[Disease during pregnancy. Sick-listing among pregnant women in Oslo].

Sick leave among pregnant women has been studied. A large majority of employed women were granted certification of illness, mainly in the last trimester of pregnancy. The average period of absence was 9.6 weeks. 15-20% of the pregnant women received prolonged certification of illness, with an average absence from work of 18 weeks. The most common medical causes of sick leave were health problems associated with painful conditions in the back and pelvic region. There are indications that the amount of absence from work due to illness is growing among pregnant women. We discussed the reasons for this development. Granted absence from work, with compensation for loss of salary during the last weeks of pregnancy could contribute to "demedicalize" the need of leave of absence from work for most women.