How much time off did you have to take for morning sickness, doctors appts, etc?

[amldaley]

It seems I am taking at least 4 hours each week off for either not feeling well or doctors appointments. I am home this morning. Miserably unwell. I actually fell asleep and did not even realize it until I awoke 45 minutes later. I am out of sick time at work and now going in to vacation hours. I allowed to make time up within that one week, but it's hard to do lately.

If you WOH, how much time off have you had to take for pregnancy related issues?

[lizzywednesday]

I was miserable during my 1st trimester due to morning sickness and exhaustion.

However, there's a provision in the leave policy called "intermittent leave" at my company that allowed me to protect my job and still get to doc visits and such, even while expending PTO days. (It also guaranteed leave days once PTO was exhausted.)

I get 28 PTO days per year, and probably used 14-17 due to morning sickness and doc visits after 20 weeks, when DD's heart defect was first diagnosed.

I beleive the intermittent leave was covered under FMLA, so if that's an option for you, please consider applying!

[janine]

I was lucky in that with both pg's my MS was limited - nausea and tiredness but nothing debilitating. I did not take any time off. Went to dr. appts during lunch hours. I think I came in late once or twice (for big u/s and sugar test).

In your case maybe speak with your manager so they can maybe work something out? I know it's tough in the beginning when most of us like to keep it quiet but it's good to have at least one person know so there is some understanding.

[amldaley]

I am permitted the time off - but not without alot flack. I have been reminded time and time again how much I am out of my office. I am solely responsible for my work, there is no one to pick up slack or cover for me. When I am not there, it just stacks up. But I work for the gov't, so they're not about to tell me "no". I am eligible for FMLA, etc but that doesn't mean that it makes being out of the office easier, just possible.

I just wondered if I was taking more time off than the average person. And I guess I am out even more with seeing a 2nd OB (MFM) and for allergist and DD's appointments as well. It just seems to be I am out ALL the time lately! Even wondering if I should just start going in even when I feel wretched b/c at least I am there.

[BabyBearsMom]

In my first trimester, I missed maybe 3 hours total. I didn't have bad morning sickness, and when I did, I just muscled through it at work and puked as discretely as possible. I missed 1 hour for my blood test, 1 hour to go to an appointment at 6 weeks because I was spotting and 1 hour to go to my 8 week check up. I always schedule my appointments for 8am or 5pm so I only miss an hour.

[janine]

I am permitted the time off - but not without alot flack. I have been reminded time and time again how much I am out of my office. I am solely responsible for my work, there is no one to pick up slack or cover for me. When I am not there, it just stacks up. But I work for the gov't, so they're not about to tell me "no". I am eligible for FMLA, etc but that doesn't mean that it makes being out of the office easier, just possible.

I just wondered if I was taking more time off than the average person. And I guess I am out even more with seeing a 2nd OB (MFM) and for allergist and DD's appointments as well. It just seems to be I am out ALL the time lately! Even wondering if I should just start going in even when I feel wretched b/c at least I am there.

Well I guess the honest answer is you are taking more time off than others have in the first trimester, or at least I did (I have a DD as well). But that doesn't mean it's not necessary since we are all different (ie if you physically are not able to go in, getting sick and doc appts cannot be schduled around lunch/before work).

[lizzywednesday]

...

I just wondered if I was taking more time off than the average person. And I guess I am out even more with seeing a 2nd OB (MFM) and for allergist and DD's appointments as well. It just seems to be I am out ALL the time lately! Even wondering if I should just start going in even when I feel wretched b/c at least I am there.

When you're considered "high risk", it's tougher.

After DD's heart defect was diagnosed, in addition to standard OB appointments, I had pediatric cardiologist visits to schedule as well. It stunk.

The only good thing about switching to a regional surgical center from the original hospital where I'd planned to deliver was that they had MFM specialists in the same place as the pediatric cardiologists we were working with to monitor DD's condition.

I also lucked out with a lot of things and could work from home for an hour or two before heading to our longer appointments at the hospital because I have a position that doesn't require me to be physically in the office.

[WolfpackMom]

Honestly if I didnt work from home I probably would have had to take an extended leave of absence or have been fired. I was so, so sick I didnt get out bed for days at a time the first 20 weeks. It was terrible. Thats actually one of my big worries and something Ive had to think about a lot lately. I was thinking about changing jobs, but if I want to have another I just dont think I can in case the morning sickness and headaches are as bad.
Then again, I know me, and even if I were feeling wretched, if I had to go in I would. And I would puke while I was there. Im kind of a work a holic though...

[lizzywednesday]

... And I would puke while I was there. Im kind of a work a holic though...

I puked at work a total of once.

Then I was out the next 2 days.

It's not worth it.

[WolfpackMom]

I puked at work a total of once.

Then I was out the next 2 days.

It's not worth it.

Im not saying she should do it, Im sure its not worth it. Im just saying what I know I would end up doing. Some people's work enviornments are just that cut throat. I worked while I was in labor - certainly dont think it was a good idea after the fact but during I had to get stuff cleaned up for while I was going to be out!

