Guide: Exercising Rights During Pregnancy, Medical Tests and Complications of Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a natural process that in most cases develops normally with no special complications. At the same time, every pregnant woman should regularly undergo medical tests and pregnancy monitoring. It is also important to address women whose pregnancy is defined as high risk, since there is greater risk to the woman or fetus or both.
Pregnancy may be considered high risk due to the woman’s medical condition (for example, gestational diabetes or hypertension, medical history, risk factors in the family, parents who share familial closeness, or multiple pregnancy. Occasionally, pregnant employees are medically instructed to stay home for an extended period of over one month – a period known as pregnancy bed rest.
If you are planning to become pregnant or are already pregnant, particularly if you have a medical history that may endanger the pregnancy, you should know your rights with regards to work so that you can gain peace of mind and better take care of yourself.
Important to know
Important to know
According to the law (Hebrew), a pregnant employee must inform the workplace of her pregnancy in the fifth month. A job applicant is not required to announce a pregnancy, and the workplace is prohibited from discriminating between candidates due to pregnancy.
Paid leave due to pregnancy tests
If you are a salaried employee who is pregnant or who is planning to become pregnant, it is important that you know that you are entitled to receive a salary even during days when you are undergoing pregnancy monitoring tests under the Women's Work Act (Hebrew).
The law establishes that calculation of eligibility for pregnancy test days will be based on the percentage of your job and the number of hours you work per day. At the same time, it is important that you remember to submit medical approval of all absences for pregnancy tests to your workplace.
Also important to note that the law does not anchor the rights of self-employed women, who are ineligible to receive a salary for days taken off for pregnancy follow-up tests.
Important to know
Important to know
According to the law, workers are entitled to leave from work to accompany their partner to treatment or tests related to pregnancy (that may endanger the life of the mother or fetus, or when she requires assistance due to a disability), or to be present during childbirth. These days will be calculated at the expense of accumulated sick days.
Complications of pregnancy: absence longer than 30 days
If during pregnancy, you become ill or are not feeling well, you can request sick leave from the doctor treating you and receive payment for sick days from your work.
In certain medical circumstances, the recommendation will be made that you do not work for more than 30 days, to protect your health, the health of the fetus and the pregnancy – you will be granted approval for pregnancy bed rest.
Medical condition
There is a medical condition attributed to pregnancy that may endanger both you and the fetus, and it is important that you rest or remain under observation.
Nature of your work
The type of work, place of work or the method of work endanger you, your fetus or both, and no suitable alternate position was found for you at the workplace.
Once medical approval is received, you can file a claim with the National Insurance Institute to receive a pregnancy bed rest allowance, which is designed to compensate you for loss of income while on leave.
Important to know
Important to know
Self-employed women can also file a claim for a pregnancy bed rest allowance. The amount of the allowance is determined in the first stage based on the advances you pay the National Insurance Institute, and later upon receipt of the income tax return, the amount of the allowance will be updated.
Eligibility criteria for the pregnancy bed rest allowance
The National Insurance Institute established several eligibility criteria for the pregnancy bed rest allowance. For the allowance to be approved, you must satisfy all the eligibility criteria: for all information and eligibility criteria, visit the National insurance Institute website.
Filing a claim for pregnancy bed rest allowance
Immediately after you stop working and begin pregnancy bed rest, you can file a claim with the National Insurance Institute for a pregnancy bed rest allowance. For the allowance to be approved, you must send all the necessary documentation.
For information about how to file a claim on the National Insurance Institute website (Hebrew)
Until the National Insurance Institute receives the claim, you are on sick leave. At the same time, it is important that you know that not every claim that is filed is approved. Every case is reviewed by professional National Insurance Institute physicians, who examine the reason for the leave and who are authorized to determine who receives the allowance. It is important to remember that in any case, if you are an employee on pregnancy bed rest, you will receive a salary – either as part of sick leave (based on the number of sick days available to you) or through the National Insurance Institute.
Coping with complications of pregnancy
With all the discomfort involved during pregnancy, try to remember that this is a desired condition that should make you happy. Try to find ways to continue to function within the confines of restrictions and enjoy this special period – which is unlike any other condition in life.
In a certain sense, pregnancy is a nine-month long preparation for parenthood. Some women immensely enjoy pregnancy while others, such as women who suffer from nausea and vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, weakness or various complications find the time less enjoyable. At the same time, you should remember that your feelings during the pregnancy are temporary and characterize this unique period. It may therefore be reasonably assumed that following the childbirth, the situation will change ahead of the new and exciting stage in life. Pregnancy is also an opportunity to think about what kind of parents we want to be, what example we want to set for our children, what feelings of confidence or lack of confidence we relay to our children – while they are still in the womb.
Even if you are confined to a pregnancy bed rest, remember that the rest is only temporary. Try to maintain a good mood. You can use this time to read all of the books you wanted, watch Netflix, maybe knit a sweater that you dreamed of or arrange the family photo albums. For those who are still unable to overcome the poor mood due to the bed rest, you can seek counselling or assistance – call a hotline, get support or even medications, if needed. Most importantly, you must understand and remember that you are not alone in this situation.