morning sickness/nursing

COMEBACKDAD · Jun 16, 2007

Good grief, that sounds pretty miserable. I have worked with nurses who have dealt with hyperemesis while pregnant, one of them had to stop working. Do you have any paid leave available? I know most places would give you the time off(I know not all!!). Did you have the same problem with your first pregnancy? As far as the smells, one thing I have done is put a small dab of Vics/Mentholetum just inside my nares(and on a few occasions inside of a mask---although some of those masks are enough to make you heave in themselves. I doubt I have been too terribly helpful, but if it helps, I know you have a wonderful miracle happening in your life, and its even more important than the nursing issues. Take care of yourself, take time to relax if humanly possible.

tattooednursie, LVN · Jun 16, 2007

Well . . . I have never been pregnant, but I can sympathize. I have a peptic ulcer. I feel like yuck a lot, and I have thrown up at work many times. I hate that! When I do it really does take a lot out of me. I hope things get better for you.

Jolie, BSN · Jun 16, 2007

Please talk to your OB/CNM about the advisability of continuing to work when you are experiencing such severe symptoms. If s/he believes that it is safe for you to continue, then I would recommend trying 8 hour shifts, perhaps 3-11 if that is available.

With my first pregnancy, I was extremely nauseated every day, but it usually subsided later in the day, and I was able to work 3-11 with few problems. With my second, I simply had to quit working. Not what you want to hear, probably, but it is a reality sometimes.

Please take good care of yourself!

yeSICU · Jun 16, 2007

I had the same issues... All day sickness (I wish it had just been morning). I feel your pain. In the ICU it is quite odiferous... I threw up in a few pt rooms and in other various places on the unit as well as in the parking lot. I felt unprofessional and miserable (thank god my pts. just so happend to be A/O x 1-2). I would make sure your doc knows the severity of your symptoms. For me, Wintergreen LifeSaver mints were literally a life saver. I got a bag from Costco and ate them throughout my shift. It really helped me, but I told another nurse, and they made her worse for whatever reason. Just try to stay hydrated and eat multiple small meals (even when you are famished) because that helped me as well. I always had a granola bar or crackers in my pocket. Good luck and Congratz!

scattycarrot, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2007

Have you tried ginger?Its a natural anti-emetic and I know some people who swear by it. You can drink ginger infused tea or ginger beer. Or suck on stem ginger, which is what a friend of mine did at work and it really helped her. I hope you feel better soon and you need to look after yourself, unfortantly I would imagine your work place is like most work places and does not have your best interests at heart. You need to look out for yourself as no-one else will!

justme1972 · Jun 16, 2007

I don't work in a hospital because I am not a nurse, but when I was pregnant with my twins my nausea was awful...however, it only lasted for about a month once it started, and then I felt like myself again. Hang in there, hopefully it will pass.

Agnus · Jun 16, 2007

Have you considered not working at this time or at least not working so many hours? If you absolutlely must work have you considered something other than what you are currently doing?

NurseyTee · Jun 16, 2007

I have had 6 children and suffered with n/v with all and hyperemesis with the last two. There is a difference!! Be careful with Hyperemesis! If you find you are unable to work, talk to your Dr. about this. This disease can be deadly! I lost over 50 pounds during both my pg's. If u find u are unable to keep anything down even with the Zofran, I would not wait until u r dehydrated, which makes the n/v worse! Get to the Hosp. and get some fluids and some IV zofran or phenergan. Maybe a couple of days of rest and fluids in the hosp. would do wonders for you. None of the little "tricks" to help the n/v helped me whatsoever with HG. I had to stop working and suffered with this my entire pg. I hope this is not your fate. Typically, even really bad n/v will resolve itself within a few months of pg. So I hope you will find relief soon. I found what made me feel better was sleeping and resting and even that wasn't fool proof. I would consider disability until your baby is born. HG is that dibilitating.

StrwbryblndRN · Jun 16, 2007

In reference to the previous post regarding ginger. There is also candied ginger. I do not like the taste of ginger beer and some other things made with ginger. But the candied ginger is yummy.

wantsthebest · Jun 16, 2007

cut the caffiene (you probably already have), mints, like the lifesavers wintogreen may help as earlier mentioned, small sips of water all the time--if u gotta barf, at least you will have something to barf. sometimes herbal teas like the ginger can help--use with caution, some cause problems in pregnancy. Lots of rest, cut back on the hours--maybe they can split your shifts? (ie: work Mon, off Tues, work Wed ect). dont know if these will help, but anything is worth a try!

Congrats on the pregnancy-------let us know how it goes and when the baby comes!!

2ndcareerRN_2004 · Jun 17, 2007

Thanks everyone so much for all of your advice. Unfortunately my current job does not have paid time off. I am a weekender (sp?) and do 3-12 hr shifts Fri-Sun night 3 out of 4 weekends in a row. If I don't work I don't get paid. The thing that stinks too is that I have an hour commute, which I didn't mind before, but now the >14 hrs 3 days in a row is awful. I have given my notice at my current job, with next weekend being my last. It has just been way too much for me. I am going to work agency in an ER, in a hospital 15 minutes away from my home. I have been doing this agency job for awhile, so it is like I am staff there, but I have never done it as my only job. I think it will be better b/c I can work as little/much as I want and I will be closer to home.

As far as the nausea/vomitting goes, some days it is really bad and other days it is bearable. I am now up to 8 mg zofran and my OB also prescribed reglan for me, which seems to help some. Crackers, ginger ale, ginger tea just don't work for me, I wish they did. I will try mints. I just feel like other RNs I work with aren't very sympathetic to my adversion to smells, vomitting in pts rooms, etc. It just makes me want to crawl in a hole and not come out. The only thing that makes me feel a bit better is sleeping, which unfortunately I can't do on a 12 hr shift.

Thanks everyone for the advice and the well wishes and please keep it coming. I really appreciate it. I do hope this gets better soon. I was sick with my son for 15 weeks, not nearly this bad... does this mean it is a girl?