Pregnancy

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Hi There,

I'm currently pregnant with our first baby, and I'm going on 5mo right now. I'm so excited, but at the same time worried because work has already become difficult. I was not expecting it to become hard until the last month or so, but I guess I was wrong. I started having severe lower back pain about 3 weeks ago which has not subsided, and I'm having a difficult time performing certain tasks on the floor. I'm also already experiencing a lot of swelling in my calfs and ankles which I did not think would happen this soon either. I'm really not a baby, and though I could breeze through pretty close to the end, but now I'm worried because it takes a lot just to get through my 12hr day, and I'm only 5mo. I was told you can normally go out 4 weeks before your due date, but I don't know how well I will be able to perform my job for that long. Has anyone else experienced these issues early on, and if need be, will it be possible to go out earlier? I would appreciate any advice, being this is my first time experiencing all this. Thank You,

First Time Mom!

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Yes, it's possible. Your doctor can pull you out of work at any time, and you should be eligible for FMLA leave. Some states will also pay disability for pregnant moms pre and post delivery. I had intended to work as long as I could too, but I was pulled at 7 months. I just very suddenly had a couple of bad days at work, and on the second day my doctor caught me walking down the hallway holding onto the wall. He pulled me out the next day. I developed PIH.

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Specializes in geriatrics,med/surg,vents.

:balloons:congratulations:balloons:

I don't have any advice for you since I had all mine before I started working just wanted to say that

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Yes, it's possible. Your doctor can pull you out of work at any time, and you should be eligible for FMLA leave. Some states will also pay disability for pregnant moms pre and post delivery. I had intended to work as long as I could too, but I was pulled at 7 months. I just very suddenly had a couple of bad days at work, and on the second day my doctor caught me walking down the hallway holding onto the wall. He pulled me out the next day. I developed PIH.

This happened with me too . . . I stopped working and went out on disability at 7 months. Your doc is your best advocate.

12 hours shifts - getting oob at 0145 and to work at 0245 until 1515 and working overtime just about killed me.

I went back to work part-time and that is ALL I will ever work.

steph

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I feel your pain. I am getting ready to return to work 9/1 after being on maternity leave for 5 months.

I to had severe back pain, was depressed, had a difficult time just walking at work. Would have to get down on my hands and knees just to check chest tube levels. Swollen feet big time. My ob/gyn was sympathetic and took me out at 31 weeks. I was exhausted! But I felt so guilty because there were several other nurses pregnant at the same time who did not have these same issues as me. They worked til their 36th week (and had the same dr), and some of their dr's (not the one I had) refused to sign them out until their 36th week, if they were experiencing probs, unless they actually had to become hospitalized for problems.

Start talking to your dr now, let him/her know what is going on. Document any contractions you are having. At the end I was calling the dr almost everyday telling him I could not handle this. It was the best when I was finally able to leave. My body and baby appreciated it! So hang in there! And stick up for yourself, you know what you are capable of and what is just too much!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Oh, and FYI. I too live in California. And on the maternity disability web site they use the example of a cosmetology type person not being able to stay on their feet all day and needing to go on leave before 36 weeks. SDI insinuates that is acceptable for jobs that are a strain on the pregnant woman. I was going to print that out and take it to my dr or his nurse cause they did act like it was unacceptable to really leave before 36 weeks unless there is a medical necessity (mine ended up as premature labor with lots of contractions, etc). But if Califonia thinks a hairdressers job is too physically diff. for a prego then they should try being a floor nurse on 12 hours shifts with 5-6 heavy patients, and no nursing assistants to help!!!!!

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Wow, chachh . . . I'd say those other nurses needed to shop around for a better doc.

steph

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Do you have the option of reducing your hours? If so, you could cut back to eight-hour shifts or work fewer days per pay period. This might help you save up your PTO/FMLA for after the baby comes.

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Thank you all for your advice. Unfortunately, my hospital only offers 12 hour shifts. A day like yesterday kills me when we have no charge nurse, and go without lunches. I could barely eat all day except for a few crackers. By the time I got home, my feet looked like sausages and my back was all but broken. I mentioned it to my doc at my last appointment about the back pain and swelling, but it was not as bad then. I will definitely keep her informed about how I feel. I think she forgets I'm a nurse anyways. I will remind her at my next appointment. I just want to have a happy, healthy pregnancy and right now, I come home in tears. Thank you all again.

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Specializes in Tele, Renal, ICU, CIU, ER, Home Health..

I know exactly what you're going through. With my 1st pregnancy, My Dr. refused to take me off work early. The back pain was so bad, I couldn't stand up straight. I was going to chiropractors with no relief. My dr. prescribed me Tyelnol #3, but would not take me off work. It was so bad, I took off early without pay! Now, 4 years later, I'm pregnant with my 2nd child and I switched Dr's. I'm not working the floor now...Work 8 hour shift/days with only 1/3 of my time standing/walking. Hopefully I won't have the same problems as last time. If I do, I will NOT be made to suffer like last time. If anyone else came to the Dr. with these symptoms and horrific back pain, they would be taken off of work in a heartbeat. I guess pregnant women are just supposed to deal with it. Can you tell I'm a little bit bitter about my experience with my last Dr.?

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Thank you all for your advice. Unfortunately my hospital only offers 12 hour shifts. A day like yesterday kills me when we have no charge nurse, and go without lunches. I could barely eat all day except for a few crackers. By the time I got home, my feet looked like sausages and my back was all but broken. I mentioned it to my doc at my last appointment about the back pain and swelling, but it was not as bad then. I will definitely keep her informed about how I feel. I think she forgets I'm a nurse anyways. I will remind her at my next appointment. I just want to have a happy, healthy pregnancy and right now, I come home in tears. Thank you all again.[/quote']

I kept track of my bp at work . . . at different times during the day.

My ob was very receptive . . .

steph

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