Pregnant and working as RN

Nurses General Nursing

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I would like to ask this to anyone who has worked as an RN while she was pregnant. I am 4 months along (my first), and work a 12-hour floor that is extremely busy. Sometimes I don't even get a chance to sit down to chart until the shift is over and I've handed over my patients. My question is this: has anybody worked a floor like this? Were you able to keep working up until your due date (or close to it)? I'm not sure what to expect. We are short-staffed (like almost all the other places these days) and I don't want to let pressure from management keep me working longer than is healthy for me or my baby. Also, what about after the birth? When did you return to work? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

CONGRATULATIONS! I'm 18 wks pregnant now, working full time midnights. Very tired but baby is just fine. But...Two years ago I had a miscarriage at 8 wks and had been working just as hard. One Dr told me stress and overwork could not cause miscarriage, another Dr told me it CERTAINLY could. So please take good care of yourself, and pay attention if you feel that you cannot go on. This was the feeling I'd had for about a week before the miscarriage. Best of luck!:kiss

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

If you are healthy and have an uncomplicated pregnancy you should be physically able to work right through. You will want to be extra cautious in regards to exposing yourself during pregnancy to various teratogens, and yes, it can get scary being a nurse! I believe that would be my main concern, second to patient assault. I worked until a few days before delivery when I was a CNA, (many moons ago!), and believe it was a benefit for me in that I was in great physical condition which I believe was one of the reasons I had such a smooth labor and delivery. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!

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Yeah, ditto what imenid37 said....I see a lot of nurses who do just fine w/their pregnancies, but I also see a loooooooooot of nurses with preterm labor. We, as nurses, do not take care of ourselves at work....lots of us CAN'T due to high census/low staffing. Please try to drink 8-10 8oz. glasses of WATER (not tea, not coke, not juice....W-A-T-E-R) a day, pee often (like that's an option in pregnancy...lol!), and sit down when you can. If you can, carry a bottle of water around with you so you can sip as you go through your day.

Light duty is something that you and your doctor will have to determine. Some nurses do light duty, some don't.

Just take care of yourself. Use common sense. Ask for help. :)

OrthoNutter, I am so sorry to hear about your devestating miscarriage. God bless. :o.

All of you pregnant ladies out there DRINK PLENTY OF WATER in this hot weather!!! 'Kay? Momma shay is done lecturing...;)

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
originally posted by mario_ragucci

jeez! iy'd have a hand in my wife's daily activities if she was pregnant. it all depends on so much. iy'd be planning something like this with her. weed agree to cut out working & make our/her pregnancy the, more or less, center/focus of attention into the second trimester. taking care of her so she could be the best mom she could be would dwarf $$$. i hope i don't sound like pie in the sky. i ain't never been a father or nothing.pregnant_shear3.jpg

oh my gosh! :crying2: mario...this is the sweetest kindest most thoughtful post i have ever seen of yours, and it makes me a bit weepy...from the joy i feel having read it. what a kind hearted husband and father you would be, and i hope you will find that very special someone and have as many little mr. and mrs. mario ragucci's as you both would want. nothing a man says gets to me more than when they talk as you do in regards to a pregnant woman. i hope you don't mind my saying these things as i sincerely mean them from the bottom of my heart.

having given birth three times myself, i can only recall one occasion where a man complimented me in a very sweet way during a pregnancy of mine. the man happened to be a favorite uncle of mine. he told me there was nothing more beautiful than the glow of a pregnant woman's face, and that i had that glow. he made me cry, too. never did hubby # one say nice things to me when i was pregnant with his three children, so thanks for the good memories of having heard my uncle say niceties to me when pregnant. :)

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

congratulations to all of you who are expecting the greatest of all miracles...a baby! may your pregnancies, labor, and deliveries go smoothly! may you select names that are easy to pronounce but with great meaning for your bundle of joy. since i've never worked during a pregnancy, i wouldn't know what to say to you from personal experience. all i can say is be careful, keep all of your doctor appointments, take your prenatal vitamins, eat nutritiously, continue having moderate exercise, never let a day go by that you don't laugh a lot...it's not only good medicine for you, but for your baby as well. above all else, put no one's needs above your own right now. concentrate on enjoying your pregnancy, and remember to read books and play soothing music to your unborn child on a regular basis. yours truly...from a mom and a gramma! :kiss

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These are very nice words, cheerful doer. It does seem strange to me that so many women talk about pregnancy and birth w/o including the fathers. In some other thread, yewd hear , "my husbands this, and my hubby that" but here with the pregnancy the guys, as a subject, are hushed.

It scares the be-gee-bers out of me that so many women are angry at their male partners who got them pregnant. But, they go ahead with the birth with an additude like they have something to prove. I can't speak as a woman, but I'd make damn sure he had at least 50% of the effort assigned to him that it takes to carry and nurish a fetus to birth...and beyond.

Personally, if I planned on being a dad, I'd understand up front that zygotes start out as haploid cells, and half of that DNA material would be coming from me, no matter what.

Don't put a nickel in me about how I think parents/single moms fall way short in contributing to the development of loving children. Thank you again, and best of luck and power to all pregnant mom's.

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Good luck to all you momma's to be. That is sooo exciting.

A co-worker of mine worked up until 38 wks! She had her scheduled OB appointment on AM after work a 12 hr night shift and was found to have protein in her urine, HTN, and very swollen legs. She was admitted that morning, induced labor, and had a beautiful little girl. My next pregnancy I am taking it easy d/t my recent miscarriage.

Good luck again! :D

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Originally posted by ChemoRN

(He threw up first!! :D )

I've never been pregnant myself, but this is what makes me feel like throwing up everytime...Someone else's emisis, listening to them heaving. Sight, smell, and sound...Yuck!!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

First of all, congratulations on your big event. You have the right idea, don't let them pressure you into working more than is comfortable. Trust me they don't care about your health or that of your unborn baby. This is a special time in your life and you don't want to feel overworked or guilty about your work obligations.

I never could stand to work a lot when I was pregnant. When I was pregnant with my first, I had severe hyperemesis and was in and out of the ER and eventually ended up spending 8 days in the hospital d/t dehydration. So in that case I had to take a leave of absence until the middle of my pregnanccy when I suddenly felt so well I thought I could do anything. The problem was that I worked nights at the time and I fell asleep every single night. My body could not handle those nights! With my son, I worked P/T on a surgical-trauma floor, 3-11 shift in my 5-9 months but I was so exhausted all the time I did a half-assed job. I finally just quit the last month before I delivered. I admire those who can work up to the due date. I personally couldn't do it.

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Congrats and the best of luck to all of you...

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by sandstormsdust

congrats and the best of luck to all of you...

yes, congratulations to each of you!
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Originally posted by lynniepooh

CONGRATULATIONS! I'm 18 wks pregnant now, working full time midnights. Very tired but baby is just fine. But...Two years ago I had a miscarriage at 8 wks and had been working just as hard. One Dr told me stress and overwork could not cause miscarriage, another Dr told me it CERTAINLY could. So please take good care of yourself, and pay attention if you feel that you cannot go on. This was the feeling I'd had for about a week before the miscarriage. Best of luck!:kiss

I'am 18 weeks also WITH TWINS!!!!! I hope to work as long as I can but as soon as the Dr. says stop.....I'm otta there! Good luck all of you with your pregnancies!!!! :kiss

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