Newly graduated RN... and pregnant

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I'm needing some advice here. I just graduated in May, just got a job and have orientation next week. I just took a pregnancy test because I was late and it is WAY positive (it almost jumped out at me). I'm completely freaking out for a ton of reasons:

1. Yeah, starting a new job.... not sure this is the best impression.

2. Um... Way to go Paragard! This was obviously NOT planned.

3. Tell my new employer immediately? Wait? I don't know what to do.

I'd appreciate any advice out there.

How appropriate! :-)

Btw, if possible, I recommend planning to deliver at a hospital other than where you work. Just so that it's not you co-workers who see you when you're in labor. It also will afford you more privacy, as your co-workers won't be popping in to visit frequently.

I'd tell them when you start...you may get moms with things you can't be exposed to (ie certain viruses, etc) at our hospital some things carry a "don't give to the pregnant one" stigma that has been set up by our OB docs and NICU docs.

And it isn't that bad to deliver where you work...were I work, our insurance only covers our hospital 100% so you may want to check you insurance. I work 32 miles from work and delivered my kiddos there...and it is a county hospital ( you kind of made it sound like it is bad to deliver at a county hospital when most of them are higher level hospitals funded by county monies).

Good luck!

No, it's not that it's bad to deliver there. It is one of the top places to deliver in our area. I wouldn't have picked that place to work if it wasnt. In fact, I delivered my other two girls at the county hospital (by a CNM) in our old city we lived in prior. I guess I should clarify that with this pregnancy (if it's not ectopic) I would want a CNM to deliver me at a birthing center, which is why I wouldn't be delivering at a hospital (hopefully). Most of the CNMs in this area have their own birthing centers. In the other city we lived in (it was a small college town), the midwifes there either did home births (not what I want) or delivered at the county hospital, no birthing centers. So if I can have that option to deliver at a birthing center, that is what I want. Sorry for sounding like I'm dissing the county hospital, that's not my intention.

CONGRATS!!! And, I'd wait. Like somebody else already said, it's really none of their business especially being this early in the pregnancy.

Honestly, as SOON as I get home from filling out new hire paperwork (when I finish school and finally get a job) the husband and I are on like Donkey Kong. We've been putting off baby number two until I'm gainfully employed and this uterus isn't getting any younger. lol

ps. I also have paragard. Eek!

ps. I also have paragard. Eek!

I am scheduled to switch out my Mirena IUC to Paragard next week. I'm having second thoughts now...

Well, I should clarify that I think the OB-GYN that put it in did not put it in correctly, as my strings are not hanging out. It's been an issue for a couple of years, and for all I know it has embedded in my uterine lining and that is why it didn't work.

:hug: I will keep you in my prayers.

Hi,

I am a pregnant nurse myself. I had been at my job for about 6months. I found out that I was pregnant. I decided to tell my employer at 3months since that is what my doctor thought was the best time. Well, I called to tell my employer since I know we have alot of overweight patients to see what there protocol was and it seemed as if I cursed my manager when I told her. She seemed to be mad with me for asking about lightening my assignment by not pulling on the heavier patients. I didn't get a congratulations or nothing. Then a month later, how is the baby. I just looked at her, I was so hurt. She said she would let the other charge nurses know and try to manage my assignment, but every night that I worked, it seemed that I had the larger patiens and I was the pregnant one. No one looked out for me and that is sad. I would sometimes bleed from pulling on pts, finally my husband told to just quit but I didnt. I finally took a early maternity leave, my baby is due on the 23rd of July. My manager has no heart. I called out one day and she took the call. I told her that I had been bleeding and that I wouldn't be in that night. There was no sympathy about how I was doing or how the baby was doing. Anyway I want to say to you. Keep your job, wait til you are three months, tell your employer. People get pregnant all the time. On my floor there were four of us. Work as long as you can and ask for help. Don't pull on these pts by yourself. If you have a good manager they will understand. Some managers do have hearts, mine just doesn't. She said she would hold my job. I don't believe that either. I haven't been there a year. Another month would've made a year. Remember your baby and you come first. Keep your job, you cannot be descriminated upon, but you probably won't be able to get but six weeks maternity leave, after that, they

can offer your job to someone else. You have nothing to lose. Goodluck.

That freaks me out because I have Paragard! 3 friends hv gotten pg with it, I never feel my strings. I'm having it removed next week and I bought a Lady Comp! But good luck to you :)

Thanks everyone! I will go ahead and post an update this afternoon, after my appointment.

Well here is an update:

I went to the dr. They did a lady partsl exam, ultrasound, and blood work. He attempted to remove the IUD but it is too far up inside of me. The ultrasound showed a sac, conveniently sitting next to the IUD. He can't tell if it is a blighted ovum, a missed AB, or just too soon to see anything (like I'm not as far along as I thought). I go back on Tuesday for more blood work to see where my HCG levels are at. He wants me to go in on Friday or the following Monday (the 11th) for an appt/follow-up u/s. I told him I would try to see how that would work with my orientation stuff. So for now, I'm taking prenatal vitamins and just waiting and seeing if I am going to miscarry or not.

Thanks for the update. You were in my thoughts all day. This must be very stressful for you. I will keep praying for you. Good luck with your orientation I'm sure you will be wonderful in the Labor and Delivery setting.

Specializes in Neuro, Neuro ICU.

Thanks for the update. hope all goes well!

Just another update:

HCG Quantitative levels-

Friday 7/1: 7,342

Tuesday 7/5: 13,728

Dr. personally called me today (does that ever happen?? Maybe just a first for me). Said it is "favorable" but didn't want to make any "promises". I told him not to worry about it, I'm going day by day, if it happens it happens, if not then it doesn't. I did tell my nurse instructor over the entire internship and she was really nice about it. Basically she said that I was already selected, and they really wanted me, so not to worry about losing my job. She told me my health was priority first. I may not get paid maternity leave (I would be able to take off obviously) if I am pregnant only bc I will not have been there for a full year (she wasn't sure), but the fact is that I wouldn't lose my job and they would work with me to make sure I succeed in my RN internship :)

I have an appt. tomorrow where I will find out more. Pretty crazy if I am carrying a viable pregnancy with an IUD... we will see. Like I said... If I am, then I am. If not, then that is fine too.

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