I work for a large company with a lot more than 50 employees and I have been there for 5 years. About a month and a half ago, my doctor put me on shortned schedule for only 8 hours a night(I usually work 12). I went to the doctor (same office different dr) on March 11. I am 31 weeks pregnant. I told her that I felt like I could no longer work the 8 hours a night and that I thought I needed to be put on fmla. She told me that she would, but she didn't think my work would aprove it. After I dropped off the fmla and disibility paperwork, I called my work to ask someone in the hr if that was true. The woman in hr told me that as long as the dr put me out, they had to follow the drs orders. Now the drs office is calling me saying that I have to have a medical reason to be out. Who is right I am confused.

If your doctor says you can only work 8 hours a day and you usually work 12, then they can apply 4 hours of FMLA per day. Is this what you are asking? I'm a bit confused.

I am already working 8 hours a night. My question was do I need a medical reason to be put on full blown fmla.

Yes. The M in FMLA is MEDICAL. You don't take FMLA when there is no medical necessity for it.

Does that mean that my feet swelling and hurting don't count as a medical problem? Can the doctor ask that my work modifiy my job so that I do not stand the entire 8 hours? I have to wait until Wednesday to talk to the doctor again to see what she is going to put on the fmla paperwork.

FMLA is, by definition, for serious medical conditions. Tired feet aren't a serious medical condition which is why, I suspect, that your doctor is saying that you need a medical reason to be out, not because you're uncomfortable. You can certainly ask your doctor to write a note asking for a work modification.