I was fired for being pregnant

I found out I was pregnant with my first child in October 2005. Up until that time I was fully convinced that I could not have children due to a medical issue called PSOC. I told my boss and coworkers about the baby as soon as I was given the results! This was a miracle...and I told everyone! At 8 weeks pregnant..I began to cramp and contract. I was woking the night it happened (at the hospital) so I was seen in the ER immediately. They diagnosed me as "threatened abortion"...where my body sees the baby as a foriegn object and tries to abort it. Luckily with a great ER physician and OBGYN we both made it through that horrible night. My OBGYN gave me a note for limited bedrest...meaning I could no longer lift anything over 10 lbs the rest of the pregnancy...and that I needed to be able to sit at work (something I was already doing). My supervisor came in when I almost miscarried...she acted very concerned. However...when I gave her the doctors note...she changed immediately. I started getting called into the office for my lack of participation, my attitude about working..etc. The only thing I can figure is that I refused to carry the 20+ lbs of paper to the copy machine...because of the doctor's note. I explained to my doctor the things that were going on at work and he told me that my Blood pressure was too high, and the baby was again..at risk. He determined that at 4 months pregant I had to be placed on full bedrest because of my Blood pressure. He was trying to prevent preeclampsia and toxemia. I called that hospital and explained the situation...had my husband take the written doctors order to them as proof...and they were NOT HAPPY. Infact only a few weeks later...I got a call and a letter in the mail with my pink slip in it. I was told that the hospital simply could not hold my position open for so long and If I didn't come back immediatly I would lose my job. I, having almost lost my baby...and in serious medical distress,...determined that my baby was more important at that time...and didn't go back. I was told that since I didn't do that they wanted I would loose all my seniority and have to start all over IF I chose to re-apply. I did re-apply...I loved my job..and I was good at it! They didn't so much as offer an interview...yet new hires were coming in left and right! I have not been able to get a job since then...(4 years later) and I beleive they are giving false or negative references about me. What can I do? For those of you who wonder...Like I do..I delvered a beautiful baby girl a week early (with pre-eclampsia and toxemia working against me) and other than my own health issues from the pregancy/delivery...the baby was healthy as can be!

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Sphincter Detector (05/27/2010) First of all, if I'm not mistaken, it is completely illegal to fire someone by mail, futhermore it is unfathomable for an organisation especially a hospital for god sake, to force a pregnant woman with known pregnancy complications , to lift heavy objects then fire her for not performing. Unless there is a piece missing to this story here, this was a clear cut wrongfull dismissmal which would have gotten you a huge payday. But four years later, it's too late, statute of limitations. Next time around, you just take a short term disability leave, then they can't fire you, and infact WSIB has to pay you full pay for the first 3 months, then you go on long term for the remaining 6 months of your pregnancy,'do not pass go', just collect 60% right up to the date of Maternity leave where they pay the 60% for the next year. I went thru a similar situation where I had to have reconstructive surgery on my feet, which left me in a wheelchair for 6 months. Of course my wonderful superman doctor sait it would only take 2 weeks to heal, but I knew better. Of course my office wanted me back after two weeks, so I filed for disability. Found another doctor to sign the slip and took the full time I needed to recover, not being harassed by my employer. They wouldn't dare try to fire me after the disability because that would have been too obvious. By the time enough time passed to put some distance between my leave and the present date so they could fire me, my boss moved on and I got a new boss and clean slate. It all worked out.