Any Pregnant ER nurses out there?

I know this is kind of a late post. But I recently was pregnant and working as a ER nurse. I found it terribly hard to work being pregnant. Besides the constant "running", terrible sciatica and having to deal with drunks, psych pt's or screaming kids trying to puke on me or kick me, my daughter loved kicking the crap out of me especially during codes. I ended up on 8 hour shifts and in Triage the last month before I had to leave due to premature labor. Try having contractions when your doing CPR. Not fun. ER is strenuous anyways but being pregnant makes it worse, also working with a whole bunch of men whom weren't always so simpathetic telling me I was pregnant not dying half the time was not always great exspecialy with my lovely hormones. I did end up going back full time "3-12's" but quit 3 months later because I hated midnights. So overall yeah it sucked being pregnant while working in the ER.

I worked right up until delivery with my first 2 and plan to with this one also-- fatigue was a big issue and I found myself wanting to triage alot in the last few weeks-- I am holding out that this pregnancy goes as well as the others did!! But I am only 13 weeks in at this point so time will tell!!!

I am a new ER nurse and only 8 weeks pregnant, but already noticing some changes in how I work. I don't mind people throwing-up around me, but emptying the emesis basin is almost too much! Things that didn't gross me out before are becoming a little bit of a problem. I too plan on working until my due date, but because of a preeclampsia issue with my first baby, I may not be able to. I am concerned about infectious diseases and the like, but my co-workers are great about telling me to stay away from a certain patient or not putting a patient with chicken pox in my room if they have the choice. I try not to use pregnancy as an excuse not to do anything and hope that working will keep me fit and active mentally and physically while I'm pregnant. I can't wait until I really start showing so that patient's family members will start to pitch in or whine a little bit less! I never thought of that! I know that the original poster already had her baby, but I hope this helps others!

I know this is a late post, but like the above I thought it might help some that are pregnant now looking at this.

I am currently 38 weeks pregnant and still working full time nights (12 hour shifts). I've definately noticed that I am more tired, but definately not enough to stop me. The only thing that has gotten to me is that since last week I've noticed that I am MUCH more irritable. It's really hard to be triaging a 36 year old that woke up with his hear hurting while having a Braxton Hicks contraction and stay compassionate. While I do have to slow down when I'm having contractions at work I haven't found any reason to not keep going at this point (although at this rate I may have to stop working because I may say something inappropriate to a patient!). It's definately realistic to work until you are due if you are able to and have no complications (and it's safe for you and the baby!). Congrats on being pregnant!