Throughout the United States, there is a constant discussion pertaining to work-life balance. While some, such as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos insist that we “should stop attempting to achieve “balance” within our professional and personal lives“, the reality of the situation is that pregnancies take a toll on women, and they need time to rest.

So, as a surrogate, what are some steps that you can take to give yourself time to breath?

Be Upfront

Weirdly enough, pregnancy is still sometimes viewed as a taboo topic in 2019. Similar to work-life balance, there’s a never-ending discussion surrounding maternity leave, paternity leave, and more when it comes to a pregnancy’s impact on the workplace.

Because of this, some women are apprehensive when it comes to letting their supervisor and colleagues know that they’re expecting. This may be doubly true for those who act as surrogates because there isn’t universal acceptance throughout the country.

However, our best advice is to be honest and upfront about your circumstance. By doing so, you’re granting your employer and colleagues time to make adjustments as needed from how much work to put on your plate to whether they need to hire a temporary contractor to take over some responsibilities.

Strategize Your Appointments

For those going through a normal pregnancy, this is highly recommended. For those acting as surrogates, it’s vital.

Between maintaining relationships with Intended Parents, working with an agency, and attending medical/psychological screenings, take time to strategically set up your appointments.

Many OB/GYN facilities will allow you to schedule appointments at the beginning of the workday, or even during your lunch hour. Try to avoid scheduling them back-to-back to avoid unnecessary stress.

Get Some R&R

Pregnancies are just as physically draining as they are emotionally and mentally. It’s important that you take some time for yourself, both for your well-being and for the child’s/children’s.

It’s a known fact that most adults don’t receive their full seven to eight hours of sleep each night. For many, they can be considered lucky to get as few as five or six. But when it comes to pregnancies, you have to remember that you’re sleeping for two.

To make matters worse, many pregnant women suffer from sleep apnea, a condition that makes it difficult to breath while sleeping.

To get the minimum of seven hours of sleep, we recommend staying in bed for at least eight hours per day.

When You’re Done, You’re Done

Many adults suffer from workaholism.

As a matter of fact, nearly half of all Americans consider themselves to be workaholics. This disease has permeated our culture to such an unbearable degree that it ruins relationships, health, and yes, even productivity.

While we understand that deadlines are important, they aren’t more important than your health, especially if you’re going through a pregnancy. So, here’s the rule of thumb: When you leave the office, LEAVE YOUR WORK AT THE OFFICE!

Going back to our prior tip, rest and relaxation is important. If you’re focused on work at home, then you’re not fulfilling that R&R need.

Summary

Your health (and by proxy the child’s/children’s health) should always come first and foremost throughout a pregnancy or a surrogacy. Ensuring that you’re taking care to manage work-life balance goes a long way to maintaining good health.

To learn more about the surrogacy process or to start an application, please click here.