't think asking the pregnant lady to do more than she feels like she can is reasonable, but I do think asking management to handle the situation better is reasonable.  soobee on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006871 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 09:30:50 +0000 soobee 1006871@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes it is VERY hard.  At least it was for me.  Non stop vomiting, being in and out of hospital for months on end on a drip, constant nausea - like the worst stomach bug you've ever had - for months and months and months and months, feet so swollen that even the largest size mens scuffs or thongs (flip flops) wouldn't fit so had to go barefoot (ugh, barefoot AND pregnant), depression and anxiety.  No "pregnancy glow" for me.  So very worth it in the end but once was enough!  I have the greatest admiration for women who can work as well as grow a human in their own body, I couldn't. RoseandJoan on "Is pregnancy that hard?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-pregnancy-that-hard#post-1006844 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 07:34:54 +0000 RoseandJoan 1006844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Whilst I do sympathise for the members of staff who have to cover for a pregnant colleague (I have been one many times too) I am always mindful of how hard women have fought for maternity rights and how necessary these rights are. With regards to your situation Anna, perhaps you received such a curt reply from your boss because he knows of an issue with her pregnancy which he is unable to disclose or he simply feels equally frustrated but is powerless to change things. As for working when pregnant it is unpredictable at best. I remember being about 30 weeks and dealing with a client when my nose started to bleed, I stood up (to get a tissue) to get the most horrendous cramp in both legs. That same day I had vomited two times in the morning and spent the evening in floods of hormonal tears. This was just a bad day during a very normal text book pregnancy but I feel it does give a little insight.