That Pregnant Waitress

I've been in the restaurant business for many years.  Seven or eight probably.  My first jobs were in other industries.  Movie theater concession stand girl.  Video store girl.  Gas station attendant.  Radio host.  Then following in my big sister's footsteps, I began my restaurant career in Mississippi shortly after high school.  Then I was a college student while being a cell phone call center girl.  Then a bilingual mortgage service counselor.  Then I re-entered the restaurant world where I have been since. 

But last April I stopped waiting tables.  I had started a catering division of my restaurant several months previous to that, and I was able to build it to a point where it was supporting me.  Marcus also had a great job, and he lived with his parents.  We had no problem (most of the time) paying the bills. 

Then we got pregnant.  And then Marcus got laid off.  Christmas came shortly after that.  Then my lease ended, and we moved in together. 

So what did we both do?  What any former server should do when they need extra money.  Wait tables. 

Marcus started at a new restaurant.  He's been there several weeks, but he's still working his way through the new people & new people sections & new people money. 

I should have started again long ago, a few shifts here & there.  Instead I waited until it was absolutely necessary.  I had to swallow some pride because most would consider me a manager now.  I am their boss on several occasions.  It was a little difficult taking that step back in, but that’s what mommies do right? 

So I picked up six shifts in four days.  Like the old days when I worked 12 shifts a week.  Here's lesson number one for pregnant girls, don't EVER work six shifts in four days.  Don't ever work a double.  Even if you need the money.  Because you will be useless halfway into the second part of it & even more useless the next day. 

I remember my feet this hurting this much before, but only after working 12 shifts in a row, running up & down the two story restaurant throughout the shift, and then drinking (lots of alcohol) every night.  They probably still hurt worse this time.  I think once I really did feel like I was going to fall over, toes cramping.  My butt hurt.  My calves hurt.  This muscle in my lower back that I didn't know existed hurt. 

Well and then I made it worse.  Going to the bathroom is difficult when you have an apron on over pregnant pants with an undershirt to cover the pregnant pants & to keep your pregnant boobs from popping out.  So for my own sanity & to maintain the happiness of my guests, I chose not to drink as much water as I normally do.  Bad idea.  Apparently not being hydrated makes you function even worse and causes varicose veins.  Lesson number two:  regardless of how much you have to pee, stay hydrated.  Develop good communication with coworkers so they know to watch your people while you're in the bathroom for the 24th time. 

The third lesson I learned:  sit down a lot.  The first day I probably sat down twice because I thought walking around would be better.  But then a girl who had recently had a baby after waiting tables her entire pregnancy told me this was very bad.  I forgot why. 

Fourth lesson (no one had to tell me this one):  eat right before your shift, and bring a Luna bar or something nutritious & easy to snack on because who knows when you will get a chance to eat again. 

Another lesson:  write everything down.  I used to go an entire night without writing anything down.  Your brain is probably not functioning as it used to, so you shouldn't trust it.  I'm surprised I didn't make a thousand mistakes.

Lesson number six:  be prepared for people to refer to you as that pregant waitress.  Even if you tell them your name.  Also don't be surprised if an inebriated woman looks up at you and shocked yells, "Oh my god, she's pregnant!"

Since that six shift weekend I have picked up a few shifts here and there, and I have managed to not break any of these new rules.  Except for Valentine's Day, when we were so busy, I couldn't stop to drink water or sit down or eat a snack.  I had to pee for the entire 6 hours of the shift.  But since I followed rule number one (no double), I was able to manage the pain until the end. 

And the final lesson:  if you're having trouble sleeping, wait tables.  Because after every night of working, the unbearable exhaustion leads to the best deepest sleep ever. 

What about you?  Anyone do the restaurant thing, or something similar, while pregnant?  What lessons did you learn?