12 hour shifts....help!
melisgood
member
Ok, so I know I'm not quite to second tri, but I thought maybe more people can relate than in first tri. I am a nurse and work 12 hour shifts on my feet. Let me clarify...the floor i work on is crazy! I am literally running around all day, moving heavy patients, etc. I just worked the weekend (2 12hours) and I am in sooo much pain! I almost started crying at work because i felt like all my energy had been drained from me at the end of my shift. i literally felt like i was walking in slow motion and people kept saying i looked so tired. I'm so busy it's hard to find time to drink water, pee, or take breaks. We only take one 30 minute break and if we're lucky one 15 minute (we're supposed to take 2 15 mins but no one EVER does). My hips hurt the worst, also my legs, back and belly. Fortunetly I am only part time, so I work 2 12 hour shifts a week, but this is harder than it sounds. I feel like a wimp to even mention it to my doctor.
I somehow made it to 8 weeks before my due date with baby #1, but I'm already wondering how long i'm going to be able to keep this up my belly isn't even that big. i'm in shape and exercise, eat healthy etc. ANY ADVICE?!?!?!
Re: 12 hour shifts....help!
First of all, congratulations on working 2 12 hr shifts a week! I know for a fact that I would not be able to do that and Im almost 15 weeks!! So hats off to you!
Secondly, If it was me, i would definitely talk to my doctor. Just make sure to tell him how much pain that you are in even though you are only 8 weeks along. People always say that if you take care of your body during pregnancy, then your baby will be healthy as well. I feel that it also includes heavy lifting, walking/running, back aches, etc. I am a hair stylist and I am on my feet all the time as well and can only have so many breaks because I am so busy. My Chiropractor told me that I need to take breaks whenever I can. Sit and relax for a few minutes throughout the day. Women should not be on the go all the time. I took his advice and my back is MUCH better and my feet are not killing me as much. Pregnant women get bad back pain later on in their pregnancy so we might as well start treating our backs right, right now.
I hope this helps! Talk to your doctor! and good luck with your shifts!
I can totally understand. I am an ED RN. I work two 12 and two 8 hour shifts a week. It is so tough on my body. Like you said some days I feel like I'm moving in slow motion. My entire body aches and I feel like when I'm driving home, I'm driving on auto pilot. To make things worst, I have a 10 cm uterine fibroid that is sitting directly next to my placenta. So, when I overexert myself, I sometimes develop pain from the fibroid. My director and co-workers have been great. If I need to step away or sit at the nursing station to rest for 10 min, I can. Lol of course, I'm charting while I'm sitting. But it's better than me running between trauma and treatment rooms.
You are definitely not alone in this. My goal is to tough it out as long as possible. But the one thing I've learnt with this pregnancy is, you have to listen to your body.
I agree with other PP's. I say have a good talk with your doctor about how you're feeling. Don't feel like a wimp. He/she might not have been through what you've been through but they at least have been through residency and know the long hours and the feeling of not being able to "just sit for a sec" to see if it gets better.
I am switching to two 12's in a week and a half instead of four 8's. I'm loving the only working 2 days a week, but not loving the adding 4 hours onto my shift. I work in the ER and my shift is going to be 12:00- 00:30, pretty much the busiest ER hours generally. I'm a little worried. I might have some advice in a few weeks, but I'm not sure yet.
I agree - I don't know why but the second pregnancy seems so much more exhausting than the first.
I wish you luck!