The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book
Wed, Nov 19, 2008
All Posts, Getting Information, Pre-Pregnancy, Pregnancy Life
Given that I am looking to get pregnant soon and that I am a working woman, I recently picked up the The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book. Sounds pretty straight forward, doesn’t it? I’m about halfway done (it’s a total of 572 pages so that’s not too bad) and I really like it. The information is given in a practical, scientific way, but it’s not sterile or hard-to-understand. It also includes personal stories by women of all professions, from a real estate lawyer to a ballet dancer to a state governor.Â
Working Woman’s Pregnancy covers the basic info such as getting pregnant, body changes, trimester changes, and of course the labor process. But it does so with the unique perspective of how these things may affect your job. Here are a couple examples:
How to Hide Pregnancy Symptoms at Work:
- Plan a vacation in your eighth or ninth week when nausea is often at its peak
- Always have a change of clothing and mouthwash with you
- Combine trips to the bathroom with other reasons for getting up, such as making copies or putting something in the mail
When Should I Tell My Boss? (There are several factors to consider in determining the best answer for you. )
- Privacy, specificaly in case of miscarriage
- Honesty, particularly if someone asks you directly
- Ability to hide it, if you are vomiting at work or otherwise showing signs of pregnancy
- Timing, if you are up for promotion or a special assignment
In addition to practical advice such as the examples just given, the book also offers advice from other working mothers, such as this quote from Anne C, a radiologist:
“Disclosing pregnancy in the workplace early on was mutually beneficial. Not having the burden of hiding it made for a healthier, happier pregnancy, and work administrators and colleagues could plan well in advance for my maternity leave.”Â
Or this quote from Peggy L, nurse-administrator:
“No matter what, hide it as long as you can, because after you tell, that’s all you are, the pregnant employee. I kept buying bigger and bigger clothes to cover it up. Just larger sizes, not maternity clothes right away…because once you start wearing maternity clothes everyone knows you are pregnant. I saved these larger clothes and used them after I delivered, before I lost my weight.”
I think these tips and experiences that show real-life ways of dealing with pregnancy are going to be really beneficial and definitely set this book apart from the others I’ve seen. There are also a lot of good resources sprinkled throughout the various chapters on everything from midwives (www.mana.org or www.narm.org) to eating fish (www.cfsan.fda.gov) to buying professional maternity clothes (www.maternitymall.com or www.lizlange.com).Â
Bottom line: this is a great book if you are working and are pregnant (or plan to be) or if you just want a good resource that includes personal experiences. I definitely recommend it.
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Tags: pregnancy books, the working woman's guide to pregnancy
November 19th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Ooooh I ought to get that book!
I told work pretty soon after we found out. For one thing, it’s our first baby and I was just so excited I couldn’t keep my mouth shut for long. Also, I had a number of doctor’s appointments scheduled (for labwork and first prenatal visits) and I figured it would be best to just be up-front about it. I work in a very small office (4 people) so I was starting to get the questions about if everything was all right, was I having health problems, was I sick, so it was easiest just to tell them right away. I also felt less guilty also calling in sick the mornings when I just wasn’t feeling like coming in, because everyone understood what I was going through.
And now I have an office full of love and support for my baby, everyone making sure I don’t get overworked and clamoring to see those ultrasound photos! It’s nice and I’m glad I didn’t keep my mouth shut.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:47 am
I think you must base your decision on your personal feelings and “atmosphere” of your own office as to the timing of your disclosure of your great news (when it happens). This sounds like a great book. I’ll be there for you every minute and always available to listen to you and support you. What a special time in your and the CPA’s life – enjoy this preparation time as you await this wonderful blessing to come.
M
November 20th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Just as long as I’m the first person you tell, I’m fine with that. You can tell your job whenever you’d like
November 21st, 2008 at 10:11 am
I loved this book. I can recommend another one too that I couldn’t live without…The Miracle of Me. It’s written from the unborn baby’s perspective about how the baby grows and develops. Great child-friendly tool for explaining fetal development for families. Uses in-utero photography and rulers/scales so you can the baby’s progress. I got it to read to my daughter but have a soft spot in my heart for it myslf. A must have.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hi Elin- I’m glad it was a good book for you and I’ll have to check out the one you recommended. Erin – thanks for sharing your experience about letting the office know, it’s always helpful to hear what’s worked for us. And congrats, btw!
December 11th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Very useful post. where can i find more articles on this subject ?
December 26th, 2008 at 9:36 am
There’s some more information here if anyone’s interested
February 10th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Definately read “The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy”. It’s hilarious. It’s seriously the only book I read when I was pregnant. I figured it was gonna happen however it was gonna happen, so I focused more on books for what happens once the screaming-spitting-sleeping-sucking little angel arrives…
February 15th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
good job
Added to my feed. I learned a lot reading this.