How To Manage Job Stress During Pregnancy

The effects of job stress during pregnancy can be a lot. If you’re a working woman who’s currently pregnant, then the biggest worry on your mind must be:

How to manage job stress during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a time in your life that comes with many changes and challenges. These changes on their own are enough to cause stress in your life. Now, add work stress on top of that and it’s a recipe for disaster. 

Work stress during pregnancy is no laughing matter. It is something that needs to be dealt with in order to ensure the good health of both the mother and the child. The effects of stress during pregnancy can be quite dangerous.

Effects of Job Stress During Pregnancy

• Increase in Blood Pressure

When our brain is confronted with a stressful situation such as meeting that tight deadline at work, it produces a volley of hormones which temporarily increase our blood pressure. This can result in the placenta not getting enough blood flow and since the baby depends on the blood for its supply of oxygen and nutrients, this can slow down the growth of the baby.
(Read more: Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy & Its Effect On Baby)

• Premature Birth with Low Birthweight

Dealing with work stress for a long time can lead to chronic changes in the body's hormone levels, vascular system, and immunity. These changes negatively influence the health of the mother and the baby, causing premature birth with low birth weight.

• Depression and Anxiety

These are the two most common effects of stress during pregnancy. Your brain is already vulnerable during pregnancy and stress only adds to the problem. Stress brings on a wave of negative emotions that may eventually lead to depression and anxiety. This impacts the child as well since the mother’s feelings and thoughts are connected to the baby’s as well.

How to Manage Job Stress During Pregnancy

• Talk to your doctor about your problems and create a plan to deal with them.
• Ask for help from friendly colleagues whenever you need it.
• Eat healthy and get lots of sleep.
• If you work at a desk job, talk to your boss and manager and arrange some extra break times. Do a light walk during your breaks to keep your body physically active. 
• Do yoga and meditation to relax yourself.

Signs to Stop Working During Pregnancy

• If you have a high-risk pregnancy with complications, talk to your employer and stop working as soon as you can. 
• If your pregnancy starts affecting your work performance and you feel sluggish and fatigued throughout the day, consider if it’s time you take a step back from working.
• Nearing the end of your pregnancy, especially after the 7 to 8-month mark, you need to put in a request for your maternity leave.
• If your job is too physically demanding and keeps you on your feet for hours, it can have an adverse effect on your health.

How Much Stress is too Much When Pregnant?

When you find yourself feeling sad, anxious and worried all the time, it may be a sign that your stress is becoming too much for you to handle. If you notice your body getting weaker and more fatigued and find it hard to balance your pregnancy needs with your other chores, take a step back. Find ways to relax, such as doing meditation and yoga for pregnant women.

Pregnancy is a period in your life when your body is home to a very precious guest and it is your job as a host to make this home as comfortable as possible.

How Many Hours Should a Pregnant Woman Work on Her Feet?

While there is no exact answer, since every woman and every pregnancy differs, 6 hours is a good rule of thumb. If you work on your feet for more than 6 hours a day without a break, it may have a negative impact on your body. Remember, pregnant bodies are vulnerable and need to be taken care of at all times.

For high-risk pregnancy, this time is 4 hours.

Now you know all about the effects of stress during pregnancy.

Don’t let the effects of job stress during pregnancy keep you from having a career. Just find the right balance and soon you’ll be back to being a superwoman at both work and home.

To keep your stress under control and make your pregnancy a happy and positive experience, take Garbh Sanskar online classes. Download Krishna Coming Garbh Sanskar App.

Krishna Coming holds regular yoga and meditation sessions for pregnant women on the app. Join today!

To know more, watch: How to Manage Job Stress During Pregnancy 

Job Stress During Pregnancy FAQs

Q1. How can I deal with job stress during pregnancy?

You can do the following things mentioned in the list to deal with job stress during pregnancy:

• Take some time out of lunch break for rest.
• If travelling in a rush exhausts you, request your manager to change your working hours.
• Don’t do house chores as soon as you reach home after work.

Q2. Can job stress during pregnancy harm my baby?

Stress due to the job can lead to high blood pressure during pregnancy. It can cause conditions like pre-eclampsia, pre-term birth, and low-birthweight– all of which can harm your baby.

Q3. Can job stress during pregnancy be a reason to leave a job?

Pregnancy already puts a woman in a vulnerable emotional state and a job stress can threaten your pregnancy. The difficult working situation and toxic environment on top of your existing pregnancy issues may worsen your health. It’s best to leave a job if you feel job stress during pregnancy is affecting you and your baby.