Been on the job four months and got pregnant

smk1, LPN · Aug 14, 2005

I need advise. I'm a new graduate who's only been working for four months at a large NY hospital. I've started having morning sickness (a misnomer because the nausea lasts the whole entire day) and I feel tired all the time. I went to an OB/GYN and the blood test confirmed that I'm pregnant. I've called in sick twice already. I'm worried because I don't know how to control the nausea, tired feeling and the sleepiness, and I'm scared that I might lose my job if I continue to call in sick. I'm also afraid that if I try to fight it off that I'm not going to be a safe nurse and might make errors. Has anybody ever in this situation before and how did you manage? Thank you in advance.

i don't have any nursing or medical advice as i'm not a nurse yet, however i have been in the "morning" sickness boat (lasted all day for me too). What i found that helps is to eat a couple of plaing crackers (like saltines) before you get up in the morning. Keep them by your bed and eat a couple before you stand up and before you brush your teeth. (i know it sounds icky but this kept me from having the gagging and heaving while brushing my teeth.) Also sipping on ice water or ice cold ginger ale helped me. take your prenatals before you go to bed, otherwise you'll just vomit them up and not receive any of the benefits. If it gets too bad, talk to your doctor and i think they can give you something to help. Also when you get home GET YOUR REST. Congratualations and good luck!

er426 · Aug 14, 2005

i don't have any nursing or medical advice as i'm not a nurse yet, however i have been in the "morning" sickness boat (lasted all day for me too). What i found that helps is to eat a couple of plaing crackers (like saltines) before you get up in the morning. Keep them by your bed and eat a couple before you stand up and before you brush your teeth. (i know it sounds icky but this kept me from having the gagging and heaving while brushing my teeth.) Also sipping on ice water or ice cold ginger ale helped me. take your prenatals before you go to bed, otherwise you'll just vomit them up and not receive any of the benefits. If it gets too bad, talk to your doctor and i think they can give you something to help. Also when you get home GET YOUR REST. Congratualations and good luck!

Thank you very much. I'll definitely try it.

vamedic4, EMT-P · Aug 15, 2005

Number one...first and foremost - TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!! Talk to your doctor about your condition and both of you decide on an action plan, whether it's meds for your nausea, bed rest, whatever. Second, and equally important..find out about any FMLA coverage you may be eligible for. (Family and Medical Leave Act). You may be able to take time off if you continue to have serious problems related to your pregnancy. Once you are given FMLA time, you can take it intermittently (read - "as needed") as opposed to taking it all at once (like after the birth of a child)...but be advised that if you take it before the birth of your child, the time you use will be subracted from the time you are able to take once your child is born.

Example: I work 36 hours a week (3 12 hour shifts)

I called in 5 times during my second and third trimesters (60 hours)

I'm able to take up to 6 weeks off after the birth of my child (6 weeks x 36 hours per week = 216 hours available minus the 60 I've already taken) leaves me with 146 hours, or just over 4 weeks available to me. I hope I have helped. They can NOT terminate or suspend, or reprimand you in any way if you are covered under FMLA. Have a great day!!

vamedic4 :rolleyes:

I need advise. I'm a new graduate who's only been working for four months at a large NY hospital. I've started having morning sickness (a misnomer because the nausea lasts the whole entire day) and I feel tired all the time. I went to an OB/GYN and the blood test confirmed that I'm pregnant. I've called in sick twice already. I'm worried because I don't know how to control the nausea, tired feeling and the sleepiness, and I'm scared that I might lose my job if I continue to call in sick. I'm also afraid that if I try to fight it off that I'm not going to be a safe nurse and might make errors. Has anybody ever in this situation before and how did you manage? Thank you in advance

ohiomom · Aug 16, 2005

Number one...first and foremost - TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!! Talk to your doctor about your condition and both of you decide on an action plan, whether it's meds for your nausea, bed rest, whatever. Second, and equally important..find out about any FMLA coverage you may be eligible for. (Family and Medical Leave Act). You may be able to take time off if you continue to have serious problems related to your pregnancy. Once you are given FMLA time, you can take it intermittently (read - "as needed") as opposed to taking it all at once (like after the birth of a child)...but be advised that if you take it before the birth of your child, the time you use will be subracted from the time you are able to take once your child is born.
Example: I work 36 hours a week (3 12 hour shifts)
I called in 5 times during my second and third trimesters (60 hours)
I'm able to take up to 6 weeks off after the birth of my child (6 weeks x 36 hours per week = 216 hours available minus the 60 I've already taken) leaves me with 146 hours, or just over 4 weeks available to me. I hope I have helped. They can NOT terminate or suspend, or reprimand you in any way if you are covered under FMLA. Have a great day!!
vamedic4
I need advise. I'm a new graduate who's only been working for four months at a large NY hospital. I've started having morning sickness (a misnomer because the nausea lasts the whole entire day) and I feel tired all the time. I went to an OB/GYN and the blood test confirmed that I'm pregnant. I've called in sick twice already. I'm worried because I don't know how to control the nausea, tired feeling and the sleepiness, and I'm scared that I might lose my job if I continue to call in sick. I'm also afraid that if I try to fight it off that I'm not going to be a safe nurse and might make errors. Has anybody ever in this situation before and how did you manage? Thank you in advance

I thought FMLA provided for 12 weeks a year. Short term disability I believe only covers 6 weeks for pregnancy/maternity leave, but you should be able to get a total of 12 weeks if you go FMLA, 6 paid from std and 6 unpaid. That's what I did my last job...not in healthcare though.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 17, 2005

If you're working for a large hospital then they have seen many of their female employees in this situation. Have you told your manager yet? You should so they know what's up. Most places I've worked will work with the moms-to-be. You'd be surprised at how attentive and supportive to your situation that your co-workers will be as well. When I was a nursing supervisor, we utilized our PRN staff to cover our pregnant nurses who had to call in sick so they wouldn't be charged with a sick day. What I have seen is that if a woman is having to take so many days off because of her pregnancy they (their managers) will recommend that she take a medical leave of absence until the problems causing the calling off are resolved. There are some women who have to end up on bedrest for their entire pregnancies and because of a leave of absence they have a job to go back to and an unblemished attendance record. A leave of absence for medical reasons is not the same as the FMLA leave.

Ginger is excellent for quelling nausea. You can either brew up a tea using tea bags which are now sold in all the supermarkets, steep a couple of slices from a fresh ginger root in some hot water, or take capsules of dried, crushed ginger you can buy at GNC Centers or health food stores.

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Aug 17, 2005

FMLA will cover you for up to 12 weeks a year, though it depends on your HR policy whether it will be paid or unpaid.

Check with your HR department to find out whether you are eligible yet, because I think it takes effect after one year of employment.

Here is a website I found:

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla

Good luck!

Aneroo, LPN · Aug 18, 2005

COngrats! I found out I was pregnant a few days before I took boards- talk about stress!

My doc was very proactive in keeping the nausea at bay. She went ahead and prescribed Zofran. Very expensive, (read- VERY), but very worth it. I still have about half of the pills left. Have good insurance with this med! She knew I needed something to keep nausea away, but knew not to give me anything that would knock me out at work (phenergan).

I also suck on mints at work if smells are too strong for me.

Tell your preceptor/charge RN so if you need to sit/eat/pee/whatever, they know you have a legit reason to be running away at the moment.

You might not qualify for FMLA. I was in for a rude awakening when I found out that you need to be an employee for at least a year before you qualify (I'll have been at my job 6 months). I should have a week vacation by that point, and that's about it! Go ahead and talk to your unit manager about what your options are!

Again, congrats! When are you due?