Pregnant CNA; afraid

Siaryyy · May 8, 2014

The first trimester is very delicate and it is important you take good care. Why don't you try home care instead or take some time of from work you really need all the rest and energy you can get. I don't work as a cna yet but in my clinicals I had a hard time when it came to lifting pts I'm only 5'1 and I just had my son not too long ago so I am very weak still I can only imagine the pressure that puts on you.

In my opinion you should just focus on school and the baby right now.

good luck and congratulations it is truly a blessing.

AmyRN303, BSN, RN · May 8, 2014

If you're having a normal pregnancy with no complications, you should have no problem with your job duties. I've worked with many a pregnant nurse or tech and within the scope of a healthy pregnancy, they all worked through. Do you get a little more tired? Sure, at times.

Of course, consult with your doctor. And yes, it's your first, and totally normal to be nervous. I was with my first. And by the time I had my fourth I had times of carrying two toddlers, one n each hip, looking like something out of a "What not to do when you're expecting" manual :)

As for your work situation, all I can say is ask for help moving patients when it's needed. Be careful with your back and joints, just as you would be when not pregnant. If mom and baby are healthy, then pregnancy doesn't need to be treated as a "delicate" situation. That's my $.02.

duskyjewel · May 8, 2014

At the hospital I worked with a woman who literally worked up until her water broke. And I mean, they sent her to L&D in the middle of her shift! Frankly, having come into this work well after I finished having babies, I don't know how these girls do it, but I have mad respect for the fact that they do.

Our culture has weird ideas about pregnancy. Women have been having babies for millions of years. They've gathered and foraged, worked in factories, trekked West as pioneers and helped build their own houses....all while pregnant. Yes, you need to take care of yourself, but you're not THAT fragile. Pregnancy doesn't make you an invalid, and I encourage you not to disempower yourself by viewing yourself that way.

PS please read The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth at some time in the near future.

NaeRN · May 9, 2014

Thanks so much for everyone's input! I too have worked with people that work up to their day of delivery.. I do realize that pregnancy is not a disability but I think i'm just a little nervous because i'm pretty small ((4'11)) to begin with. But like always, I will just continue to practice good body mechanics.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 9, 2014

For most women, lifting is just fine during pregnancy. Of course, whether it's ok for YOU or not is a question for your dr./midwife. With all of my babies (I have five) I was supposed to work the day I delivered; actually with my youngest I was in early labor all night at work and delivered him five hours after clocking out. I work in the ICU too, so many of my pts are dead weight, plus I'd have to go with when we wheeled them in their beds w/ all their equipment to CT or the OR.

That said, your situation doesn't sound healthy for ANYONE pregnant or not. This place that is so insistent that you do it yourself is NOT going to take care of you *when* you injure your back. Not to mention, transferring pts who PT has deemed to be 2-person assists is very dangerous to the pts. When I was on orientation for my current job, one of the pts I cared for was an elderly LTC resident who had been dropped from a mechanical lift and hit her head on the bathtub, causing bleeding under her skull.

Personally I'd be pretty ticked if they wanted to give me STD rather than light duty if modifications WERE needed. The ONLY reason I work up until delivering is because I want 12 weeks at home w/ my baby. Not 6 weeks b/c I've used up all of my FMLA and have to return when medically able if I want to keep my job.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Babies are such a blessing.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 9, 2014

Thanks so much for everyone's input! I too have worked with people that work up to their day of delivery.. I do realize that pregnancy is not a disability but I think i'm just a little nervous because i'm pretty small ((4'11)) to begin with. But like always, I will just continue to practice good body mechanics.

Of course you're nervous! It's your first baby and this is all new! HUGS

AmyRN303, BSN, RN · May 9, 2014

Another shortie here...5' even. I think the logistics of navigating with a basketball belly was one of the most challenging things I ever had to do :)

schnookimz · May 9, 2014

No advice about the pregnancy, but you work with some meanies if they won't help a pregnant coworker out!!! JEEZ!!

smduda · May 9, 2014

Hmmm. The wonderful nurses on the other rotation that you mention, is it at all possible for you to get on that rotation? I understand that a schedule change isn't always possible, whether it's because of your terms or your facility's, but I figured it's worth asking.

That being said, I think really the biggest thing is for you to decide if worrying about this is going to be a detriment to your health and well being. Even if lifting heavy patients by yourself doesn't cause any harm to you or the baby, the amount of worrying you're going to spend after every cramp or weird pain you get in your tummy is going to be enough to drive you insane. Pregnancy is the time of worrying for any woman, I think. Generally speaking, lifting is fine in moderation and if done properly during pregnancy. In fact, weight limits are usually recommended for pregnant women for their own safety and to avoid straining themselves; the babies are so well protected, they're usually just fine. But, again, being your first baby and given your tiny stature, this is only a decision you can make.

I don't work as a CNA but I just finished my CNA clinicals today actually (my last pre-req before my nursing program) and I'm 30 weeks pregnant; I was about 12 weeks when I started. I was scared when I started the class because I had to sign a form stating that I knew the risks to myself and my baby going into clinicals. A lot of the same fears as you have. The facility we did our rotation in was quite awful... short staffed, poorly managed, old, dirty, and most of the time we were left to lift/roll/stand/etc. residents on our own. We were supposed to be partnered up but the CNAs that worked there would usually give us different orders and we didn't have much choice but to do as they asked. ANYWAY, the point of this isn't a pity-party. My point is that I've been exerting myself against heavy residents (our heaviest was about 400 pounds and confined to her bed) and my growing boy is just fine. He's very active and healthy! There would be days I'd get done with clinicals and have cramps and worry myself sick that I'd done something to hurt the baby, but all in all, we made it through just fine. I work as a full-time care tech at the local hospital and I don't do as much lifting and exerting myself as a CNA, but it's definitely tiring and grueling; the baby has been fine through that, as well.

Another option may be to look into a different job, depending on the outlook in your area? Home health is a great option as far as limiting yourself to one or two patients to care for as opposed to twenty on a hospital unit.

Sorry for the novel, just wanted to give my two cents! I hope you're able to find a solution that works for you :)

duskyjewel · May 9, 2014

I agree that working in a place where you can't get any help sucks. As your pregnancy progresses, your joints will soften up, thanks to the hormone relaxin, which the body releases to soften up the pelvic joints in preparation for birth. Unfortunately it affects all the others too, so you will be more prone to possible injury. Good body mechanics help, but they only take you so far. From where I'm standing, pregnancy isn't your problem, a crappy workplace is. Look into home care or getting onto the other shift where the people help out. Becaue while you're NOT an invalid as I said, you are only human and you have your limits.

Penholder · May 13, 2014

1) you can do this job when pregnant. I did it twice. Learn to ask for help and know your limits. If you aren't getting the help you need then you need to address with with your supervisor. Go up the chain as needed.

2) that is not proper work ethic for the nurses. See #1 for how to deal with this.

3) there is no reason (unless a reason arises) that you can't do this job until due date. Yes, it's harder, but as you get bigger you'll see help come from people you never expected. I'm 5'3 and work literally to due date 2x. In a nursing home. It was interests to see people who couldn't help transfer suddenly grow stronger.

4) find out about not honoring light duty. I'm not sure if that is legal.