Pregnant question

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2014

I worked through the first 8 hours of labor w/ my youngest. He was born 5 hours after clocking out. :) With my other 4, I called off the days they were born.

Not saying it was easy, especially with total care ICU patients and rolling them in their beds w/ poles downstairs for CTs, but for me I didn't want to use up any of my FMLA time before the babies were born and then have to go back earlier. Not everyone does this, but I wanted all of my off time with the babies.

Congratulations on your new little one!

fawnmarie, ASN · Sep 7, 2014

My due date was January 1. My last day of work was December 15. I wanted to rest up and pamper myself before my baby arrived, which she did on December 31. I recommend a little bit of "me time" beforehand.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2014

My due date is 12/2. I plan to schedule myself up until a week prior to the due date.... I need some me time....

Im 28 weeks and Im over running these halls already.....

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 7, 2014

I was on the clock when my second was born......forgot to clock out on my way downstairs!

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Sep 7, 2014

I worked the day both of mine were born.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2014

Like BrnEyedGirl, I worked the day both mine were born.

Not as an LPN or RN but when pregnant with my 1st I was a CNA at a SNF.

My 2nd was during my time working in an office. I worked until 5pm, delievered her at 10pm that night.

nurse4ever08 · Sep 7, 2014

I have three more weeks. Work scheduled me for two and said play by ear. It just hurts so much more than the last did

chiandre · Sep 8, 2014

Listen to your body. Congrats!

Just and R.N · Sep 8, 2014

I just gave birth on August 4th and was scheduled up until my due date on the 9th.

I happened to be off the morning I gave birth (I work nights), which is a good thing because I had a precipitous labor and barely made it to the hospital with contractions STARTING at one minute apart.

That being said, I would encourage you to take some time before if you can afford it and your management permits. I felt exhausted all the time and had a difficult labor/delivery/postpartum/recovery which I attribute partially to having pushed myself to work until the last minute.

It's a personal decision, the best advice I can give you is listen to your body. You are doing yourself and your patients a disservice if you are not functioning at 100%.

littlehoneybee · Sep 8, 2014

I was fortunate enough to be able to stop working during my second trimester. I had made the decision that I would quit early after seeing EVERY single one of my pregnant coworkers have complications that their OBs attributed to working on our crazy busy floor. My hat is off to nurses who work all the way through (I know some have to in order to survive), but honestly I hurt so much and was so exhausted I don't know how I would have done it. As it was, I still had complications and a traumatic birth so I shudder to think how working through the pregnancy would have affected me and the baby.

nurse4ever08 · Sep 12, 2014

I can't afford to go off early due to other family complications that came up. But I figure if I need to so be it and pay the most important bills and catch up others later. It just gets hard with 12-13 hour shifts on a heavy unit. I miss 8s but do not miss rehab jobs.