SHOULD I CONTINUE TO WORK ?
Pregnant women who do not suffer from pre-pregnancy complications or health problems can continue to work until labor begins and can resume working several weeks after the birth of their babies . Many employers will request a letter of verification to assure them that it is safe for you to continue working . Very few women require partial or total disability during pregnancy .
If you anticipate that you will need documentation for your employer to be off from work during your postpartum period , please let your provider know during your prenatal visits .
Pregnancy-related disability usually falls into one of two categories :
• Disability related to pregnancy complications or a pre-existing medical condition
• Disability related to a job exposure
Benefits for pregnant workers vary greatly . You should contact your employee benefits department for information on current policies . The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 requires employers who offer medical disability compensation to treat pregnancy-related disabilities in the same manner as other disabilities . Unfortunately , many employers offer no disability benefits and therefore are not obligated to offer maternity leave .
52 My Prenatal Care Book