3 Legitimate Excuses to Get Out of Work While Pregnant

Pregnancy can be exhausting, and sometimes you just need to take a break from work. Here are 3 legitimate excuses to get out of work while you’re pregnant.

Excuses to Get Out of Work While Pregnant

Whether it’s been a rough week or a long nine months, balancing pregnancy with work can be a challenge.

Perhaps you’re on your feet all day with hardly a chance to sit. You might need to engage with others, putting on a smile even though you feel crummy inside. Or maybe you work at an office job where, despite sitting all day, all you want to do is go home and rest.

As difficult as it can be to call in sick from work, don’t ignore the symptoms you feel. This is a temporary season in your life when it’s okay to be extra cautious and take care of yourself. Sometimes, you just need a day off and get a break.

And we’re not talking about coming up with petty excuses just because you hate work and don’t feel like coming in, pregnant or not. Instead, let’s talk about a few common and legitimate excuses to get out of work while you’re pregnant when you’re just too exhausted to come in:

1. Morning sickness and fatigue

It’s one thing to party all night and have to come to work the next day. But it’s a whole other level when you feel that way because you’re in the early stages of your pregnancy. Oh, yeah… and feeling that way every day.

Many pregnant women barrel through morning sickness, especially since it’s a bit unrealistic to call in sick for three months straight. But some days are especially difficult, like when you feel like vomiting any second (or actually do).

Be mindful of how you feel with nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Any time it feels like you just can’t hang, ask if you can rest at home. 

And if you’re long past the first trimester and still feeling nauseous and fatigued, be mindful of any signs to stop working during your pregnancy. As much as we want to plan when to start maternity leave, being aware of our bodies is key to staying healthy.

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2. Physical pain


Physical pain can make its ugly appearance, especially toward the later weeks when it feels impossible to keep up at work during your pregnancy. You might have lower back pain from the extra weight or pain in your pelvis as the baby is starting to bear down.

These are all reasons to take it easy and call in sick from work. You can use the time to rest and call your doctor for possible remedies to ease the pain.

Expert tip

Many jobs can be done remotely these days. If yours is one, see if you can finish the rest of the day working from home, or work remotely some days of the week. It’s easier to cope when you’re in the comfort of your home where you can take small, frequent breaks in between.

Keep Up at Work During Pregnancy

3. Pregnancy complications

Pregnancy-related complications—from Braxton Hicks to gestational diabetes—should always be considered. As important as your work may be or as guilt-ridden as you might feel, monitoring high-risk complications deserves the top spot for reasons to get out of work when you’re pregnant.

Besides staying home from work to rest, dealing with complications can often mean additional doctor visits and extra lab work to attend to. For instance, I had to collect urine to test for preeclampsia (not exactly easy to do in an office) and listen to my twins’ heartbeats for an hour, three times a week.

From high blood pressure to coming down with a fever, prioritize your health when it comes to pregnancy complications, even if it means having to miss work.

And if need be, don’t discount early sick leave or bed rest. This might be your best option, especially if your body simply can’t take the burden of coming to work.

Frequently asked questions

What do I do if I’m not ready to share that I’m pregnant? I’m worried that my excuses are piling up.

One way to be discreet is to tell your workplace that you have a doctor’s appointment and need to do follow-up visits. No need to dive into details on what to say when calling in sick.

How do I stop feeling guilty for not coming to work because of complications?

Get a note from your doctor. This validates your reasons so you feel less guilty and helps your boss and coworkers understand your circumstances.

Conclusion

Pregnancy challenges can conflict with work, but as you can see, there are many valid excuses to get out of work while you’re pregnant. Your pregnancy is a priority—whether you’ve had a rough week or a long nine months.

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2 Comments

  1. My biggest worry is work life balance. We have a six year old little boy and I work in health care. My role is scrubbing, circulating, and monitoring patients with heart disease and/or having a heart attack. I wear lead and could be scrubbed in for 2-5hours. And I take calls 10-15 days/month. The first go-round was manageable, but with twins, I have no idea how it’ll pan out. Also, I’m 37 so already that puts us at high risk.

    1. Nina Garcia says:

      Balancing work and a twin pregnancy can definitely be a challenge. Go into it expecting it not to be much like your first, especially as far as how long you were able to work and what you can do. You’ll likely get more tired sooner than later, and have to be mindful of complications, too. Definitely talk to your doctor and HR staff about your options, especially as the pregnancy progresses toward the last few months so that you’re able to take care of you and your babies 🙂