The short answer is no. You cannot be fired for being pregnant under most circumstances. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) both prohibit U.S. employers from terminating employees due to pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions.

New research shows that babies display glimmers of consciousness and memory as early as 5 months old. For decades, neuroscientists have been searching for an unmistakable signal of consciousness in electrical brain activity.

A woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy should be allowed to and encouraged to continue working for as long as she chooses. This actually means you can work without interruption until the onset of labor.

Standing for long periods during pregnancy may curb the growth of the developing fetus, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Previous research has indicated that long working hours may increase the risk of birth defects, premature birth, stillbirth and low birth-weight.

For most women, yes, especially if you’re able to move around some while you’re standing. But if you’ve been told that you’re at high risk for preterm delivery or your baby is measuring small, check with your doctor.

Secondly, all employers must provide suitable facilities for a pregnant woman or nursing mother to rest, which should include somewhere to lie down. If your work is ‘monotonous’ e.g. factory work, your employer may have to give extra rest breaks to ensure your health and safety is not at risk.

For most pregnant women, at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise is recommended on most, if not all, days of the week. Walking is a great exercise for beginners. It provides moderate aerobic conditioning with minimal stress on your joints.

Walking, swimming, and dancing are all safe choices. According to ACOG, women who should skip exercise entirely while pregnant are those with conditions such as heart or lung disease, a weakened cervix, high blood pressure (preeclampsia), problems with the placenta, bleeding, or those who are at risk for early labor.

Second Trimester Walking Workout (13-25 weeks)

• If you are beginning this program in your second trimester, start by walking 10 minutes a day, four to five days a week.
• When you’re ready, pick two days that will become your longer-walk days (15-30 minutes) and add another day of walking.

In the third trimester (weeks 28 to 40) you can carry on exercising as long as you feel well and comfortable. If you feel okay, you can stay active right up to the birth of your baby. Keep doing low-impact activities, such as walking and swimming. You can do gentle stretches to reduce aches and pains.

From our experience, it is recommended that pregnant women walk approximately 3000 – 4000 steps per day, which is around a mile and a half, and that this should be walked every other day through-out pregnancy, as your body allows. ‘