Work, pregnancy & wedding.

If you need a medical leave from work, you will need to request it through the process your work has in place. At my work, this would involve going out on FMLA. A doctor would have to certify that you need the time off due to your medical condition. If you have hyperemesis gravidarum, there are treatments that sometimes work so I would begin with a visit to your doctor.

My work would not give time off just because I asked even if I was unwell. I would need to follow the process. Planning my wedding would be of no consideration to them at all. Only the medical condition.

I’m not sure if you are asking about leaving your job as in taking off work but remaining employed, or leaving as in quitting. If you are talking about taking a leave of absence, you would need to contact your HR department to see if your company offers any options that would accommodate your situation. I am sure the first suggestion will be for you to use your sick time/vacation/PTO on days you don’t feel well. If you are wanting to just leave work for an entire month, the only two options I can think of are an unpaid leave of absence (if your employer offers them), or FMLA. However, if you reside in the US, you will likely not be eligible for FMLA, as it typically requires you to have worked for your employer for at least 12 months before becoming eligible. If you work for a small family-owned type of business, they may be more lenient and more apt to work with you on finding out a solution. Not sure what your position entails, but if it is something that could potentially be done from home, you could also request to temporarily work remotely. Either way, this is definitely a question for your HR.

You need to notify your employer (HR director) if you are having a medical issue that interferes with your work (or if your work interferes with a medical issue). If you are pregnant and anticipate needing time off work to deliver and care for your baby, you should discuss this with your employer as soon as you feel comfortable. Many choose to do this after the first trimester and after they have shared the news with loved ones, but if morning sickness is impacting you at work you may need to have this conversation sooner.

Depending on the nature of your work, your employer, and work benefits and policies, there may be accommodations that can be made to make work more tolerable while experiencing nausea and pregnancy, such as shifting your hours, a remote/hybrid arrangement, a reduction in hours, relocating your office so as to be closer to a restroom, use of paid time off or family or medical leave, etc. Additionally, as others have mentioned, its important to speak to your doctor if your symptoms are severe. Typically vomiting multiple times a day, weight loss, inability to keep down food and fluids, etc are serious and need to be medically treated. Sometimes supplements or medications can help with frequent vomiting experienced during pregnancy.

For most, morning sickness is at its worst between 8-12 weeks of pregnancy when HCG levels peak and then decreases early in the second trimester. 50% of women who experience morning sickness find their symptoms resolve by week 12-14 or so and 80% by week 20. However some experience nausea as early as weeks 4-6 and then it lasts throughout the pregnancy. Depending on the timing of your wedding and alignment with your pregnancy, you may find you feel much better (or worse) then. There is also evidence that suggests that morning sickness is worse with girls than boys, and worse with multiples than singles. Depending on how far along you are (I suspect its still early) you may not have even had a dating ultrasound yet.

Since this is your second pregnancy, I'm assuming you are well aware of the usual tricks - ginger, sucking on a lemon, eating bland foods, having frequent small snacks as opposed to fewer larger meals, etc. If not, do a web search for "morning sickness" and read a few articles and suggestions there. Give them a try. You may find some work wonders for you and some don't work at all.

I would be sure to address your concerns with your medical team at your first prenatal appointment. If that is still several weeks away, you can still contact your team if you are concerned experiencing out of the ordinary symptoms, which would include severe, debilitating nausea like you are describing. Additionally, if you feel your pregnancy is affecting your work, its important you discuss the situation with your supervisor or HR department ASAP.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I have spoke to my HR & they’re are thinking about putting me on LOA. The morning sickness is very severe that it makes me bed ridden. I was prescribed some medications that did not work. Zofran is only working to get me out of bed, but still not able to do the task I was able to prior. Had the same thing with my 1st pregnancy, but I can’t handle it and medication is my only option. Thank you! I am hoping this can go away asap!

View Quoted Comment

So sorry you are having such a rough go and glad works seems to be supportive at this point. HR can be such hit or miss. I really hope your sickness is short lived. Congrats on your little one on the way!