The Working Pregnant Psychologist

Many expectant psychologists are thrilled about a new addition to their family. At the same time, pregnancy forces the pregnant professional to adjust to the changes that her new body is offering. The pre-pregnancy feeling of model health and energy is commonly substituted with the experience of fatigue, smell sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and some dizziness. Being pregnant is a difficult adjustment and many expectant mothers need to modify their lifestyles accordingly.

If you are pregnant and continue on the job, there are some small adjustments that you can make to enhance your feeling of comfort and well being at the workplace. The following tips and more are included in the book, Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy and Baby’s first Year (1994).

Create a comfortable physical environment for yourself. Some agencies offer workplace evaluations to assist you in arranging your office in a more ergonomically correct fashion. You can also examine your own office and increase its comfort level by bringing a chair pillow from home or investing in a cushion designed to support your lower back. A footrest to elevate your feet may increase comfort and circulation. A full day at work tends to progress much more smoothly if you are comfortable in the clothes that you are wearing. Professional appearance can be maintained even while wearing elastic waist-band clothing, by borrowing larger clothing from others, and balancing out a wardrobe with some maternity clothes. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes too.

Pace yourself throughout the day. Taking short and physical and mental breaks may help your ability to last through the day with greater ease and comfort. Stretch breaks can be achieved through relaxation strategies such as breathing exercises, visual imagery, or listening to soothing music. For some, it may be possible to schedule simpler tasks during the time of day when you are feeling more tired. Pacing also includes meeting your nutritional needs throughout the day.

Communicate and coordinate with your employer and colleagues. Chances are that many of your co-workers are supportive of you. Communicate openly with your peers about your needs. Plan well in advance for maternity leave in terms of awareness of your agency’s policies, making sure that your work responsibilities are covered, and any other issues that require coordination with your colleagues.

Continuing to work while pregnant is very common, but it likely requires additional adjustments ad coordination. Pregnancies are person-specific so consult with your doctor about ways to best meet your health needs at each of the various stages of your pregnancy.

Reference: Johnson, R.V. (1994). Mayo Clinic complete book of pregnancy and baby’s first year. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

The Colleague Assistance and Support Program (CLASP) is a confidential resource for California psychologists. We can be reached at 1-888-262-8293. Call us, if you or a colleague is coping with stressful issues that you want to discuss.

Dr. Futa is a staff psychologist at The Permanente Medical Group in Union City and a Clinical Faculty Member at Stanford University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is a member of the CLASP Executive Committee.

If you have any questions or contributions for this column, please contact Mary Ann Norfleet, Ph.D., ABPP, at 555 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301; by phone at 650-327-4442, or e-mail at MnorfleetPhD@Yahoo.com

*This article was slightly modified by Dr. Futa for http://www.cpaclasp.org.