Pregnant and Nursing.....

Jolie, BSN · Aug 3, 2008

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm glad that you're feeling well, and wish you the best for a healthy pregnancy.

If I've done the math correctly, you will have been employed for less than a year at the time of your due date, so you may not qualify for FMLA thru your employer. I would encourage you to discuss your options for leave and come to some sort of agreement with your manager and human resources well in advance. Ask them to put everything in writing so there are no questions as to what your responsibilities and rights are.

Good luck!

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2008

Well I'm 17 weeks pregnant. I just started my job back in March and got pregnant in April. I'm due January 6th. While I feel great now (minus the horrible all day sickness the first few weeks) I'm wondering what it's going to be like in my 8th month+. When I had my daughter, I had a cushy desk job and it was easy. Until I had complications I would have worked up until my due date, so being pregnant while a nurse is all new to me now. I know that soon I'm going to have to let my supervisors know when I am going out on maternity leave and I'm hoping to take 2 weeks vacation, take my 6 weeks and then put another 2 weeks vacation on before I come back for a total of 10 weeks out. I rarely take a day off, so my time is adding up quick (about a day per pay period). I'm also entertaining the idea of going back part time and then work my way back up to full time or just signing up for extra days here and there when I can. What was your experience with work post-partum and how long did you work for leading up to delivery? Any help, tips, advice, ideas would be great!

Remember that everyone is different. I'm sure there are people out there who were able to do their job without pause until 37 weeks, and others who were put out on light duty at 4 months. Listen to your body and your doc or midwife.

I didn't become a nurse until my children were well past the baby/nursing stage, but I know a lot of fellow nurses who would take their breaks to go pump, without there being a problem.

Good luck and I hope you continue to have a healthy pregnancy.

Blee

PS - on such a shallow note, aren't scrubs great? No one can notice a "baby bump" until *you* want to say something. Which should be soon, BTW, your NM needs to plan for your maternity leave.

JHURN · Aug 3, 2008

Congrats!

As a pp stated it is different for everyone.

I am 35 1/2 weeks and my doctor just put me out of work for at least a week. I was having contractions, am 2 cm dilated, and the baby has dropped. I think working full time and not keeping hydrated contributed greatly. DRINK WATER!!

I switched to night shifts early on because nights are a lot slower and I was able to rest when I needed to and eat. Unlike days which are crazy on our floor.

Try to be good about lifting and not overworking yourself. I wish I had been! Oh and I dont know if this is your first or not, but "they" arent kidding about the last month being hard, I am tired ALL the time now. I dont think i could work 12 hour shifts right now if I was allowed to.

Good luck with everything :)

whipping girl in 07, RN · Aug 3, 2008

I was working nights in ICU when I was pregnant with Joely (now 4) and I worked 4 12 hour shifts a week up until 36 weeks, when my plantar fasciitis got so bad I could barely walk from the desk to my patient's bed...not far in my old unit. I hadn't been at either hospital long enough to get FMLA, and I didn't accrue benefit time (weekend option at one, per diem at the other) so I had to take 10 weeks unpaid medical leave (2 before she was born, and 8 after my scheduled c-section). When I was pregnant with Ray (now 2), I had switched to days at the weekend option job and was doing nutrition support at the other one and I worked 12s doing direct patient care up until my 3rd trimester, when I switched to 8s. I was still working 48 hrs a week between the two until I cut back to 8s...kind of weird for me to work only 40 hrs a week, lol! Only qualified for FMLA at the weekend option job, so I had to go the medical leave route again, but I worked right up till the Friday before my c-section on the following Tuesday. Still no accrued benefits, so unpaid again! I think it was easier to be pregnant working nights, because it seems like you get the patients up more and have to reposition them more during waking hours.

I breastfed Joely for 5 months and Ray for 9 months...I think I was able to stick with him for longer because I was sleeping at night when I wanted him to sleep. You don't really get any sleep when you try to sleep days and the baby wants to eat every 2 or 3 hours. I'd wake up to feed her and then I couldn't go back to sleep. Never had that problem in the middle of the night with Ray. As far as pumping at work, my nutrition support job was so flexible about pumping, and at my ICU job, I asked for more stable patients so getting away to pump was not usually an issue. Unfortunately, I think it hurt me in the long run because the charge nurses got in the habit of giving me the stable Mabels (i.e. chronic PITAs) and I don't often get to take a really sick patient anymore. I would not change the fact that I breastfed, but that is something to keep in mind. It just showed me the true nature of my co-workers, to be honest, and it's the reason I went full-time at my nutrition job when it was offered and now am VERY PRN at my ICU job and will quit as soon as I can!

I announced my pregnancy to my bosses about halfway through, very awkward when I was pregnant with Joely because I'd only been at each job for a couple of months! Actually, I'd only been doing nutrition for a couple of months when I got pregnant with Ray, for that matter. I don't think I need to ever change jobs again...3 kids is plenty!

Good luck Mama!!

BaRNs · Aug 4, 2008

I congratulate any woman that can handle all those hormones and deal with a cranky manager, demanding famliy members, and etoh withdrawals!

:yeah:

I pack this Y chromosome around so my input is nullified!

The "Stay hydrated" tip is clutch! We don't drink enough water in our recirculated facilities as a profession on the whole. Drink lots of fluids and know your limits.

Back when I was a CNA I watched my favorite nurse carry a full term on her feet at 41 years old! She worked to 39.5 weeks!!!!!

Some of my guy friends call into work for hangovers...so I applaud all you ladies that do this and work at the same time. ESPECIALLY on your feet on the floor. Kudos.

AprilRNhere · Aug 4, 2008

Congrats!

You need to speak with your manager as soon as possible. Without having been there a full year- they dont have to keep your job for you at all during maternity leave- much less for 10 weeks. While they certainly can't fire you- they don't have to "rehire" you after you take time off either.