Connie Marshall, spokesperson for the National March of Dimes’ campaign titled Men Have Babies, Too, and author of From Here to Maternity, The Expectant Father and other prenatal-wellness materials, offers these pointers for managers who have pregnant employees:
- Convey a positive attitude to each pregnant employee and let her know that you want to be involved
- Discuss with her ways you can help her stay healthy and on the job until she’s ready to go on maternity leave
- Be flexible, allowing her to change her schedule so that she can keep her appointments for prenatal care
- Give her a prenatal book geared toward prevention of low-birthweight and preterm babies
- Use posters in the workplace to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, such as avoiding cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, and consuming enough calories to gain 25 to 35 pounds
- Provide a lounge that has a couch so that she can lie on her left side during breaks to reduce swelling in her ankles
- Schedule short 10-to 15-minute breaks every two hours to enable her to stretch her lower back muscles and to reduce eyestrain
- Provide seating that elevates her knees higher than her hips to avoid back strain
- Provide a smoke-free workplace
- Provide healthful food in the cafeteria.
Personnel Journal, October 1993, Vol. 72, No.10, p. 43.