When my wife and I found out we were expecting our first child, I felt that powerful mix of excitement and anxiety. One of the first questions that came to mind was, “How will this impact our work and daily life?”
As a digital marketer with over a decade of experience, I’ve watched many families—my own included—try to figure out how to keep income steady while preparing for a brand new addition.
Finding the right jobs for expectant mothers isn’t just about earning money—it’s about choosing work that respects physical changes, allows time for doctor visits, and doesn’t create extra stress during such an important transition.
Whether you’re looking for temporary work during pregnancy or considering a longer-term career shift that fits well with family life, I’ve gathered some highly recommended options that have helped countless women (and their families) navigate this stage smoothly.
Curious about flexible, pregnancy-friendly job opportunities that actually pay well?
Let’s check them out!
Best Remote Jobs for Pregnant Women
Virtual Assistant
Working as a virtual assistant is one of the most adaptable jobs you can find during pregnancy. This role involves offering administrative support to businesses or entrepreneurs remotely, which means you can often set your own hours and work from the comfort of your home.
As a VA, your tasks might include email management, calendar scheduling, social media management, customer service, or data entry. What makes this perfect for pregnancy is the ability to work sitting down in comfortable positions, take breaks when needed, and eliminate commuting entirely.
Many VAs earn between $15-50 per hour depending on specialization and experience. You can discover opportunities on platforms like Upwork or Virtual Assistant Jobs, or through specialized VA agencies.
The best part? These skills remain valuable after your baby arrives, making this a potentially long-term career option that transitions well into motherhood.
Content Writing and Copywriting
If you have a way with words, content writing offers tremendous flexibility during pregnancy. This job allows you to work entirely from home, set your own hours, and often negotiate project-based deadlines that accommodate your pregnancy needs.
Content writers create blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions, and more. Depending on your expertise, you might specialize in certain industries or types of content. The pay varies widely, but experienced writers often earn $30-100+ per hour or $0.10-$1+ per word.
What makes this especially suitable for pregnancy is that you can work in comfortable positions, take breaks whenever needed, and easily adjust your schedule around doctor appointments or days when you’re not feeling your best.
Look for opportunities on freelance platforms like Contently or job boards specifically for writers such as ProBlogger Job Board.
Online Teaching/Tutoring
Online teaching provides both flexibility and meaningful work during pregnancy. With the boom in remote education, opportunities abound for teaching English or other subjects to students worldwide.
The beauty of online teaching during pregnancy is that you’re usually sitting comfortably at your desk, can schedule classes around your energy levels, and avoid exposure to classroom germs (an important consideration when your immune system is compromised during pregnancy).
Companies like VIPKid or Preply offer opportunities to teach English online, with hourly rates typically ranging from $14-25. If you have expertise in specific academic subjects, platforms like Tutor.com connect you with students needing help.
Many pregnant teachers find that switching to online education allows them to continue their passion for teaching while accommodating their changing needs.
Social Media Management
If you’re already savvy with social platforms, handling social media profiles for businesses can be an ideal job during pregnancy. This role involves creating content calendars, scheduling posts, engaging with followers, and analyzing performance metrics.
The work is almost entirely digital, can be done from anywhere, and often allows for flexible scheduling. You can batch-create content when feeling energetic and schedule it to post automatically, giving you flexibility during less comfortable days.
Social media managers typically earn between $15-50+ per hour depending on experience and client portfolio. You can find clients through freelance platforms, joining relevant Facebook groups for business owners, or reaching out directly to businesses whose social presence could use improvement.
This skill set also transitions well into parenthood, as many new moms continue managing social accounts while caring for their newborns.
Best Flexible In-Person Jobs for Pregnant Women
Massage Therapy
While this might sound surprising, prenatal massage therapy can actually be an excellent option for pregnant women with training in this field. Who better understands the aches and discomforts of pregnancy than someone experiencing it themselves?
Many spas and wellness centers specifically seek therapists who can provide prenatal massage, and the schedule is typically appointment-based, allowing for flexibility. However, this option works best in early to mid-pregnancy, as the physical demands may become challenging in later months.
The average hourly rate for massage therapists ranges from $20-50 plus tips, with prenatal specialists often commanding premium rates. It’s important to use proper body mechanics and possibly adjust your client load as your pregnancy progresses.
Event Planning
Event planning offers the perfect blend of creative work with flexible scheduling. While some events require on-site presence, much of the planning, coordinating, and vendor communication can be done remotely.
What makes this suitable for pregnancy is the project-based nature of the work. You can take on events that occur before your due date and schedule most planning activities around your comfort levels. Many event planners earn between $25-75+ per hour depending on the type and scale of events.
The key is being selective about which events you take on and being upfront with clients about your availability. Many pregnant event planners focus on smaller gatherings or corporate events rather than physically demanding large-scale productions during pregnancy.
Pet Sitting/Dog Walking
For animal lovers, pet sitting provides flexible, active work that can be scaled up or down throughout pregnancy. Early in pregnancy, you might handle multiple dog walks daily, while later you might focus more on in-home pet sitting visits which require less physical exertion.
The fresh air and gentle exercise of dog walking can actually be beneficial during pregnancy (with doctor approval), and the unconditional love from animals is a wonderful mood booster during hormonal fluctuations.
Pet sitters typically earn $15-30 per visit or walk, with overnight stays commanding $50-100+ per night. You can find clients through platforms like Rover or by creating a profile on Care.com.
Just be sure to avoid walking aggressive dogs or those too powerful to control safely as your pregnancy progresses.
