microbiology for pregnant women

[maggijo]

Did anyone take Microbiology while they were pregnant or know someone who did? I am taking it now and I am 5 mos. pregnant. The instructor seems to think I am perfectly safe, but I am concerned about being in contact with all of those microbes. She doesn't even have gloves available for us! I had to buy my own.

Any stories, advice, words of caution to share?

Thanks!

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

Talk to your OB

[maggijo]

I did.

Looking for personal anecdotes.

[RNin2007]

There was a girl who was about 7 mo. pregnant in our micro class last spring. Weird that your instructor doesn't even have gloves, hmmm...

What did your OB say?

~J

[suzanne4, RN]

Med Techs that work in Micro do not take the 9 months off.

And if you think about it, it is not any different than being a nurse when you are pregnant.

Your instructor is not going to be giving any different microbes to look at that you have not already been in contact with just in everyday life.

[*Renee*]

I was pregnant all during my micro class (I passed while 8 months pregnant). I had no issues in the class and my OB had no problem with me being in there. There was also a girl in there who actually had her baby mid-semester and she was fine as well.

There's really not all that much contact with microbes...it's more observation, etc. The only thing I didn't do was a eyeball disection in A&P II because the instructor thought it may not be a good idea. So, I just didn't have to do it (I sure didn't complain!)

I really don't think it'll be a problem for you.

[maggijo]

unfortuntately, our class in more than just observation- lots of hands-on pouring, transferring, etc.

I don't have any doubt that I will be fine. I was just wondering if anyone else had been in a similar situation and how it went.

[student_girl]

We didn't have gloves in our micro class either, but our instructor made us wash our hands thoroughly before and after our classes. And we always worked with unharmful microbes.

[JessLPN2RNASN]

Usually gloves are not given out in a micro class because of the use of bunsen burners and open flames; heat is easier to pull away from than is a glove melted to your skin. If you are using the correct technique while in class, you should be fine-it is for more than preventing contamination of your specimen. Wash your hands a lot, before and after exposure, and keep up on your health. Be sure you are eating right and getting plenty of rest and exercise because that is the most important line of defense you can give yourself and your baby.

[DaFreak71]

In our microbiology lab, they were all attenuated strains, which means that they are rendered less virulent. I would think this is common in undergrad labs, but I couldn't swear to it. Ask your instructor for a listing of the microbes you'll be handling and run it by your OB. I really don't think that it would be a problem though. You'll be wearing gloves and using precautions.

Good luck,

Adri

[elisabeth]

We were required to supply and wear our own gloves in my Micro class. The instructor specifically asked if anyone was pregnant because then they would just observe and take notes rather than risk touching anything nasty.

[Megsd, BSN, RN]

There's a girl in my micro class who's about 6 months pregnant and doesn't seem to have any problems. As long as you use proper technique I can't imagine how you'd really be at risk of anything. My professor recommends not wearing gloves because people tend to be more careless when they wear gloves and are more likely to spill things or not notice when they have contaminated something. In my class this quarter I haven't encountered anything yet that I would be wary of if I were pregnant.