Measuring big for pregnancy, eyebrows raised

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I just got hired about a month ago at my new facility. At the time, I was ten weeks pregnant and showing very little only obvious to people who knew me before I was pregnant. Well now...I'm huge. Less than four weeks later I look about five months pregnant. Which is ironic, because instead of measuring fourteen weeks my doctor says I am measuring seventeen weeks. She is concerned because I've had three previous pregnancies and I was always small or right on target. Every pregnancy is different, but because I am feeling movement and I am large she wants an ultrasound.

I went to work and told a co-worker about my appointment. I confided in her because she had been commenting on how large I was getting. I thought I was just fat, so I was really excited to tell her it was my uterus, not my eating!:p Long story short, she told someone (not sure who) and it got back to my NM. She wrote me a little unofficial note in my mailbox asking if I needed any concessions for my twin pregnancy if so, I would need a note from my doctor. WHAT?! No one ever said I was having twins! No one ever said I needed special treatment. I feel a little...betrayed, I guess. This post is more of a vent, it has no relevence to much of anything, I just hope my new nurse manager doesn't think I can no longer do my job based solely on hearsay.:crying2:

Did the coworker perhaps tell the NM out of concern?

Specializes in Pediatrics.
Did the coworker perhaps tell the NM out of concern?

I don't know if she told the NM or someone else. I just got the sticky note, and I knew it was her because she was the only person I discussed it with. I'm not angry so much, but this is a stressful pregnancy already d/t family issues (husband isn't too keen on having another baby right now anyway) and I don't need the stress at work.

Look at it as your NM trying to do you a favor. She's just giving you a heads up that IF your doctor puts you on any restrictions, you're going to need a note saying so. That way, you save an extra trip to the doctor just to get the "can't lift any 350# quads" note. She's just trying to prevent one of those painful exercises in paperwork.

As far as the rumor that you're having twins, well you're oversized for your point in term, especially compared to your previous pregnancies. It isn't a mystery how "maybe she's having twins" morphs into "she's having twins." The only way to keep nurses from trading gossip is to get all the women out of nursing. And all the men. (Even then, the robots will probably still talk about each other.)

Specializes in Pediatrics.
Look at it as your NM trying to do you a favor. She's just giving you a heads up that IF your doctor puts you on any restrictions, you're going to need a note saying so. That way, you save an extra trip to the doctor just to get the "can't lift any 350# quads" note. She's just trying to prevent one of those painful exercises in paperwork.

As far as the rumor that you're having twins, well you're oversized for your point in term, especially compared to your previous pregnancies. It isn't a mystery how "maybe she's having twins" morphs into "she's having twins." The only way to keep nurses from trading gossip is to get all the women out of nursing. And all the men. (Even then, the robots will probably still talk about each other.)

You are right. My NM is a very understanding person, and I am sure she is just looking out for me. I don't know why the whole thing bothers me so much. :imbar I think it stems from my last job. When I thought I was pregnant, but I wasn't (or had an early m/c) I told the unit secretary who was also pregnant at the time. She lost her baby and about a week later I started my cycle so I went back and told her I wasn't pregnant either. Then, I got pregnant with this baby and I was very excited. I told her because I thought she was a friend and as a testimony that she could get pregnant right away again too. She spread the nasty rumor that I was pretending to be pregnant. :uhoh21: No big deal to me, I knew the truth and I know she was dealing with her own pain. However, I don't want a rumor going around that I said I was having twins and then turn out to have a fat singleton. I hate rumors.

Specializes in MICU.

I agree rumors suck, but that could be a possibility as you are larger this time around. Twins sometimes can't be detected on the first US, especially if it is done very early on. You didn't say if you had had one yet or not so good luck.

Specializes in Pediatrics.
I agree rumors suck, but that could be a possibility as you are larger this time around. Twins sometimes can't be detected on the first US, especially if it is done very early on. You didn't say if you had had one yet or not so good luck.

I haven't had an ultrasound yet, so I am a little scared. My children are still young, 4, 3, and 2. I'm a full time student times two (dual majors). The LAST thing I need is twins! But God is in control, so if there are two babies, bring them on!:chuckle

It would have been nice if she talked to you face to face about this instead of via Post-It. Have a face to face with her and clear the air.

Good luck!

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

I don't understand why she would write a note instead of talking to you, or why she would write the word twin when told by anyone other than you. It just feels a little too loosey goosey for my tastes. If it were me, I'd prefer that people didn't make assumptions, but OTOH, you say she is a caring person and she oughtn't be faulted for that. I guess you have to pick your battles. I probably wouldn't say anything either, but I understand from where you're coming.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I get notes in my mailbox because I work nights. My hours are 11-7, and she doesn't come in until 8:30 because of her children. I do work tonight and I plan to write her a note requesting a meeting. I am non-confrontational and I don't want my NM to think I am blowing it out of proportion, but since she knows a version of the story I'd rather she heard the entire truth from me. I don't know why the word twin was introduced, but that's the most disturbing part to me, too.

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