bed rest
Mamas on Bedrest: Explore Your Work Options
May 8th, 2012I find that information presents itself in cycles and currently information on paid leave and work life balance have be flowing across my desk. I had a wonderful interview with Jenya Cassidy, a union worker who was involved in getting paid leave laws passed in California. For mamas with their new little ones struggling with the decision to stay at home or return to work there actually is a third option-taking your baby to work. Parenting in the Workplace Institute is an organization that helps parents and employers develop and implement workplace practices and policies so that mamas and dads can bring their infants to work. Founder Carla Moquin was kind enough to share an hour of her time educating us about the benefits of bringing babies to work for babies, mamas, coworkers and companies. Hear our interview with Cara here.
As it happens, after interviewing Carla she mentioned another great resource called Workoptions.com. (Click here to visit WorkOptions) Founded by Pat Katepoo, work options advisor and work-life consultant, Pat has crafted 4 proposal packages that show folks step by step how to create the work situations they desire. The 4 proposal packages are:
- Telecommuting
- Part Time
- Compressed Work Week
- Job Sharing.
If you are interested in any of these work situations, you simply purchase the proposal templates and fill them in with your information. Pat also offers coaching and help with preparation of the proposals.
The has a plethora of information on how to propose an alternative work schedule or environment and even coaching around getting up the nerve to approach your boss. It really is a comprehensive website! But what is probably most relevant to Mamas on Bedrest is Pat’s article entitled “Five Ways to Return to Work After Maternity Leave”. In this article Pat shares the 5 most common ways mamas choose to work once they have children and she then offers information and materials to get started on each path. Pat also has a website specifically for new mamas called Maternity Leave Mentor. Sheer genius!!
Mamas, I highly recommend that you take a look at the WorkOptions available to you and seek out Pat’s expert advice if you have questions regarding your situation. In today’s economy, most of us have to work, but as the saying goes, work smarter not harder. Pat Katepoo and her show you how! Click here to visit WorkOptions.
Mamas on Bedrest: Introducing the Parenting in the Workplace Institute
May 7th, 2012Mamas, are you grappling with how you are going to work after the birth of your baby? If you have ever considered taking your baby to work, the Parenting in the Workplace Institute can help. Carla Moquin, founder of PIWI, has a passion for helping families and employers integrate babies into the workplace. Using proven office policies and procedures, Moquin helps parents and employers alike create a work environment that is amenable to having babies present. Additionally, the programs have been shown to increase employee productivity in the parents and also increases positive interaction, collaboration and cooperation amongst coworkers. It’s a concept long overdue. Learn how it can work for you!
Mamas on Bedrest: Meet Jennifer Spencer our May 2012 Mama of the Month!
May 4th, 2012
Incompetent Cervix is, unbelievably, the medical term for what put me on bed rest for nine weeks, which makes it sound like my cervix showed up to do the job and just couldn’t figure it out, like a terrible intern. I was irrationally terrified of any age-related complications that might come with having a baby at 34, not of having a short cervix. Because you never know how long your cervix is until you find out it’s too short.
Before bed rest, my husband and I were almost always “on.” Between networking events and political fundraisers and 14 kinds of tweetups every night, we were rarely home. Social media is my profession and my passion, and it’s pretty impossible to turn yourself off when you love what you’re doing. I knew we’d have to slow down for the baby, but never expected to have to come to a screeching halt. I thought I’d learn to appreciate the forced slow down and make the most of the time to reflect on my priorities, consider new strategies at work, and maybe even learn to knit. I had high hopes that I would handle bed rest with dignity and grace. Not exactly.
My husband prepared a day’s worth of healthy meals in a cooler and left it by the sofa for me every day. One day he forgot to pack a fork for me, and I tiraded for an hour. I would scream obscenities at the FedEx delivery driver who insisted on ringing the doorbell multiple times before dropping the package on the porch. I threw things at the TV when I’d see pregnant women in cute maternity workout clothes. I cried every single day.
But I did it. I stayed flat all the time, sitting up only to eat and walking only to the bathroom. And I checked in with other bed rest mamas online, cheering them on, letting their support carry me when I needed a boost. I reminded myself how lucky I was to have a job that restructured my duties so I could still work full time, to have a husband who learned to make incredible salads so I could keep eating healthy, and to stay pregnant week after week.
At 23 weeks, I went on bed rest. At 26 weeks my cervix hovered around 1.9 and stayed there until 32 weeks, when I was allowed to get up. I was weak, my belly was huge, but I was walking again and my baby was incredibly active and healthy. At 37 weeks, my water broke and Eli arrived at 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and happy, healthy, and strong. Now he’s almost 6 months old and I can’t believe how lucky we are to have such an easy going baby, and such a fun, amazing person in our lives.
Most people associate physical feats of the human body with activity, but bed rest is amazing, too. It’s an incredible sacrifice to make for someone you haven’t even met, and it is ridiculously difficult. But it’s survivable, and ultimately the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
