How to Promote Work-Life Balance During Pregnancy

Work-life balance: the elusive goal us mothers pursue. In need of some tips?

Work-life balance is a challenge, no matter who you are. When a pregnancy enters the picture, suddenly your ability to juggle these two halves of your life becomes even more difficult.

What does balance even look like when you’re expecting? We’ll take a look at this challenge and provide you with some practical tips for surviving and thriving.

Four Tips for Maintaining Work-Life Balance During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is unique in the sense that you’re facing a limited and specific timeline. Over a period of 38 to 40 weeks, you’re responsible for the well-being and development of your child.

But the fact that pregnancy stretches out for 9 or 10 months makes it challenging in practical terms. You can’t just stop everything you’re doing and take time for yourself.

Work is still present, and you have to learn how to balance your professional and personal lives. Here are four essential suggestions:

Be Up Front With Your Boss

A lot of women choose to hide their pregnancy from their boss early on for fear of being mistreated or looked down on. But your boss is going to find out eventually. It’s best to give him or her as much of a heads-up as possible.

This will allow everyone else in your workplace to plan ahead and adjust for your expected absence. Plus, you’re protected by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Pregnancy Discrimination Act, so you don’t have to worry about that.

Spend Time Resting at Home

Rest is supremely vital during pregnancy. Not only do you need to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, but you also need to ensure the quality of your rest is sufficient. For many pregnant mothers, a condition like sleep apnea becomes more of an issue than it might have been in the past.

“Since sleep apnea can reduce the quality of sleep, pregnant women experiencing the condition can feel poorly rested and worn out during the day,” sleep expert Mark Walton explains. “This can affect the quality of life during pregnancy, as prolonged sleep deprivation can affect the mood and cognitive function.”

In addition to making time to rest at home, be sure that you’re dealing with any underlying medical conditions that may leave you feeling unrested during the workday.

Leave Work at the Office

This is easier said than done, of course, but do your best to leave work at your workplace. Unnecessary stress isn’t good for your body during pregnancy. The more separation you can create between work and personal issues, the better you’ll feel.

Make it a point to finish up your duties and tasks before clocking out. Then, when you get home, you may kick up your feet and enjoy some time to yourself (and your on-board passenger).

Plan Doctor’s Appointments Accordingly

Finally, you’ll have to be strategic about how you schedule your various doctor’s appointments. Most OBGYN offices will be willing to schedule checkups during your lunch hour, or at the start or end of the day, to accommodate working mothers-to-be. Try to schedule far enough in advance so you can land these coveted time slots.

Everyone talks about work-life balance. It can be a major factor in selecting a job or choosing your career. But somewhere along the line, too many of us let our work get the better of us. We might declare that we seek a balance, but we continue to work overtime or accept additional responsibilities.

When you’re pregnant, you really don’t have this choice. Work-life balance is crucial for your health and the proper development of your baby.

Finally, you must make it a priority, even when it’s most difficult to do that. Study the tips in this piece and make it a point to fit them into your plan.

Written by Emily Green for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.