Hey everyone, I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with my first child. Shifts are getting harder but i'm determined to stick it out to the end. Would love to talk to current pregnant nurses or those who have been there, done that. What i'm most concerned about is pumping once I return to work (I'm not returning to my current position-my experience is med-surg/sub acute so I am looking for something in med surg or critical care). It's hard for me to get a lunch break in a 12 hour shift, let alone pumping time for breastfeeding.

On a funny note-had a patient take a nosedive onto the floor yesterday, got down on my knees to assess, etc., and needed staff assist me off of the floor.

I had my first baby this passed July 4th and worked 12 hour night shifts. I do med-surg and ortho. I was able to work until June 21st. I had to have 2 fetal NST and 1 Ultrasound a week for PIH and it got too hard to schedule night shifts around these tests plus my belly was huge and I could barely bend, lift, or stand at the end!! Stick it out as long as you can, you will know when enough is enough. Some people can work up until the day before and some can't, there are alot of factors that decide this. As for breastfeeding and pumping, a colleague of mine had a baby around the same time as me and pumped while she was charting or during her dinner break. I know it's hard to find time but you have to, plus I thought there was a law that allows breastfeeding mothers to pump, not that it alleviates the guilt of taking a break when you are slammed :). Congratulations on the pregnancy and let others help you as much as they can! Good luck!

I worked up until 36 weeks with my first pregnancy but was put on modified bed rest due to issues on and off with supposed low amniotic fluid. Once I returned to work, it was so hard for me to get away to pump. I worked in a very busy Level II Trauma center ICU and there were times that I'd only be able to pump once during my 12 hr shifts. Patient care comes first unfortunately.

Needless to say my supply dropped WAY down and my son was weaned at 6 months.