When I got pregnant, I tried to hide it for as long as possible. My family and husband kept telling me I shouldn’t, and couldn’t, do my job properly now that I was pregnant. I knew HVAC technicians who had bigger bellies than the pregnant belly I was carrying around. Why would they be able to perform their jobs, but I couldn’t? I complained to my boss when he put me on leave. I was only six months pregnant and feeling good. I couldn’t understand why he wanted to put me on leave when I could safely work for another ten weeks. I knew none of the other HVAC technicians wanted me to quit. We had been talking about my pregnancy since I found out. I was wondering if I would have a job when I returned after giving birth. I felt like I had a stigma won me, instead of going through the most natural part of life. I refused to go on leave. I told my boss that unless he could prove I could no longer do my job, or that it was hazardous to my baby or myself, I was not leaving. He thought he pulled a trump card when he called my husband. He already knew I would not quit work just because of pregnancy. My husband was in my corner and applauded my wanting to continue working. He suggested I work in the office until I gave birth, but only because I was so big with our baby. He was more concerned with how much damage my belly could do since I could see anything below it.