How long did you work for while your were pregnant?

JB2007, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I worked in LTC as a CNA until the day I had my oldest son. No restrictions, but I had no difficulties with my pregnancy either. Take care of yourself and your little one and follow your doctor's instuctions.

PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant, and after this weekend, I'm on leave. I've been working 12 hour shifts throughout my pregnancy (torture!), but the charge nurses usually let me leave 1 or 2 hours early if it's slow. None of my co-workers have allowed me to lift any patients or even push patients in stretchers since I started showing. And everyone's always telling me to "take a break" or offering to help with everything like I'm gonna fall apart any second or something. And oh the swelling! I come home every night with gigantic cankles. If it weren't for my crocs, I wouldn't have any shoes to wear to work. And the back, hip, and pelvic pain.....just unbearable. Kudos to those that were able to work up until the last second!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

With my third child, I worked until the day before my planned c-section. I was working FT in LTC and also PT doing wheelchair transports. I performed all of my duties with the exception of any heavy lifting. My one boss,who has no children of his own and knows nothing about childbirth, called me 5 days after the delivery and asked me if I could come to work that week! lol

:eek: I guess he didn't get the memo about no working until after you are cleared after 8 weeks post-partum for c-sections!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I had canckles too! Thank goodness for crocs is right!!! They were the only type shoe I could fit on my feet after working!!!

midinphx, BSN · Dec 17, 2009

I worked passed my due date. I worked until 11pm the day before I went in to be induced at 6a. I just remember how back my feet hurt!

Bubbles_RN · Dec 17, 2009

With both my pregnancies I worked until 39 weeks. I had the cankles as well, and yep crocs were the only thing I could wear at the end. I work a med-surg ICU

I had no restrictions (in fact I remember doing compressions at 8 months) but I work with a really awesome group of nurses who made sure I got a break everyday, and no way in heck were they going to let me lift anyone

MaraG. · Dec 18, 2009

Thanks for all the replies. I hope that I can work until week 36. I would like the early time off to enjoy the quiet while it is still around, lol.

I do work with a group of good people. They have done a lot for me, especially when I was getting grossed out by smells.

RNKPCE · Dec 18, 2009

1st child had some mild premature contractions went out about 6 weeks before due date, had baby almost 3 weeks early. 2nd child had one more shift to work and went into labor the day before. I planned to be off 2 weeks before and ended up having him 2 weeks early.

Back then very few isolation patients so we could not assign pregnant nurses if we had an isolation patient. Now is a different story.

MaraG. · Dec 18, 2009

So far I have ben lucky, only 1 iso patient. (VRE in her urine) I think that my CNL has purposely assigned me to low risk assignments. But I am still early in my pregnancy, so we will see how things go from here. I work with great people who help out a lot. Very lucky.

RhiaRN75, RN · Dec 18, 2009

I was a waitress while pregnant with my first and a med-surg nurse with the second. I was fortunate both times to have supportive co-workers.

Both children were born on regularly scheduled days off at 40 weeks. I had two days off when I went into labor with the first, almost 24 hours with my second. Both were healthy.

I went back to work at six weeks after my first child... I wouldn't reccomend that. I didn't have much of a choice but thankfully it worked out well. I took almost three months off with my second. That was heaven. I almost had enough vacation, so I took 30 hours a week and I loved every minute of it!

Lexxie, LPN · Dec 18, 2009

I guess he didn't get the memo about no working until after you are cleared after 8 weeks post-partum for c-sections!

Nope I guess not. We had a good laugh about if for the first month or so after I went back to work tho.

swirlygirl · Dec 18, 2009

With my first pregnancy, I worked until I was about 18 weeks along. My OB found on my ultrasound that I had placenta previa and did not want me lifting. When I gave my employer my lifting restriction, I was told I wasn't allowed to work unless I could do 100% of my job. Was also told that it wasn't their responsibility to find a light-duty position for me since it wasn't an injury that happened at work. So I basically had 9 months off with my first son.

I just had my second son this past July and I worked stand-by (night shift) until 37 weeks and he was born at 38 weeks. My co-workers were super supportive and did not let me do any lifting during my pregnancy.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and take care of yourself!