How long did you work for while your were pregnant?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am 16 weeks pregnant, saw the doctor today and she expressed some concerns. She is worried about the amount of lifting nurses do. I assured her that those I work with are very supportive and help me a lot. I do boosting always ensuring that the bed is in trendelenburg. I do assist when patients need to be turned and find it a little hard as I am small and some patients do resist. She seemed to be worried about this and strongly urged me to use my judgement and if I am in doubt don't do it.

Then she did my BP. I have always had a low BP. But right now it is a little lower than normal. (Norm 98/68 today 90/64) She told me again to be careful working and to be aware of signs I might faint.

I am not worried as I know my body (or at least I use to) I think I use my judgement and take proper precautions for my safety as well as my baby. But I am worried that I will not be able to work as long as I would like to. At my last appointment one of the others Dr.s in the practice suggested I would not be able to work as long as I would like (referring to night shifts) I had hoped to work until about 35 weeks. I have made arrangements to have a preceptor student until I am about 23 weeks pregnant (except for 1 week around New Years) after that I am not sure if I will have access to any students. I am an LPN so some of the student programs are not available where I live (the RN students have a lot more opportunities to get paired up with a nurse in the hospital)

So my questions to you are how long did you work for? What special precautions did you take when lifting or turning patients?

Specializes in 5yrs LPN , 2 yrs CNA.

I worked in ltc. and I worked until I was 38 weeks. I am small also and tried not to do much lifting near the end but usually I had help and people were usually really nice about it. some wouldn't let me lift something even if I thought it would be ok...they would say"no no no...your pregnant"..so it worked out ok. and I had a healthy baby girl!!

Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I worked LTC until I was 36 weeks along, and I quit by choice, not because a doctor told me to do so. I had no problems doing the regular nursing tasks, though the CNAs were more apt to jump in to lift so I didn't have to, even though I told them I could. All in all, I had a healthy 10-pound baby girl that will be turning 6 this weekend. :)

Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Many years ago, I worked with a nurse who worked until 3:30 pm (in the days of 8 hr shifts!) who had a backache, and she delivered at 5:15. I worked until October 1st, had a planned c-section October 10. Prior to that, with my first child, his due date was May 24th, and I begged the doc to let me stop working about April 30th. I had him on May 10th. That job was acute dialysis, which meant on-call, pushing around equipment, etc. Everyone is different.

BTW, your BP is not unusual. Just remember to get up slowly, and stay hydrated!

I work on a busy med-surg floor. I had my baby July 4 of this year but I went out June 21. I wish I could have gone out earlier. My back was killing me at the end.

I worked a reduced schedule in my third trimester and worked until the day I delivered.

The lifting was not a problem for me. My co-workers seemed more worried about the lifting than I was.

It helped that I was young, healthy and never had any back trouble ever. A pregnant person who has had a history of back problems would need to take more precautions.

Specializes in jack of all trades.

Worked until I went in labor near end of my shift. Told the oncoming I had to hurry up with report and see ya later. Headed straight up to OB floor lol.

Specializes in ED, OR, SAF, Corrections.

I'm not small, but not really tall either. I worked my regular shift in the ED on a Sat. and my son was born Sunday morning. I had little problem with pre-eclampsia toward the end, but not bad enough to put me down.

My only precautions were to step farther away from x-rays being shot than I normally did (WAY more than 6 feet, even after the 1st trimester), and got help with pulling people up. Other than that, I did everything I normally did - except maybe charting on the tray table sitting on a stool more often instead of standing like I usually did, esp. toward the end when my feet/legs were swelling (repeat after me - support hose).

Worked 8 hour evening shifts until I was 32 weeks and then was on 4 hour evening shifts from 32-34 weeks. Had to stop working because none of my shoes fit. I was pregnant with twins and went to 36 weeks.

Had very supportive co-workers that did NOT want me to go into labor.

otessa

Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

I worked up until the day before my daughter was born (I went into labor in the wee hours of the morning, so I called out that day); and my water actually broke while I was on-shift in the ED with my son - I delievered a few hours later.

My co-workers were actually much more attentive to me and would offer their help to lift, reposition, etc. without me having to ask (I hated asking for help). They were a lovely group to work with.

I didn't cut back on my hours any, I still worked 12 hour night shifts during my 2nd pregnancy.

Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I worked until delivery both times. I did my job as normal, no special precautions other than staying away from pts on radiation or other dangerous things. I prefer to work until the very end, then take more time off to be with the baby after delivery. I still did all of my lifting. I had no problem working until the end other than a sore back, swollen feet, etc. No REAL problems, I should say. I worked med/surg. I had normal/natural problem free deliveries with good outcomes.

Specializes in LTC, Urgent Care.

With my third child, I worked until the day before my planned c-section. I was working FT in LTC and also PT doing wheelchair transports. I performed all of my duties with the exception of any heavy lifting. My one boss,who has no children of his own and knows nothing about childbirth, called me 5 days after the delivery and asked me if I could come to work that week! lol

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