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April 2021 Moms
knottie8ac8af5588d4414f
member
Pregnant Healthcare Worker - COVID
knottie8ac8af5588d4414f
member
Hi All,
I would love to hear from other pregnant healthcare workers and what they are doing the to protect themselves, how they're managing stress/anxiety related to COVID risk, and if you're still working or not!
I am a physical therapist working at large outpatient clinic in CA and I am continuing to work, but my OB and boss have agreed that I should wear an N95 mask, procedure mask, and face shield at all times given that I have to get within inches of my patients and they're not reliable at keeping their masks on (either it keeps sliding off or they're working out and cannot breath well and need to drink water, or other emergent situations). This has been really hard on me, I'm not even that big yet but I already notice that I can easily get short of breath and my heartburn/acid reflux is making me nauseous all over again like it's my first trimester. Wearing double masks and face shield on top of this makes it even harder, and it can be a struggle for me to find time to drink water or step away to get even a second break. The only time that I can take it off is when I'm eating lunch outside otherwise I have 4+ hours before and after lunch where I am wearing it at all times.
I honestly dread going to work now because of this and am a bit paranoid every time I am working with a patient who tells me they just flew somewhere or had a party last night or think this is all a hoax. I am strongly considering taking leave earlier because I am uncomfortable and tired, am I being over-dramatic? If I take leave early I won't get paid which is obviously not ideal.
Would love to hear anyone's thoughts.
Michelle
I would love to hear from other pregnant healthcare workers and what they are doing the to protect themselves, how they're managing stress/anxiety related to COVID risk, and if you're still working or not!
I am a physical therapist working at large outpatient clinic in CA and I am continuing to work, but my OB and boss have agreed that I should wear an N95 mask, procedure mask, and face shield at all times given that I have to get within inches of my patients and they're not reliable at keeping their masks on (either it keeps sliding off or they're working out and cannot breath well and need to drink water, or other emergent situations). This has been really hard on me, I'm not even that big yet but I already notice that I can easily get short of breath and my heartburn/acid reflux is making me nauseous all over again like it's my first trimester. Wearing double masks and face shield on top of this makes it even harder, and it can be a struggle for me to find time to drink water or step away to get even a second break. The only time that I can take it off is when I'm eating lunch outside otherwise I have 4+ hours before and after lunch where I am wearing it at all times.
I honestly dread going to work now because of this and am a bit paranoid every time I am working with a patient who tells me they just flew somewhere or had a party last night or think this is all a hoax. I am strongly considering taking leave earlier because I am uncomfortable and tired, am I being over-dramatic? If I take leave early I won't get paid which is obviously not ideal.
Would love to hear anyone's thoughts.
Michelle
Re: Pregnant Healthcare Worker - COVID
I got a written accommodation for an N95 for all patients (+ face shield) since my work is aerosolizing. 99% of my job is swallow evaluations, so patients are unmasked and coughing.
Honestly I'm taking it one week at a time right now. I am motivated to stay employed, even through this surge, to get early access to the vaccine - our hospital is expecting first shipment in 2 weeks. I expect to hit my allocation maybe in January. I'm currently communicating with all my providers - MFM, OB, GI, and baby's pedi, to make sure everyone is in agreement that the benefits of the vaccine outweighs the risks.
The Society of MFM just released a statement yesterday in support of pregnant healthcare workers being provided with the vaccine if you're curious. https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/media/2591/SMFM_Vaccine_Statement_12-1-20_(final).pdf
If I can get some antibodies to him before he's exposed to everyone on the outside, I'll feel more peace of mind - I know it won't be total protection; but perhaps maternal vaccination will lower the risk of severe disease like it does with the flu, TDAP, etc. The risk of fetal harm with the mRNA virus should be theoretically low (but will remain unknown for some period of time). If I didn't work in healthcare and could have a home birth (I'm risked out), I would likely choose differently. I also feel more at peace getting the vaccine in the late second or early third trimester than I would during the first tri - this isn't based on any actual data, though, obviously.
So far I've gotten an immediate "yes" twice (GI, MFM), my son's pediatrician asked for more time to research before answering the question, and I see my regular OB later today and plan to discuss with her.
