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Lots of working, pregnant women wonder how long they can actually continue to work for during their pregnancy and the answer is, probably until labor starts providing you are having a healthy pregnancy and your job doesn't present risk or strain.

Much depends on your individual needs and desire to work. Maternity leave is valuable and often best used when baby is born rather than eaten into before the birth so you may wish to continue working for as long as possible. However, you may find the demands of your job and travelling coupled with the physical difficulties of pregnancy too much and need to cease working some time before your due date. Take counsel from your physician and spend some time considering your decision. The welfare of you and your baby is paramount during pregnancy and you should ensure a healthy environment exists while you continue to work. Here are a few guidelines to that end:

Nausea can be a big part of pregnancy triggered by certain smells and foods. What you once loved may now make you queasy. Alleviate nausea by recognizing and avoiding the offending foods. Both hunger and an overly full tummy can cause increased queasiness so have a stash of crackers nearby to nibble on when nausea hits.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Stay dehydrated by drinking lots of water every day. Get plenty of sleep and allow yourself more time to get ready for work in the morning. Stress and tiredness will exacerbate nausea. You might feel tired much of the time, especially during the first and third trimesters and even more so after a long day at work. Try to get lots of fresh air and move around by taking regular breaks. . If your job is physical, try to take more rest periods. Concentration will be improved as a result of these breaks. You may want to close your office door, put your feet up and close your eyes for a few minutes during lunch or on a break.

In early and very late pregnancy you may be tired by afternoon. In this case, change your work schedule if you can so that you can get the higher-energy tasks out of the way in the morning while you are feeling fresh. If you have a demanding job, try to cut back on commitments outside work and get more rest after work so that you will be prepared for the work day. Regular exercise will help your energy level as well. If you were exercising before pregnancy, continue to do so with guidance from your doctor. If you want to start exercising during pregnancy talk to your doctor about what you can do to stay active.

All help should be gratefully accepted whether in the workplace or at home. You can always return the favor after you and your baby are on a regular schedule and you are feeling like your old self again. Get others to do the daily, physical tasks like housework and shopping and, if you can afford it, hire someone to do these jobs. That way, you can get the extra rest you'll need to do your job every day. Don't fear the bed and sleep when you need to. You don't have to stay up until midnight to get that extra work done, just because you always did before. Your baby and your overburdened body need all the sleep they can get.

Move around frequently to ease the stress on your muscles and back. You may find that standing, lifting and even sitting for long periods of time will make you tired or sore now, so listen to your body. Many companies supply an ergonomic chair for office workers if you have a note from your doctor. Chairs with adjustable arms and height, and a firm back can help. You can also bring in a small pillow to support your lower back while you sit. Put your feet up on a box, wastebasket or stool to take the weight off your lower back and reduce foot and leg swelling. Plan for those extra trips to the bathroom. Don't try to hold it!

If your job is very stressful, you need to rest more and may need to stop working sooner. Stress can be much harder on a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Talk to your boss, your co-workers and others to see if you can reduce some of the usual stress. Talk to your doctor so she knows what you are up against. She may suggest an earlier leave or other options. Learn relaxation exercises, or take a Yoga class for pregnant women. You can use this to relieve stress and relax and you will feel much better. Be sure you talk to your doctor about the demands of your particular job. Some jobs will increase your risk of pregnancy complications.

High risk jobs include: %u2022 The aforementioned lifting especially heavy lifting (strenuous work has been shown to increase the risk of premature birth. Also, the likelihood of pre-eclampsia or hypertension and low birth weight babies is increased). %u2022 Lots of demanding walking or ascending and prolonged standing (premature birth is also associated with long periods of standing). %u2022 Working in close proximity to toxic chemicals, dust, radiation, infectious diseases or fumes. %u2022 An extremely, consistently noisy environment especially if there is a lot of vibration. %u2022 Any prolonged travelling. %u2022 Irregular, shift work with long hours or frequent changes of shift causes fatigue which increases risk. %u2022 Extremes of temperatures. %u2022 You're not going to be terribly supple or have amazing balance so if you job requires those attributes you may have a problem.

If your job is high risk but you must continue to work talk to your boss and see if there is any way you could transfer or tailor your job somewhat until after the birth. Discuss any concerns or negative effects work may be having on your pregnancy with your doctor.