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I could never be a stay-at-home-pregnant-wife. I'd be bored out of my mind. Case in point- I was due on a Sunday, and started my maternity leave the Wednesday before, by Thursday I was already going stir-crazy!

I am a SAH pregnant wife, and I do miss working. I plan on being a SAHM for a while, but I see myself going back to work eventually.

I liked working while pregnant. I guess, though, it wasn't a big deal since my pregnancy was pretty good. I can't imagine being a SAHPW just because I would get bored.

I'm a work from home pregnant wife! It's a nice middle ground, though it has been harder to concentrate as the pregnancy symptoms increase. It was especially rough last week, when the nausea was tougher to manage. I want to eat and nap in a sunny room, that's about it!

It would be tougher if I worked outside the home. I do really well when I can be by myself. I've noticed my work has slowed down, because my brain's like "Ack! Baby hormones! Go be a cat!" It takes me a bit longer to meet goals, and more effort to stay focused.

In some ways working outside the home would actually be easier, because I'd have more busy work to keep my mind off how I'm feeling.

Pregnancy is so hard, but staying at home is hard, too. Maybe it would be easier if I was staying at home by myself while pregnant, but being a full-time SAHM to other kids while pregnant is way harder than a full-time office job. I'm honestly contemplating going back to work before we start TTC for #3 just because it would be easier than being pregnant and chasing two toddlers around every day, lol.

@ArtBee: I have suffered from migraines constantly for the past month (they started the day before my amnio at 16 weeks--I am 21 weeks now), and it has been a (big time) struggle to keep up with my work. I have had migraines since I was a toddler, but not being able to treat them with my drug of choice (immitrex injections) has meant that at best I can take the edge off them, but I can't stop them. So, there is always pain and pressure (behind my right eye) and it surges intermittently during the day. Some days I am at work 10-12 hours but only manage to bill 5 or 6 because it takes so much down time to recover from reading and computer work. My office has been very accomodating and understanding, but at the end of the day, I still need to timely get my work done (most of which is based on hard deadlines). And I have, so far, not dropped any balls, but I certainly feel like the quality of my work has suffered, and that makes me stress, too. I spend most of my weekends in bed hoping that the increased rest and sleep will be the end of the migraine string and that the next wake-up will be the one without a headache. They seem to be backing off some during the day this week, but I still get hit pretty hard every night.

@ MediaGirl: I call it *the wall* . . . the wall that comes down at the end of the day that tells me that I am mentally done. I am physically tired, too, but the daily mental exhaustion is new for me (it used to happen occasionally, but not every day). And I totally get not liking housework but being frustrated that nothing is being done!

@Minnie_Girl: LOL(!) at *go be a cat*! That is exactly what my body is telling me to do! Oh, and I totally agree that my productivity has been negatively impacted . . . it just takes me longer to do everything, and my concentration has definitely taken a hit.

@Lozza: I have had a couple of days where I have broken down at home crying because I didn't know how much longer I would be able to hold out at work . . . you described it perfectly, *so sick and exhausted and overwhelmed for so long*, and I'm only half-way through. At least at the end of last year I had built up an cushion with my hours to make up for my December time/billing, but this year, it has been super tough to build up any cushion to relieve the pressure of my billable requirement.

I think that if I were a stay at home pregnant wife, I would spend all day worrying about all the things that could go wrong with the pregnancy and focusing on the negative aspects- such as nausea. I am not pregnant yet, but I think I will welcome the distraction that work will provide me. I know some days will probably be hard/unbearable, but I think the majority of them will be better than being at home.

I liked working during my first pregnancy because I was always busy! I stay home now but LO keeps me VERY busy!! I am so worn out at the end of the day!

Heck yeah. I teach Pre-K. Twenty-two 4 year olds in one room for 8hrs. You tell me which one would be harder?!? I could barely move and the kids were more horrid than usual.

I was fine with working while pregnant, not that staying home was an option. I planned to work up until my due date (6/2), but got put on modified bedrest on Friday. Not happy! I've been able to do some contained tasks from home, so I don't feel totally unmoored, but I'd rather still be working full time. There are some interesting assignments and opportunities I'm missing out on just now.

But spending the morning in my PJs for the next few weeks isn't the worst thing ever, either.

I'm a busy-body. I worked all through my pregnancy, and intended to work until my due date, but my replacement was found earlier than expected. As it was, I had about a week or two home alone before baby girl was born.

That said, I wouldn't have changed anything. I bore easily, and I'm not one to just sit around the house. I enjoy working, and it never even crossed my mind that I could quit my job and be a stay at home wife (while pregnant).

@Dr.Pepper Yes!!!!! That was the downside to not working, even though I had school! I had more time to over-analyze and freak out, and the time passed slower especially when I was nauseous. Now that I'm not nauseous I'm going to be volunteering and I'm taking more classes, etc, but what you said was true for me!

I think it depends on the type of work. If I had a factory job where I had to be on my feet all day and handle machinery, it might not be a bad idea to stay at home while pregnant. With an office job, other than the stress of dealing with people sometimes, there's not that much occupational risk, IMO.

@MsLipGloss: Sorry you have to go through that too! Look at what I just mentioned to mrsjyw, maybe some of those things can help you too!

@mrsjyw: Just be careful with the tylenol. If you take to much, you can get rebounds and your LO can become addicted. It's tough getting migraines while pregnant- they don't let you take much!

I'm a SAHPW, and I'm happy about it. My last job was stressful with an hour + commute each day, often working overtime. Lots of people work while pregnant, but I'm glad that I don't have to leave the house if I'm feeling sick or tired. I don't really get bored, and I definitely don't stay at home all day every day. I have time to read, prepare for the baby, and cook. I also think my eating habits are generally better now.