[janine]

Im not saying she should do it, Im sure its not worth it. Im just saying what I know I would end up doing. Some people's work enviornments are just that cut throat. I worked while I was in labor - certainly dont think it was a good idea after the fact but during I had to get stuff cleaned up for while I was going to be out!

I think for cases where it can't be controlled and not a one-off situation (getting sick, can't get out of bed), you discuss it with your manager and arrange a set up until things get better (maybe work from home once a week,etc). Even if they permit the time off, it can be looked at like you are taking advantage of things so it might be best to have something formal set up so it's all on the up and up.

For things we can control however (scheduling of dr appts) I do think it's advisable to try to work around work hours (lunch, early AM) - in my opinion it just creates a better perception and is an easy thing to do.

[lizzywednesday]

Im not saying she should do it, Im sure its not worth it. Im just saying what I know I would end up doing. Some people's work enviornments are just that cut throat. I worked while I was in labor - certainly dont think it was a good idea after the fact but during I had to get stuff cleaned up for while I was going to be out!

I'm sorry ... I came off kind of mean. I understood that you weren't trying to advice A-M (OP) to work anyway; I just tried to offer a BTDT and came off badly.

[WolfpackMom]

I'm sorry ... I came off kind of mean. I understood that you weren't trying to advice A-M (OP) to work anyway; I just tried to offer a BTDT and came off badly.

No worries! :hug: I am working on cutting back on the work thing. I even took tomorrow off for myself! lol

AM I hope youre feeling better soon and that you can work something out with work. Maybe you can come in later but stay later (if you feel sick more in the morning than later in the day).

[amldaley]

I think for cases where it can't be controlled and not a one-off situation (getting sick, can't get out of bed), you discuss it with your manager and arrange a set up until things get better (maybe work from home once a week,etc). Even if they permit the time off, it can be looked at like you are taking advantage of things so it might be best to have something formal set up so it's all on the up and up.

For things we can control however (scheduling of dr appts) I do think it's advisable to try to work around work hours (lunch, early AM) - in my opinion it just creates a better perception and is an easy thing to do.

I do agree with this. We do have something formal established, but there is still the guilt that goes along with it. I wish I could schedule appointments at better times, but I am seen primarily at a military treatment facility - no early or late appointments. I did specifically ask my boss what time he would prefer I make the rest of my appointments, all of which are more than an hour away from my office. So I do make afternoon appointments and usually on Fridays b.c that is what he asked me to do.

[amldaley]

No worries! :hug: I am working on cutting back on the work thing. I even took tomorrow off for myself! lol

AM I hope youre feeling better soon and that you can work something out with work. Maybe you can come in later but stay later (if you feel sick more in the morning than later in the day).

Yeah, I will be able to do that starting week after next. DH is going in to the feild next week so no evening childcare but after that I am going to be able to flex my hours a little.

[amldaley]

Thanks for all your feedback! I think I am going to talk to my boss about a 35 hour work week, taking 5 unpaid hours each week, so that the expectation is that I get my work done and I am not out of the office otherwise.

And I am already 10+ weeks, so in a few more, I hope this will subside!

I am VERY lucky to have a flexible job as it is and don't want them to think I am abusing it. But DARN IT I feel wretched today. I even called DH to talk DD to her Dr appt this afternoon b/c I don't think I can drive. I also think I need to just admit that my health and DD's health are not 110% and we will most likely forever be "those people" who have to go to more doctors appointments than others.

Going for Tylenol and a nap now.

:grouphug: to you all for the feedback.

[BabbyO]

So far I've taken about 5 days. I think 4 were for MS. I'm able to makeup my time missed for doctors appts. I just work very hard to have them scheduled at the end of the day so that I don't miss more than 1-1.5 hrs of work in a given day. Then I start an hour early. Of course, I have a very accommodating doctor, too, who will let me schedule appts far enough in advance that I'm guaranteed the 4:45 or 4:20 appt. (I have an hour commute from work to home/doctors office).

As for being sick...there were MANY days where I'm certain I did little work because I was SO sick...I got sick at work at least 1x/week for the entire first trimester and into the second, but I wasn't about to dip into the 10 days vacation I had...I had a few events that I needed them for. I was sick daily...but usually it would hit hardest on my commute home.

[marymoo86]

I took 3 days total - one of which I was being induced. I was lucky - thought I felt great most of the time and those few instances where I didn't I could work from home. Drs appts were almost always at lunch so never had to take time for that.

Hope you feel better soon!

[AnnieW625]

With both of my successful pregancies I'd take about 2 hrs. a month off for appointments, they were either first thing in the morning or as late in the afternoon as possible. With DD1 I think I took 3 hrs. off for the 20 week ultrasound, with DD2 I did it on a day I happened to be scheduled off, so I think I took 4 hrs. of sick leave. I did have to attend a 2 hr. "congratulations, your pregnant class" with DD1 and had to do the gestational diabetes test so those times I had to take about 3 hrs. off of work. With DD2 I was able to do the gestational test on the weekend.

With the baby we lost I lost track of how many hours I had to take off. I ended up taking 5 weeks of sick leave once I found out about the Trisomy 18.