I am tempted to tell, even though it is too early for 2 reasons... I just want to. And reason two is that I work in health care and there is alot of lifting and pushing and physical work in geriatrics. I can still do the work, but cannot be as aggresive with the moving and lifting of adult residents. Also IF people are in isolation, I will have to wear a mask now. What would you do?
2006-10-20 15:18:15 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
I also work in long term care. When I was first pregnant, I only told my charge nurse, and a couple close co-workers, as you know how fast new will travel in these facilities. bythe time I was 8 weeks, I let the cat out of the bag as we do have alot of lifting, aggresive residents to deal with. My co-workers were great, and really help out and are understanding. Also, you have the right to refuse to tend to a resident on isolation. Your cahrge nurse will tell you this. Make sure to also not care for anyone with shingles, mrsa, and such. The beauty of working in the healthcare feild, is most of the people are very understanding and accomidating to this. There will be a few people who will be ignorant about the situation, but don't listen to it. The health of your baby is more important. Just take it easy, make sure to do 2 person tranfers even on the few people you may have self transfered before, and don't do the people who tend to be aggresive, this is where telling early is good. If you have a aggresive resident on your assignment, ask a co-worker to trade you for someone on their assignment. Everyone will be really excited and happy for you, and be prepare because they all like to give pregnancy advice in healthcare! lol
2006-10-20 15:31:18 · answer #1 · answered by shrimpseys 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah I'd give them a heads up. I did my CNA clinicals being 28 weeks pregnant and boy it sure was demanding physically, and certain patients I can't be around. I know at 5 weeks pregnant you will start to get tired easily, so they might wanna know that.
Good luck and congrats on the baby! I hope everything goes well!
2006-10-20 15:23:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not tell your work for a number of other good reasons. First, unless you have a definite diagnosis from a doctor, its not a good idea. Also, if it is a pregnancy, and your first, you should be aware that approximately 20% end in a spontaneous miscarriage. If you are also able to lift your patients, but not as "aggressively", then you will be fine there as well. As to diseases you have to worry about if pregnant, they are called TORCH diseases, the acronym TORCH standing for
T - toxoplasmosis (from cleaning cat litter boxes)
O - for other diseases such as syphilis, hepatitis B, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, varicella-zoster virus and human parvovirus
R - for rubella (German measles)
C - Cytomegalovirus
H - Herpes Simplex
Toxoplasmosis won't be a problem in a geriatric facility, and you have to be directly infected with the remaining diseases, and that is also unlikely in a geriatric facility. In short, at this stage, informing others of your pregnancy should only be to convey good news, not to lighten a work load nor worry about harm to the baby by disease in the facility.
2006-10-20 15:32:00 · answer #3 · answered by gahrahstah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most women like to wait until they are past their first trimester. (14 wks) The risk of miscarriage drops greatly once past this point. In the first trimester the uterus is safely protected in the pelvis. In the second trimester the uterus grows larger into the abdominal cavity. From this point on you have to be more careful about being struck in the abdomen by an agressive patient. If you have to work with many infectious patients, it might be best to tell your co-workers about your pregnancy sooner rather than later. If they know, perhaps someone else could look after the agressive/infectious patients.
Good luck!
2006-10-20 15:27:48 · answer #4 · answered by kitty-mama 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would tell work. I would tell everyone!! If you're pregnant and want to tell the world then do so it's time for a celebration. It can give your supervisors a heads up and maybe help lighten your work load. Then the rumors won't spread when you're in the bathroom getting sick in the mornings. Congratulations!!
2006-10-20 15:23:31 · answer #5 · answered by Erin D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to tell them now. even though it may put restrictions on what you may do at work, they can't give you the boot or nothing. (legally) i'm not sure if you're worried about that though.
In the best interest of you and the baby that is develping inside of you, you should let them know. don't wait until it's too late and you hurt yourself and risk the life of your unboen child. i've seen it happen and you don't want to go through that heartache
2006-10-20 15:24:33 · answer #6 · answered by kristiem1984 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you work in a "hazardous" area, they definitely need to know what your limits are. They would respect you telling them in advance, or else you risk looking like a slacker when you stop doing things you used to do. They will help accomodate your new circumstance. Congrats ! !
2006-10-20 15:23:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should tell your work if you do a lot of the pushing and lifting, especially if you don't do a lot of physical work like that.
2006-10-20 22:00:17 · answer #8 · answered by krazy4_coke2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my advice would be wait until your 12 weeks. Your only five weeks and really nothing can do harm that far along. Unless you are high risk.
2006-10-20 15:23:50 · answer #9 · answered by bj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can't do the work then get out so they can hire someone who can do the work. I have to start lifting and pushing extra stuff because you got pregnant? And my pay raise comes from your pay cut? You're pregnant. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
2006-10-20 15:25:52 · answer #10 · answered by OU812 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