What Do You Mean You're Not Going To Work Right Up Until The Birth?

How many women do you see work almost up until the day they are ready to give birth to a child?

This year, I have seen three women do this - one of whom worked literally right up until the birth. Her water broke at work.

A new study says this is as harmful for the baby as cigarette exposure:

Working after eight months of pregnancy is as harmful for babies as smoking, according to a new study.

Women who worked after they were eight months pregnant had babies on average around 230g (0.5lb) lighter than those who stopped work between six and eight months.

The University of Essex research – which drew on data from three major studies, two in the UK and one in the US – found the effect of continuing to work during the late stages of pregnancy was equal to that of smoking while pregnant. Babies whose mothers worked or smoked throughout pregnancy grew more slowly in the womb.

Past research has shown babies with low birth weights are at higher risk of poor health and slow development, and may suffer from a variety of problems later in life.

Of course there's a class angle to this.

If you're the new-crowned CEO at Yahoo and you work right up until the birth, the damage does not seem to be as great:

Stopping work early in pregnancy was particularly beneficial for women with lower levels of education, the study found – suggesting that the effect of working during
effect of working during pregnancy was possibly more marked for those doing physically demanding work.

Our culture aggrandizes people who sacrifice sleep, personal health and time with the family for time spent at work.

Work, work, work!

Sacrifice your health, sacrifice the health of your baby, sacrifice your soul!

Work, work, work!