Can I Keep Working?

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By Margaret Freda Ed.D., R.N., C.H.E.S., F.A.A.N.

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"I've been a professional nurse working with pregnant women and parenting families since 1966," says Margaret Comerford Freda. "Pregnant women and parents need to know as much as possible about their own health and that of their children."

Margaret Comerford Freda, Ed.D., R.N., C.H.E.S., F.A.A.N., is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics &; Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, and also serves as Director of Patient Education Programs for that department. Since 1993, Dr. Freda has been the Consultant for Nursing at the National March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and the Chair of the National March of Dimes Nurse Advisory Council. In addition, Dr. Freda serves as the editor of MCN, The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing.

Dr. Freda received her Master's Degree in Nursing from New York University and her doctorate in Health Education from Columbia University. She has worked in women's health for her entire professional career. Dr. Freda has published 50 research articles in professional journals, and is a frequently invited speaker at nursing and medical conferences. She has written two books: Perinatal Patient Education, published by Lippincott Williams &; Wilkins, and Miscarriage After Infertility, published by Fairview Press, written with her daughter Carrie Semelsberger, who is also a nurse.

Dr. Freda has received several noteworthy awards, such as the Distinguished Professional Service Award and the First National Award for Excellence in Nursing Research from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), the Woman of Distinction Award and the Maternal Child Nurse of the Year Award from the March of Dimes, the Patient Care Award for Excellence in Patient Education from the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Research Recognition Award from Molloy College, and several Outstanding Research Paper awards at national conferences. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Council for the March of Dimes, and was selected to serve on the Select Panel of the Centers for Disease Control to advise on prenatal health. Dr. Freda has developed patient education booklets and videotapes that are now distributed nationally.

Dr. Freda has been married for four decades. She has two daughters, two sons-in-law, three grandsons, and a granddaughter.

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With all of the physical concerns that pregnancy brings, you may wonder whether you ought to stop working. The vast majority of women can continue to work during pregnancy, even until their due date. Women whose pregnancies are high risk (like those carrying multiples or a history of preterm labor), however, may need to take maternity leave earlier than others so they can get the rest they need.

On-the-Job Strategies

Special Job Considerations

On-the-Job Strategies

Even if your pregnancy is not high risk, follow these measures to stay healthy and rested during your workday:

Take breaks and put your feet up several times throughout the day. Circulation slows down during pregnancy; raising your feet keeps blood flowing, which helps reduce swelling in the ankles and feet.

Try to minimize stress at work. Some research indicates that women under a lot of stress have a higher incidence of premature births. If you have a very stressful job, now is a good time to learn a stress management technique, like yoga or meditation.

Get enough sleep at night. Some women find they are more tired during the day when they're pregnant. To help combat daytime sleepiness, increase your nighttime shut-eye. Or, if you can find a comfortable, private place at work to lie down, indulge in a catnap. For more information on coping with sleep problems during pregnancy, see Sleep Strategies for Mothers-to-Be

Special Job Considerations

A few jobs might pose a risk to you and your baby, in which case you might have to scale back or modify your activities. If you have a job that requires heavy physical activity, check with your health care provider. You may be so fit that you don't need to change anything. Most providers, however, will want you to avoid activities that require good balance; pregnancy changes your center of gravity and makes falling more likely.

Likewise, if your job involves heavy lifting, try to find ways to avoid straining your back, especially during the second and third trimesters, when your abdomen is getting bigger. If you can avoid heavy lifting completely, all the better.

You should also check with your health care provider if you work with strong chemicals in your job. A face mask and thick gloves might be all you need for protection, but it depends on the chemical.