These decisions suck. If you find anything worth reading or listening to, please share!
If you're looking for more information, I'd recommend reading the ACOG and Society of Maternal Fetal medicine links above.
Here is the info directly from Pfizer so far, but more follow up will come:
(TW for outcome discussion)
Pregnancies
Female study participants of childbearing potential were screened for pregnancy prior to each vaccination, with a positive test resulting in exclusion or discontinuation from study vaccination. The study is collecting outcomes for all reported pregnancies that occur after vaccination, or before vaccination and not detected by pre-vaccination screening tests. Twenty-three pregnancies were reported through the data cut-off date of November 14, 2020 (12 vaccine, 11 placebo). Study vaccination occurred prior to the last menstrual period (LMP) in 5 participants (4 vaccine, 2 placebo), within 30 days after LMP in 8 participants (4 vaccine, 6 placebo), >30 days after LMP in 1 participant (0 vaccine, 2 placebo), and date of LMP not known in 5 participants (4 vaccine, 1 placebo). Unsolicited AEs related to pregnancy include spontaneous abortion and retained products of conception, both in the placebo group. Pregnancy outcomes are otherwise unknown at this time.
(end TW)
Additionally, Pfizer should be releasing DART study results (looking at toxicity to pregnant rats) in the coming days. This is usually a prerequisite to enrolling pregnant women in clinical trials. Clinical trials for pregnant women should begin in Jan but we will have some time before that data is available.
As part of the EUA, the FDA is requiring Pfizer to submit interim data on pregnant people who receive the vaccine. I believe this will be released on a monthly basis, beginning in Feb.
Really grateful to have had the opportunity to receive the vaccine. I'm sharing my data with V-Safe CDC program, and also registered for the University of Washington's pregnancy database.
ETA: I'm curious, for those of us who have taken it, did you OB recommend it? At first I was not planning to get it, and my OB said she didn't have enough information to guide me one way or the other. Then, at my last appointment she said ACOG had put out an updated statement and she recommneded I get vaccinated. She said she had several pregnant physician friends who had gotten vaccinated, and when I asked her if she would get it if she were pregnant she said yes. She said that the benefits for me far outweigh the potential risks.
My OB did recommend it. She was on the fence when I first inquired (prior to FDA emergency use authorization) and then actually reached out to me after ACOG released their statement (the week after our appt/discussion) and recommended I receive the vaccine. I had already pretty much made up my mind to receive it at that point (and had been recommended to receive it by MFM) but it did give me peace of mind.
I get my second shot on the 25th, so it's nice to hear that @rexnie didn't have the flu like symptoms! My daughter has been home this week after potential exposure from day care late last week, and today I feel exhausted and like I could be coming down with something. She hasn't had any symptoms all week. So i'm just sitting here praying and hoping that it is nothing, and I just need more sleep!
Edit - Texas made pregnancy a 1B classification.
Just a clarification but ACOG hasn't changed their stance - they've released official comments and letters about including pregnant women in the COVID vaccine trials since March (then later argued for including pregnant women in vaccine prioritization schedules and finally FDA EUA inclusion). https://www.acog.org/advocacy/advocacy-and-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy
I just wanted to point out that I don't think that represents any recent change. Rather, ACOG has consistently advocated that the benefits (to pregnant women and their babies) of including our group in trials, FDA EUA, and vaccination schedules outweigh the potential risks. This is an important distinction IMO because some people get uncomfortable with decision making when they feel guidelines are rapidly changing -- even if that's exactly how the scientific process works.
One week and a day till vaccine shot number two!
@jenn622-2 the fear of severe pre-e mixed with covid was one of my biggest deciding factors in getting the shot! Really what covid could do to my bp in general terrifies me.
So FWIW, I discussed with my kids pediatrician at an appt today getting it and if it would impact baby at all and she did not hesitate to say yes, please get it if you can. She thinks based on the science of the vaccine there would be very little (if any) risk to baby. So I am leaning towards getting it once confirming with my mfm and pending its actually available anywhere.