Working in the OR during pregnancy

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hi there! This is my very first post and I have some questions for you all regarding the safety of working in the OR during pregnancy. I'm an OR nurse - I scrub and circulate - and I am 5 weeks pregnant. I have had 2 prior miscarriages within the last 6 months, and have a healthy 7 year old daughter.

I'm taking the normal precautions - not doing totals, wearing wraparound or double lead and wearing a dosimeter.... I can't avoid fluoro or x-ray altogether or I'd be limited to dental, gyn and ent and we don't do those every day! Obviously my co-workers and my OB (who I also work with in surgery) think it's fine. And plenty of women I work with have been pg in our OR......

We have a brand new facility (about 2 years old), and I never worked in the old one, if that makes any difference! I can't find any definitive evidence that my job is inherently unsafe, after taking precautions, but I have worries regarding my recent losses and just wanted to get some reassurance that I'm being paranoid.

Thanks in advance for any input you might have.:D

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We have had several women recently give birth and they were fine. Very tired and waddling toward the end but fine. Just know your limits and when you need to take a step back. Don't let anyone make you do things you are uncomfortable with- it's your body and your child.

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Specializes in OR,Trauma, school clinic.

and dont forget to let Anesthesia know you are pregnant as well... in case during induction they need to use nitrous - you can step out.

I was pregnant with my first- continued to do totals and would step out during cementing. I had a good rapport with the attendings and residents and they knew when i'd leave the room and it wasnt an issue.

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

Remember x-ray exposure during pregnancy should be limited and does accumulate, so watch that. I don't think working in the OR is unsafe for you, you stay out of chemotherapy, cement, and other toxic chemicals. Watch the heavy lifting and let your OB guide you in limiting your heavy lifting cases. While you may not like certain types of cases, you may have to do what you don't like to safeguard your pregnancy. Just a thought.

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Specializes in OR.

Congrats! I am 11 weeks and just fine. I'm sorry for your recent losses, but I highly doubt it is related to work place hazards.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I am 6 weeks. So far I have avoided cases with c-arm but I fear it will be unavoidable do the shift I will be working soon (nights). A general question for everyone, how does your facility go about this?

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Specializes in OR.

Try & switch shifts so that you have regular day shifts during at least the latter part of your pregnancy.. it will be better for you..

Maybe your work place will help you with this. I know that our union contract, if the work is deemed unsafe for the employee (by their physician) the employee can request a transfer from their current duties.

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Specializes in OR.

Talk to radiology about getting a fetal radiology badge in addition to your own radiology badge. According to the department head of the radiology dept of the hospital I work in- when you are pregnant you should be wearing two badges. The fetal badge you wear at waist level.

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