Balancing Pregnancy and Work: How to Make the Most of the Next 9 Months on the Job (Stonesong Press Books) [Paperback]

Nancy Hall (Author)

Book Description

Series: Stonesong Press Books | Publication Date: February 7, 2004

Pregnancy. It's an amazing time of possibility, expectation, and wonder. It's also a time of morning sickness, mood swings, and exhaustion. And when a woman works throughout her pregnancy, all of these private experiences and emotions are on very public display.

If you're currently trying to juggle growing a baby with growing your career, Balancing Pregnancy and Work is the indispensable guide you'll need to make the most of the next 9 months. Packed with realistic tips and personal stories from women who have been in your elastic-waist pants, it covers everything from breaking the news to your coworkers to avoiding workplace hazards, from planning your leave to planning your return as a working mom.

IN THESE PAGES, YOU'LL DISCOVER:
* Your legal rights under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act
* When and how to break the news to your boss
* Budget worksheets to help you evaluate the financial impact of your family-leave options
* A primer on managing pregnancy symptoms on the job, including tips on easing back pain, heartburn, constipation, and morning sickness
* A 10-point strategy for planning a smooth leave that minimizes disruption for your coworkers and allows you uninterrupted time with your newborn
* Practical tips for dressing in style-- without breaking the bank
* Targeted advice for finding the best child care options
* Strategies for smoothing the transition back to the workplace

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Covering such subjects as when and how to tell one's employer, finance planning and how to dress for two (the layered look works well for rising body temperatures), Hall (Working Mother) guides the working mother through pregnancy. The author stresses that knowledge is power, urging mothers-to-be to be cognizant of their rights under the Family Leave Act, which she explains in detail, and not to be intimidated or apologetic. Rather, presenting the employer with a written plan and preparing co-workers for the leave is the "key to a clean getaway." In addition to maternity leave, Hall outlines a number of tips for the remaining time on the job, such as stocking the office with antacids for heartburn and ginger ale for morning sickness. The latter part of the book deals with finding the right caregiver and settling back into the workplace, including such pointers as "Don't make your first day back at work a Monday it will be the longest working week of your life." Returning to work is an "ongoing" process, Hall cautions; while some mothers may discover that the return is a welcome respite, others will find the separation from their new baby emotionally draining. Filled with practical tips and sage advice, Hall's volume is an indispensable guide, especially useful for first-time working moms.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Working moms-to-be can forget about needing 12 different pregnancy books. Hall has put together the relevant elements found in many popular pregnancy titles into one easy-to-follow handbook for working pregnant women. And the focus here truly is balance; each chapter ends with "Keys to Keeping the Balance," a short checklist that summarizes the most important points covered in the preceding chapter. Although not delving deeply into any one area, the basics are covered, including nutrition, how to break the news at the office, dressing comfortably yet professionally, searching for child care, and making the return to work. As with all things, Hall stresses how planning is paramount and has added handy appendixes giving additional resources and worksheets for helping ensure that workplace interruption is minimal. With real-world anecdotes from working moms, this book is valuable for all sorts of workers, from the self-employed to office personnel to blue-collar employees. Recommended for all pregnancy collections. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (February 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579547877
• ISBN-13: 978-1579547875
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,978,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!!, March 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Balancing Pregnancy and Work: How to Make the Most of the Next 9 Months on the Job (Stonesong Press Books) (Paperback)

This book should be required reading not just for every woman who works through her pregnancy but also bosses and co-workers! The best part for me was how and when to tell your boss because that was the most nervewracking step. The author also offers great advice for dealing with all the symptoms we deal with while pregnant and gives advice for dealing with rude/insensitive comments from co-workers. (I know they mean well but if one more person rubs my belly, so help me!!)

I bet most people don't know half this information (both the legal stuff and the common sense info) and it would really help every office with pregnant (or planning to be pregnant) women. I want my HR department to have this in their office next to their health insurance binder (plus I wish I could sneak a copy anonymously to my boss.)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful book, October 8, 2004

By 

Pohadky - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balancing Pregnancy and Work: How to Make the Most of the Next 9 Months on the Job (Stonesong Press Books) (Paperback)

I'm married to an American and was not familair with US laws and customs regarding working while pregnant and the maternity leave regulatons. This was the only book that I discovered to help me go through the process thouroughly. I recommend it to your readers quite highly.

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, November 16, 2009

By 

Anne (RESTON, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balancing Pregnancy and Work: How to Make the Most of the Next 9 Months on the Job (Stonesong Press Books) (Paperback)

This book is fantastic! It covers your legal rights and even gives websites where you can find updates, so the book isn't out of date, even though it was written in 2003. It also gives you recommendations on how to tell coworkers and deal with their comments/actions/assistance, etc. Also included is a section on how to handle your pregnancy symptoms in the workplace. I highly recommend this to any working women (and their partners!) who are expecting/adopting.