Working while pregnant

How far along before you start feeling the strain? I'd like to work all the way through if I could. If not possible, is there a way I could temporarily get a desk job towards end of pregnancy?
I was an aide when I first got pregnant and had to quit, because I was so tired all the time. I do know a lot of people who can work all the way through their pregnancies, but it was too hard on me. Plus my mind got super forgetful and I did not want to put a patient at risk.

I worked med/surg until 36 weeks when I went on maternity leave. It was exhausting toward the end...being on your feet all night and all that. Good luck!

Quote from Nightingale11How far along before you start feeling the strain? I'd like to work all the way through if I could. If not possible, is there a way I could temporarily get a desk job towards end of pregnancy?

With my daughter I worked as an aide in LTC until I was 7 months along. Had to stop because I was lifting too much by myself.With my son I worked up until the day before my scheduled c-section. I worked as an LPN in pediatrics at that time.

Worked all night, went over and had my baby that afternoon lol I was 40 2/7 weeks lol

I worked until the very end (38 1/2) weeks. I was induced at 39 weeks. It is difficult, but I managed. I kept my weight in check and my co-workers were wonderful whenever I needed help and often helped me without me asking. Yes, it is difficult to find the motivation to work, but I did it and never complained (b/c there was really nothing I could do until I delivered). I work night shift on a large pediatric unit - I have co-workers that have gone into labor on the floor (that's a little bit too much for me), but most of us, if not all of us, are crazy.......again, everyone's different, so just listen to your body and do what's best for you.

Talk to your doctor or midwife, but, if you don't have any complications there should be no reason you can't work till the end.

With my last pregnancy, I worked full time until I was induced at 36 weeks.Towards the end of my pregnancy, when I got home from work, I plopped (and I mean plopped!) myself on the couch and stayed that way. I might get up to cook dinner....poor hubby and kids had to fend for themselves a lot!So, rest often, and like others mentioned, keep your weight in check. That helps tremendously with how you feel overall, but even more so when you have to be on your feet most of the day. Eat regularly and keep healthy snacks available. Stay hydrated. Go to bed early. (Doesn't pregnancy sound like fun??!!)Good luck to you! Babies are a wonderful thing!! Makes me want to have #6!!

Here's my question to tag onto this. My last trimester was great, but what do you do if you're REALLY sick in the beginning of your pregnancy? I vomited around 3x/day for 4 or 5 months. How do you deal with that while you're trying to care for patients (and the sights and the smells and....)

Quote from LHawkHere's my question to tag onto this. My last trimester was great, but what do you do if you're REALLY sick in the beginning of your pregnancy? I vomited around 3x/day for 4 or 5 months. How do you deal with that while you're trying to care for patients (and the sights and the smells and....)

I was a home care hospice nurse during my pregnancy. I stayed traveling through up til the day before my due date. On my due date I was relegated to doing work in the office until I delivered. That only ended up being one day. As for the "morning" sickness, which we all know isn't confined to the mornings. I was sick for a good 3-4 months at the beginning my pregnancy. It was a bit different than being on the floor, since I traveled from home to home, I had some time to grab some crackers in between patients. I do remember one bedbound patient who I was doing an admission on who was soiled from head to toe. As I was trying to address the situation, the smell of urine was so intense that I couldn't breathe and felt as though I was going to loose it. Luckily I was able to go out on their front porch to get some fresh air and call an aide who was in the area to come a help, so we could get it done more quickly. That was the worst I ever had though.

What does everyone think about going on light duty in the third trimester? I work on a 38 bed tele floor where we are ALWAYS short staffed... some days each nurse has 5 patients and only 1 CNA and nurses do bed changes and baths and help transfer patients, etc...So my real question is: Is 31 weeks too early to ask for light duty?