I am about 8 weeks pregnant with our first child. I am a dietary aide at a local care home. My duties include and are not limited to delivering snacks to each resident, maintaining the dinning rooms, and helping the kitchen staff with meals.
I have been at this job for two months, and have gotten sick with the flu/cold twice (I usually DON'T get sick). Now that I'm pregnant, I'm concerned that this job isn't safe for me, as I need to be healthy for the baby.
2006-10-22 17:25:24 · 6 answers · asked by farrowlani 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
I know the elderly aren't contagious, but it's some of the sicknesses that they carry. Like if one resident catches the flu, then we all get the flu.
I also do a lot of heavy lifting, which I try to get people to help me with, but sometimes I have to do it all by myself and I'm afraid of hurting the baby.
2006-10-24 05:38:41 · update #1
If you can afford to quit, I would. Now is the time for you to be getting lots of rest and preparing for your new baby! If you can't afford to not work, it doesn't sound like the job you have is really a "career" and it probably wouldn't matter if you quit and got a better job. Good luck!
2006-10-22 17:29:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both times I was pregnant, I had a HORRIBLE cold/flu early in my first trimester. My mother-in-law (mother of five) said she had that happen with all of her kids. My mom clearly remembers having it with two of her three pregnancies. Not sure why that happens, or if it's just the same as a regular cold/flu, only you remember it because you're pregnant....
I think you'd probably be okay staying where you are. My kids' pediatrician was pregnant, and she was in the office every day, doing sick-child visits and well-child visits as usual.
Discuss with your doctor whether you can get a flu shot, and if you can, what the risks and benefits are. If the benefits are all pretty definate (like, not getting the flu), and the risks are all theoretical (like, there's a one in forty-eight-thousand chance your baby COULD have some problem), I would say get it done.
Talk with your employers about if you can use a mask when you're around patients, or if they could shift some of your duties around to keep you out of the germy world of communal living.
If your doctor or employer can't work with you or provide you some peace of mind regarding your job, and you and your spouse can swing it financially, take a leave of absence.
It's been my experience that if you work in the health industry (in almost any way), they are very accommodating to pregnant women.
In the meantime, of course, be diligent in hand-washing and take all the procautions you know about to keep from transmitting germs or to keep from getting other peoples' germs.
Best of luck to you!
EDIT: Yo, Rob, grow a baby in your uterus then push it out. Then you can have an opinion.
2006-10-23 00:49:51 · answer #2 · answered by CrazyChick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt that there is anything at the job that would cause you or your baby any harm. elderly people are just old and that's not contagious! Many women work right up to the day they deliver with no problems!
2006-10-23 00:41:09 · answer #3 · answered by Jo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
alls i can say is to be careful and talk to your doctor to see if you can harm your baby while working there if he says yes then i would quit. good luck with the pregnancy
2006-10-23 00:50:36 · answer #4 · answered by littleangelof5 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
avoid those strenuous jobs...and you might get your doctors advice for your baby's vitamins.
2006-10-23 00:47:41 · answer #5 · answered by james ian h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
read more http://momsduty.blogspot.com/
2006-10-26 13:30:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