New hire and pregnant... need advice Please.

Published

Hello everyone I just started working in the NICU in late June. I lost a baby last year at 20weeks and wanted to get pregnant again right away. We had been trying for a while however, after getting hired in the NICU I had decided to wait at least 9 months before trying. Well it didn't work out that way and now I am 7 weeks pregnant. My trial "90" days is coming up. Ideally I would want to hide this pregnancy until I got closer to 20 weeks because of my previous lost. I hated having to un tell all my co-workers last time. I am terrified to tell anyone.

At the same time I feel like if I don't tell them before my 90 days are up I am deceiving them. I don't want them to feel that way. I also don't want to let my co-workers down. Any advice??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Psych, Addictions..

Don't tell anyone. I can imagine them finding a reason to let you go, then you possibly losing this baby too. You could lose your job for nothing.

If you are lucky enough to carry to 20 weeks, come clean then. Don't do it now! I once got fired a week after my employer found out I was pregnant. I was hired at 7 months along and she didn't notice that I was pregnant. She found reasons to let me go a week after she asked me if I was pregnant /my plans. I was devastated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That is my fear. Thank you for you advice! At the same time I don't want to be the pest that is leaving on maternity 10 months after being hired. I don't want them to hate me for that. Also, all the exposure to X-rays and not being able to always get away??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First of all: Congratulations! I hope all goes well with this pregnancy!

You are right, it is really hard to conceal a pregnancy in the NICU with all the x-rays you can't do. You should definitely get away from them and NOT do any of them yourself. What most do at my workplace is to tell one other nurse (they trust not to tell anyone else) and have that nurse do their xrays for them. Obviously, from a staffing point of view, your manager won't be happy to find out about your pregnancy later. But thats not whats important here. Important is that you take care of yourself and of your baby.

I would highly recommend not telling them as I agree with the poster above - it's just too tempting for the HR people from an economics point to try to see you go. And given your poor obstetric history your co-workers will understand why you didn't tell them earlier - and they won't hate you for it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you TheMiss!! I think I will not be telling anyone. The only other problem is I don't know who to trust in my new place. One of the things I love about NICU is that everyone gets to know each other very well and form friendships. I am the new girl so It will be hard to find someone to trust. I have already been exposed to some X-rays and I totally freak out every time. Yesterday I was literally next to the baby getting X-rays and since I was hanging lines in a sterile field I could not get away :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Honestly, as a NICU nurse of almost 30 years I have never seen it in our unit, or heard if it any any if our units, someone being let go. If you are still on orientation you need to tell your preceptor, you also should tell the charge nurses because there are certain kids you should not take when you are pregnant, certain procedures you should do, such as take a kid to fluoroscopy or hold kids for X-rays. And you NEED to say something to the tech for X-rays, they can shield you.

I totally get not wanting to say anything, but eventually it will come out. Many of our girls wait until 12 weeks to say anything or when they get an assignment that has pregnancy precautions on it.

I hope everything works out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First, I am sorry for your loss. What an awful thing to go through. Congratulations on your pregnancy!! I agree with NICU gal. I don't work NICU, but worked adult ICU and I found out I was pregnant right after I finished my orientation. I was terrified that I was going to be fired. I finally decided to tell my manager and one of our charge nurses because I knew that there were going patients I shouldn't care for and situations that I shouldn't put into. It really comes down to the health and safety of you and your baby.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Congratulations on your pregnancy--but you absolutely need to get away from those kids that are getting X-rays. Don't put your little one at risk!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, Hospice, Homecare.

First, congratulations on the pregnancy! What a blessing! Second, why are they not shielding you to begin with? At my facility everyone is either cleared from the x-ray or shielded if stepping away is not an option. It is hospital policy! Being exposed to an x-ray should not be considered hazards of the job when there are simple precautions that can be taken. I realize that shielding is not 100% but it is better than nothing at all. You and your baby are more important right now, which I am sure you already know this...I wouldn't take any chances!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First congrats on your pregnancy. Where I work its very hard to hide it. You may tell one person but what if you don't work the same schedule as them?Besides, the minute I see another nurse always doing someone's X-rays we all know what that means. I agree with the other posters. Your charge nurses need to know- you don't want to be assigned a cmv baby. We've had a lot if new hires recently and a lot of them got pregnant soon after being hired. I've never seen anyone fired for being pregnant in our nicu.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion