Preg ns - fetal deformity/birth defects?

Nurses General Nursing

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I know a few nurses who have children with deformities or birth defects. Is this common? I want to know causes and do not want to ask the parents (that would be rude).

I wonder if the handling of certain medications could cause this and where I could find information on what meds pregnant women should avoid touching.

I know nurses are not supposed to touch meds...but....

Thanks for any input,

;) KellyGirl

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Anyone???..........

...

..................:zzzzz

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Sorry, I know there are chemo drugs they are not allowed to touch, but never having been pregnant, I haven't jept up on it. The person to ask is you ocupational health and safety office. They should have a list of patients and meds you would need to stay away from. I don't think birth defects are any more common in nurses than in the general population

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If you do a search for "Teterogenic" drugs you will probably come up with a lot of info. or even a list of drugs and chemicals that may cause fetal deformity.

The term "Teterogenic" means drugs that can cause fetal deformity.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

chemo comes to my mind.....some of them ARE to be STRICTLY avoided by pregnant women. I agree, check the books for teratogenic qualities of drugs ...that is the only way to know reasonably well what to avoid.

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having had two children while being a nurse I have done a lot of reading myself.

There are a lot of chemo drugs, radiation (including seeding and radiopaic? contrasts for testing) some medications, patients with active tb, shingles or chickenpox if you have never had it. etc. I actually found that a female surgeon who had just had a child was alot more up front then any official from any facility I worked at.

For some of the superbugs I actually called the CDC and OSHA to find out what they said. Amazing but the info still doesn't get to many facilities.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

also certain anesthesia situations likely?

not sure......

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Specializes in Everything but psych!.

When I was pregnant, I was a circulating nurse in the operating room. I circulated on many total joint surgeries. Back then they used methyl merthacolate as bone cement. When a new educator came in, she told me that it was harmful to the fetus' liver. Insisted on not being in on any cases while pregnant. In the end, my daughter was fine. I was so worried though. But, yes, it seems nurses DO have more children with birth defects. One of my nurse friends has a son who was born with dwarfism. I always wonder if anything caused it. The MD insists that it was a genetic spontaneous mutation. Just interesting.

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Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.

I wonder about this too. I had a baby last year that was born with multiple birth defects-he had bilateral cleft lip and palate, an upper spinal deformity and Tetralogy of Fallot (he died at 12 days of age).

I was off from work from week 6 to 18 due to some complications, but when I found out I was pregnant, I was working full time. I think about certain patients I had during that time...I didn't have anyone with active TB and I am not chemo certified, so I don't touch those drugs (the only ones I can give are po like Methotrexate). But I did have several pts with MRSA-I wonder if that had something to do with my son having the problems he did or if it was just one of those things that happen at random (as my OB thinks). Which, when I returned to work, my ob didn't allow me in isolation rooms period. I haven't been able to find many answers on this.

The only other thing about my situation is that I had a vanishing twin when I was pregnant with my son. We found out at 6 weeks we were having twins and then at 8 weeks, we learned I had lost one of my babies. They also think this is a factor with what problems my son had.

Anyway, sorry for rambling....I just have been thinking about this myself.

Ginger

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

It's kind of scary,isn't it?I try NOT to think about it all the time and I am careful when handling all meds...When I consider the pounds of meds pills and capsules that I have crushed or opened in LTC over the years I shiver.....I wonder how much antibx I have inhaled? I am just waiting for the resistant to everything pneumonia to do me in...I have also had a few miscarriages-never could find out what caused either one....

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Specializes in NICU.

I realize this is an old post, but just for the heck of it...

I know in NICU, if you are pregnant you are not allowed to care for babies that have CMV.

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When I consider the pounds of meds pills and capsules that I have crushed or opened in LTC over the years I shiver.....I wonder how much antibx I have inhaled?

I've wondered about that too.

Not to mention all the benzos I've crushed and had go poof!

You'd think I'd have a really peaced-out blissful shift, but alas, no.

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