working rotating shifts while pregnant?

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Specializes in tele, ICU.

Has anyone worked rotating shifts while pregnant? How did you feel doing it? I recently found out I'm expecting (yay!) but have to rotate b/w days and nights every few weeks. I'm a little worried about it-- it's already somewhat difficult on my body to switch back and forth, but I'm concerned the added physical stressors of being pregnant may be too much. I'm thinking of switching to nights only (either rotating or straight nights are my only options). Has anyone had some personal experience with this?

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My experience with this isn't quite as bad as rotating every few weeks. I worked 7a-7p for my first four months of pregnancy, then I switchd to overnights. I was not able to adjust. That could have just been me, or the fact that I didn't give it long enough. If I wasn't at work I slept all the time. My coworkers said it was because I was pregnant and said once I had the baby it wouldn't be so bad. I only worked 7p-7a for about 2 1/2 months, then I switched to 8 hours shifts and work 3-11. I do believe that the lack of schedule (reajusting my body ever few months) and then being up with a newborn made me incredibley sleep deprived. Athough I'm not sure. Also, the last month or so of my pregnancy I barely slept because I was having such bad hip/pelvic pain, which I've heard is pretty common in pregnancy.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

I rotated shifts while having three very young children. It was awful. I can't say how it will impact you while pregnant because I was exhaused 24/7 when I rotated shifts - and when I was pregnant and a stay at home mom for that matter!

I have very strong, negative opinions about rotating shifts. I don't think they are safe for nurses or patients. There are plenty of nurses who find that night shift works better for their families and internal clock, and I've never had a problem since leaving the rotating job finding hours that work out for my internal clock and for the well being of my family and patients.

But my former employer expected us to rotate day to night and back again within the same week. Great job, great people, but I was a zombie for two years.

Blee

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