Pregnancy Work Restrictions

General Activity Restrictions for Pregnancy

In general, pregnancy should not restrict someone from normal activity. However, as the pregnancy progresses, certain common-sense rules and pregnancy work restrictions certainly apply. These include:

First trimester (from conception through 13 weeks): Allowance to adequately hydrate on a regular basis and provide the employee/patient time off to drink and use the restroom as needed. There are no significant lifting restrictions other than that of lifting with proper physiologic guidance using only the legs and not the back.

Second trimester (13-26 weeks): Restrictions include no lifting greater than 25 pounds and breaks every 2-4 hours for at least 10 minutes to allow the employee/patient to hydrate properly and use the restroom.

After 26 weeks: There should be no extended work hours, with a 40-hour week being the maximum for the employee/patient. No travel further than 50 miles is allowed. Lifting is restricted to no more than 20 pounds. No climbing on ladders or stools is allowed.

Throughout the entire pregnancy, there should be no exposure to toxic or volatile chemicals and other environmental toxins. There should be adequate ventilation, and the patient should not participate in environments of extreme heat or cold.

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