pregnancy don'ts

MickeymomRN · Feb 10, 2002

I worked in L&D during my pregnancy. I took care of herpes, hepatitis all types, and HIV patients. Follow your universal precautions and be careful. I also worked in surgery during my other pregnancy and had countless exposure to x-ray. But everyone's required to wear aprons, pregnant or not. As for lifting, as long as you're not on any restrictions. I had problems and my co-workers helped me out when I needed it. I guess some want to use their pregnancy as an illness.

jrmcdoug2 · Feb 11, 2002

no, not at all. I am not using it as an illness. But strenuous activity and pregnancy does not go well with me. Actually, it's unfortunate.

mdslabod · Feb 11, 2002

When I was pregnant, I was told that if I could not do the work, I had to leave.

That was 25 years ago. I hope that things have changed some.

MarnnaRN · Mar 29, 2002

I am 33 weeks pregnant, still do all of my own lifting, bending, and whatever else is required of me. I did start double knotting my tennis shoes so they wouldn't come untied during the day, and add to more bending over, lol.

judy ann · Mar 29, 2002

I had a CNA who worked her entire first pregnancy on a very heavy hall in a LTC. She never wanted any help and she lifted all those old people with no problems. As a matter of fact, she needed to be induced at 42 weeks. Some people are just strong as bulls!

MandyInMS · Apr 9, 2003

Just did a search and happened upon this thread...I was curious because I am working with 2 "preggos"..lol..both about 10 weeks along..One nurse does her work without any problems..the other says she cannot lift..has no drs/medical reason for this...It's been forever since I've been preggie...I don't want to be unsympathetic, but, this particular nurse has always been on the 'lazy side' even before becoming pregnant.Is this an issue(the lifting)? or is she just getting out of work...again..pregnant nurses please don't JUMP on me..lol...I'm just curious :)

ernurse728, LPN · Apr 9, 2003

When I was pregnant last year I did everything up until the day I stopped working at 39 weeks. I do believe for some reason you can't take care of the kids with Hand, Foot, Mouth disease. I am not 100% sure but I do vaguely remember that from my pregnancy. My co-workers we very nice though. St the end of my pregnancy they wouldn't let me pull anybody up and I did not take care of the violent patients that came through our ER. Which I thought was nice. I will say I NEVER refused a patient or used my pregnancy as an excuse like some people that I work with!

emily_mom · Apr 9, 2003

If my pt is on chemo, I can't take him/her d/t possible contact with the agents. I take MRSA but haven't had any shingles in awhile, so I don't know. The charge nurse always tells us who we can and can't take.

Also, no pt getting inpatient radiation or any internal radiation therapy. We keep the room next door empty also. Women of non-childbearing age take them.

I will do my full work load, but I will not risk the health of my unborn child to do so. No job is that important.

But lifting? At 4 weeks? If she has no other health issues, ask her which side she'd like to lift on.

I agree though that some use it as a way to get out of tougher pt assignments. The uteri of some women.... :rolleyes:

colleen10 · Apr 9, 2003

OK, not a nurse yet, but please be careful around violent patients or patients that could potentially be violent. My aunt is a nurse and when she was pregnant at around 3-4 months with her first child was kicked square in the abdomen by a violent patient which she was trying restrain. Luckily, everything was ok and she did not have any complications later in the pregnancy.

Like many others have said, you are the only one that can take care of you and it's just not worth the risk.

MandyInMS · Apr 9, 2003

Thanks ya'll...that's kinda what I thought..but not working with OB folks prior I wasn't sure if this was 'something new' or what..I don't mind helping anyone if they need it..but just don't want to pull my back out doing my work and hers too..she actually asked for help with a pt other night..he weighed approx. 150 pds..average size man..I went in to 'help' and she said "ohhhh nooo I can't lift at all" I was like wellll how the hell we gonna get him up? she just stood there..he was able to push with his feet and I lifted him under his shoulders as she watched....really ticked me off...that's why I asked this question.Think I may just be toooo busy next time to help(dayum am I mean? )

Jay-Jay, RN · Apr 9, 2003

Originally posted by jrmcdoug2
I'm a mother/baby nurse and about a year ago I was pregnant and loss the baby really early12 weeks. I started bleeding at 7 weeks. I'll tell you what. The next time I am pregnant, I'm not doing anything strenuous. Period. I'm not saying that every nurse should be like that. It's just that it seems I have a very weak uterus.

Nothing at all to do with a weak uterus, jrm. Same thing happened to me. At about 7-8 wks. the hormones responsible for maintaining the pregnancy shift from being produced by the ovarian follicle (I think!) to the developing placenta. The shift doesn't always go as planned, and a lot of spontaneous abortions occur at this time.

RN2B2005 · Apr 9, 2003

I've known some radiologists and radiologic technologists who were pregnant and working. All but one stopped doing fluoro procedures (where you're actually in the room and standing next to the collimator) and other procedures which required them to be exposed to radiation.

The one who kept doing fluoro--a rad tech--wore two aprons when in the room. It's just a matter of deciding how much risk you're willing to accept. Lead aprons are very effective, but there's always radiation scatter to some degree or another. In most cases, though, rad techs are able to keep working, because 90% of radiological procedures don't require you to be in the room with the patient.

As far as MRI goes, there have been no controlled clinical studies, so we recommend that patients who may be in the first trimester not be scanned. However, I had an MRI with IV contrast agent done when I was 9 weeks pregnant, and had no qualms about it (and no adverse effects). Again, it's just a matter of how much risk you're willing to accept.

The only thing I definitely would not have done while pregnant is a CT. The radiation dose and potential for scatter is much higher.