Working and pregnant?

Question

I'm 5 weeks pregnant and I work in a great environment, a scrap book retail store. I've worked there before until my husband was stationed at Fort Riley and we had to move, but the owners of the store are like family and treat me well. Anyways, at the end of the day the clean up chores after closing are divided so that everyone has an equal share. Problem being that so far since I've found out I'm pregnant I've been doing all the chores because the other girls I work with leave or they sit there and discuss "business" with the owners. The cleaning involved vacuuming a large 1500 square foot store, cleaning with bleach in the bathroom, and other cleaning solutions that I know pregnant women are not supposed to handle. I hate to complain to them, but I have heard that messing with cleaning supplies and over working yourself can cause a miscarriage. What can I do?

Answer 1

you NEED to talk to the owners. your not complaining your being safe and theres nothing wrong with that at all. more power to you. be safe and SPEAK UP!!!

Answer 2

You are only 5 weeks along, so it can't have been that long since you found out you were pregnant. When did the division of chores change? Do what you think is your 'share' and then If the others are talking with the owners, then sit and talk with them too.

Yes there are some chemicals that pregnant women should stay away from, but I think if you really research this you will see that it is a constant exposure, not a casual exposure to the cleaning chemicals. Are you going to stop doing laundry or cleaning at home because you are pregnant? That is not an option for most women.

You can wear gloves, and a mask so you don't over expose yourself to the smells.

As for over working, what is considered over working is typically when a sedentary (sit down) life suddenly begins to run marathons. If you have been doing this all along, then you can continue to do this until it becomes too difficult - 8 months pregnant or so.

Women have been giving birth for thousands of years, and throughout that time, they have had to work at very strenuous and dangerous conditions. Mother nature provides a pretty good and safe place for the baby to develop.

I think you can do your job right up until you have the baby.

Answer 3

Dr's. orders! Blame it on the Dr's. if all else fails. Tell em you went to your 1st OB visit and told your Dr. what work environment you work in, and although most of the day, it is easy going and easy on the pregnancy, the last part of the day, you need to do something less aggressive, like maybe dishes or light dusting or something else. NOT VACCUMING OR CLEANING USING BLEACH! THAT IS A NO NO. Actually, when you go to your 1st OB visit, tell your Dr. what is going on, she/he will write you an excuse for the rest of your pregnancy to limit your work at the end of the day. This is for the health of you and your baby. You have to be delicate at this particular time. It is critical you take care of yourself and bub!

Answer 4

I would talk to the owners about it actually i have heard that for the first 3 months of a pregnancy a woman shouldnt even run a sweeper if nothing else talk to your dr about this and maybe he could write u a slip on things u shouldnt be doing at this time good luck and congrats

Answer 5

Talk to your doctor about what's happening and have them write you a note that you are not to be doing all of that work - especially being around cleaning supplies! I would also talk to your bosses and let them know that your co workers shove all of the cleaning on to you, and it's not fair. Hopefully your doc will give you a note to take in to work, you should not be working that hard when you are preg!

Answer 6

Speak up for yourself. Approach the other workers very nicely and tell them what you have noticed. If that doesn't change the way they treat you when it come to being far and square then, tell the boss or supervisor. If he doesn't do anything then find another job. That isn't the only job on earth.

Answer 7

Speak with your doctor and find out what he believes is a good amount of exercise for you. Ask specifically if handling the vac is more than you should do. If it is, ask that he write you a note for your work. With regard to the chemicals, again, advise the doctor of which chemicals you are expected to work with and if he says they are too dangerous, he will write you a note to excuse you from using them while you are pregnant.
Best of luck to you

Answer 8

Get a doctor's note about working with cleaning supplies, and stop doing that particular work. It's not your responsibility to do someone else's work. No need to make a big deal about it, just stop doing the work that's not yours.

Answer 9

Very true! Any kind of stress on yourself and especially inhaling any kind of cleaning solutions is dangerous not only for the baby, but for yourself! You better tell those girls to get on up off their booties and do their fair share! :) Good luck and congrats! :)

Answer 10

I think they would be taking extra precautions because they would be afraid of a lawsuit. imagine if you did lose your baby because of the chemicals...go to the dr. and get a note or quit if they are that stupid to make you clean with bleach because they are just asking for a major lawsuit....sorry you are going through this good luck and congrats!!

Answer 11

you are responsible for two lives now... if you don't speak up none of them will this is obvious... so you better put a word in with them. If they as you call it "treat you like family" they should be a little more respectful toward a pregnant "family member" than some lazy employee.