Part-Time Jobs Perfect for Pregnancy
Retail (With Accommodations)
Retail work can be suitable during pregnancy if you find the right environment with appropriate accommodations. Look for stores that allow cashiers to sit, provide reasonable breaks, and have management supportive of pregnant employees.
Many retailers offer part-time schedules with consistent hours, making it easier to plan doctor appointments. Some pregnant women find that 4-6 hour shifts are manageable, particularly if accommodations like a stool or extra breaks are provided.
Retail jobs typically pay between minimum wage and $15 per hour, with some commission-based positions offering higher earning potential. Target and Costco are often mentioned by pregnant workers as having relatively supportive policies.
The key is to be upfront about your needs and to know your legal rights regarding reasonable accommodations during pregnancy.
Library Assistant
Libraries offer peaceful, predictable environments that can be ideal for pregnant women. The work typically involves helping patrons, organizing materials, and managing computer resources – all relatively low-stress activities that can be done at a comfortable pace.
Most libraries offer part-time positions with set schedules, making it easy to plan around doctor appointments. The work environment is climate-controlled, generally quiet, and offers the ability to sit for portions of your shift.
Library assistants typically earn between $12-20 per hour depending on location and experience. While this position usually requires being present in-person, the predictable nature and calm environment make it well-suited to pregnancy.
Bookkeeping/Accounting
If you have experience with numbers, bookkeeping offers excellent flexibility during pregnancy. Many small businesses need part-time bookkeepers to manage their accounts, and much of this work can be done remotely.
The sedentary nature of accounting work makes it comfortable during pregnancy, and the clear deadlines (like month-end closing) allow you to plan your schedule around peak energy times. Bookkeepers typically earn $18-30+ per hour depending on experience and certification.
You can find opportunities through accounting temp agencies, online job boards specifically for financial professionals, or by networking with small business owners in your community.
Starting Your Own Business During Pregnancy
Etsy Shop or Online Boutique
Creating and selling handmade items or curated products online can be the perfect pregnancy project. You control your inventory, working hours, and can scale up or down based on how you’re feeling.
Many pregnant women find that creative pursuits like crafting, designing, or curating products provide both income and a therapeutic outlet during pregnancy. Popular options include handmade baby items (you’ll be testing your market directly!), digital downloads, or dropshipped products that don’t require inventory management.
Online sellers typically keep 60-80% of their selling price as profit, depending on materials and platform fees. Platforms like Etsy or Shopify make starting an online store relatively simple, even for beginners.
The beauty of this option is that you’re building something that can grow alongside your family, potentially providing passive income during those early newborn days.
Freelance Consulting in Your Field of Expertise
Pregnancy might be the perfect time to leverage your professional expertise into a consulting business. Whatever industry you’ve worked in—marketing, HR, design, education—there are small businesses that need your knowledge but can’t afford full-time help.
Consulting allows you to set your own rates (typically 2-3x your hourly salary in traditional employment), choose projects that interest you, and work on a flexible schedule. Most consulting work can be done remotely with occasional video meetings.
The key is identifying your unique expertise and finding the right clients who value your knowledge. Commence by reaching out to your professional network & creating a simple website outlining your services.
Many women find that establishing consulting relationships during pregnancy creates flexible work opportunities that transition beautifully into parenthood.
Jobs to Avoid During Pregnancy
While we’ve covered many great options, it’s equally important to know which jobs might pose risks during pregnancy:
- Jobs requiring heavy lifting or physical strain
- Positions with exposure to harmful chemicals or radiation
- Roles that don’t allow for bathroom breaks or sitting
- High-stress environments with frequent emergencies
- Jobs requiring extensive travel, especially in late pregnancy
Always consult with your healthcare provider about your precise job duties and whether they’re safe to continue during your pregnancy.
Why Traditional Jobs Can Be Challenging During Pregnancy
Traditional 9-to-5 jobs often present unique challenges when you’re expecting. Morning sickness doesn’t conveniently wait until after work hours (wouldn’t that be nice?). Standing for long periods can become unpleasant or even dangerous. And let’s not even get started on the commute – what once was merely annoying can become a daily ordeal when you’re carrying precious cargo.
Many pregnant women also report facing subtle workplace discrimination despite legal protections. From being overlooked for projects to dealing with uncomfortable comments from colleagues, the professional environment can sometimes become stressful exactly when you need more calm in your life.
Plus, the rigid schedule of traditional employment often conflicts with the frequent doctor appointments that become a regular part of pregnancy, especially in the later trimesters.
These challenges explain why many women seek more flexible, accommodating work arrangements during pregnancy – something that provides both income security and peace of mind.
How to Negotiate Accommodations in Your Current Job
Before jumping ship, consider whether your current position could be modified to accommodate your pregnancy needs. Many women successfully negotiate:
- Remote work arrangements for part or all of the week
- Flexible scheduling to accommodate morning sickness or appointments
- Physical accommodations like a different chair or workstation
- Reduced travel requirements
- Temporary reassignment of certain tasks
Remember that in many countries, pregnancy discrimination laws require employers to provide reasonable accommodations. Document all requests and responses in writing, and don’t hesitate to involve HR if direct conversations with your manager aren’t productive.
Conclusion
Finding suitable jobs for pregnant women involves balancing income needs with physical comfort and scheduling flexibility. Whether you choose to adapt your current role, switch to remote work, or start something entirely new, the right job can make your pregnancy journey more comfortable and financially secure.
Remember that this season of life is temporary, and the accommodations you need now won’t be the same ones you’ll need once your baby arrives. The ideal solution might be finding work flexible enough to evolve with you through pregnancy and into early parenthood.
Have you found a great job that worked well during pregnancy?
What creative solutions have you discovered for balancing work and pregnancy?
I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!
