How long did you work for while your were pregnant?

[MaraG.]

I am 16 weeks pregnant, saw the doctor today and she expressed some concerns. She is worried about the amount of lifting nurses do. I assured her that those I work with are very supportive and help me a lot. I do boosting always ensuring that the bed is in trendelenburg. I do assist when patients need to be turned and find it a little hard as I am small and some patients do resist. She seemed to be worried about this and strongly urged me to use my judgement and if I am in doubt don't do it.

Then she did my BP. I have always had a low BP. But right now it is a little lower than normal. (Norm 98/68 today 90/64) She told me again to be careful working and to be aware of signs I might faint.

I am not worried as I know my body (or at least I use to) I think I use my judgement and take proper precautions for my safety as well as my baby. But I am worried that I will not be able to work as long as I would like to. At my last appointment one of the others Dr.s in the practice suggested I would not be able to work as long as I would like (referring to night shifts) I had hoped to work until about 35 weeks. I have made arrangements to have a preceptor student until I am about 23 weeks pregnant (except for 1 week around New Years) after that I am not sure if I will have access to any students. I am an LPN so some of the student programs are not available where I live (the RN students have a lot more opportunities to get paired up with a nurse in the hospital)

So my questions to you are how long did you work for? What special precautions did you take when lifting or turning patients?

[MaraG.]

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!

I could not imagine going back so soon. Where I live we get 1 year mat. leave. Plus I continue to accumulate vacation. So in the end I will take my 3-4 week vacation at the start of my mat leave then at month 11 of mat leave my hubby will take the last 4 weeks while I take my next 3-4 week vacation. Does that make sense?? So I think that we have it pretty good here in BC!! If I took my full mat leave and did not give any to hubby I would have 14 months off!!