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Chief
Avail yourself of the protections of the Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act.
Your health comes first in this. If you don’t see your caseload letting up before you go out on leave, have a more direct conversation with your supervisor. Talk to your doctor as well! See if there are any work adjustments they recommend. You’re not alone, being pregnant while litigating is exhausting. I’ve done it twice, and at pretty low key jobs, comparatively. Still exhausting.
I think it’s important to ask yourself if this is just a phase or you foresee the rest of your pregnancy being this busy. Being a lawyer and ultimately a mom, is a balancing act. You will never be perfect at either, and unlikely at the same time.
I think you need to acknowledge your own limitations (which is not a sign of weakness) and your priorities. To the extent you’re comfortable, consider asking for a reduced workload/hours.
I don’t doubt that it’s stressful and exhausting, but litigation can be cyclical so if it’s just a matter of getting past this period, be kind to yourself, don’t add extra stress, and push through. If you think you need more than that, ask for what you need. You are your baby’s advocate and no one else can guess what you need. If you are concerned this moment is too much for you and baby, do what you need to do but don’t cry yourself to sleep.
Everyone is different. I have had two kids with vastly different pregnancy. Was completely unaffected by the first and was basically bedridden and anemic for the second. You are not those other women and that doesn’t make you lesser attorney.
Employment lawyer here — you should consider talking to HR about a pregnancy-related accommodation. Of course it depends on your specific situation, but reasonable accommodations often include a temporary reduction in workload and/or WFH (which might help you get some of your time back). It’s definitely worth a conversation! Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy!
HR most likely works with an outside vendor who handles paperwork for accommodations and leaves, so you’ll likely just have to submit medical paperwork to them. It should be fairly straightforward. Good luck!