Starting a new job while 9 weeks pregnant. How to disclose and deal with nausea at work

Specialties NP

Published

Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

Hi everyone! I'm hoping you can help me with a couple of things I'm dealing with. For those who are pressed for time, I have a TL;DR at the end.

I recently accepted a position at MinuteClinic and will be starting next month. Thing is, I just found out that I'm a little over 4 weeks pregnant (unexpected, but welcome) and don't know how or when I should bring this up with them or how to handle morning sickness once I start.

I've been reading a few threads about the subject and don't want to screw them over, but at the same time I'm concerned that I could lose the pregnancy the 1st trimester and then disclosure would have been somewhat irrelevant. I'm considered advanced maternal age and a high risk pregnancy for a few other reasons so a miscarriage or other complications are not outside the realm of possibility.

My husband and a NP friend with children seem to think that it's best to wait until I'm done with my 1st trimester since I'm not due until September anyway. But I do feel kind of crappy that I'm not letting them know now.

My hours will allow for a lot of flexibility in terms of being able to make MD appointments and possibly even schedule around the worst morning sickness days. Honestly I think this will be a really good position as far as work/life balance in concerned. I just have a tendency to want to be really transparent with my employers.

My second concern is that I will be starting this position at the peak of morning sickness - between 9 and 10 weeks. I'm really worried I'll be vomiting on the way into work or, God forbid, while examining a patient.

For any of you who have dealt with morning sickness while seeing patients, how did you handle it? I'm a little queasy in the afternoons these days, but I know it's early yet and the full-fledged nausea hasn't yet hit. Frankly I'm really scared that my preceptor will be in the middle of showing me a computer program or I'll be giving someone an exam and then have to run to the trash can and vomit. Which while normal with pregnancy would likely appear beyond unprofessional not to mention be incredibly embarrassing.

Does anyone have advice about how to disclose my pregnancy to my employers or how to handle morning sickness? Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance for your help.

TL;DR - I'll be starting a new job next month while 9 weeks pregnant. When should I tell my employer I'm pregnant and how do I deal with nausea (and possibly vomiting) while seeing patients? Thanks for your help.

0 Votes
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Maybe you won't have morning sickness!

I would not tell anyone till second trimester IMHO. None of their business and if anything untoward were to happen, no explanations would be necessary.

These are your employers, not your friends. You have a business arrangement - so keep the personal stuff personal (and I don't mean this to come off sounding mean but truly its just none of their business).

I have a colleague who had some testing done, and then required major surgery with an uncertain outcome. She went around and told everyone about the gory details and then they came to me asking why she was telling them so much detail. (I know that she was very worried and just was venting, but it came off as TMI).

0 Votes
Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
Maybe you won't have morning sickness!

I would not tell anyone till second trimester IMHO. None of their business and if anything untoward were to happen, no explanations would be necessary.

These are your employers, not your friends. You have a business arrangement - so keep the personal stuff personal (and I don't mean this to come off sounding mean but truly its just none of their business).

I have a colleague who had some testing done, and then required major surgery with an uncertain outcome. She went around and told everyone about the gory details and then they came to me asking why she was telling them so much detail. (I know that she was very worried and just was venting, but it came off as TMI).

Great advice as usual TraumaRUs! Thank you. :)

0 Votes
Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Congratulations!!!

I wouldn't say anything until your first trimester is complete. I hope it is an easy pregnancy for you!

0 Votes

I would wait till you are done with your first trimester....it is such a delicate time.

0 Votes
Specializes in School Nursing.

I never had morning sickness with either of my pregnancies. I had a couple of "nausea" moments, but they were just that, moments that passed as soon as they began. Other than that, I was good.

Congrats on your pregnancy, I hope it's complication free and that in September we're welcoming a new little one into the world.

0 Votes
Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
Congratulations!!!

I wouldn't say anything until your first trimester is complete. I hope it is an easy pregnancy for you!

Thank you! Me too! Fingers crossed. :)

0 Votes
Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
I never had morning sickness with either of my pregnancies. I had a couple of "nausea" moments, but they were just that, moments that passed as soon as they began. Other than that, I was good.

Congrats on your pregnancy, I hope it's complication free and that in September we're welcoming a new little one into the world.

I'm hoping that the nausea never progresses to vomiting! That would be awesome. And of course that it's free from complications. Thanks for your response and well wishes. :)

0 Votes
Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
I would wait till you are done with your first trimester....it is such a delicate time.

I agree Laura. Thank you.

0 Votes

I would not tell them until your water breaks (JK)

You are not breaking any laws by not telling them. They are not allowed to ask about it and it is really none of their business until you are more along in your pregnancy. Most people I know keep it low key until you cross over into the 2nd trimester with fingers crossed.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment