**1Lump**

danieleandwayne

Figured I'd continue this conversation in another thread...

So. Nursing and being pregnant.Well, the morning sickness was tough-- it's not a job that is conducive to morning sickness, given that most of the smells and sights are atrocious on a normal day, let alone with the pregnancy thing added into it.

I work on 2 units-- the ICU and the ED. The majority of my shifts are in the ICU, where our patients are typically at LEAST 350 pounds (often larger) and are most often sedated or otherwise immobile. That means that with the fatigue and round ligament pain (and the huger boobs putting pressure on my neck and back), it can get difficult. My feet hurt like HELL at the end of a 12 hour shift and I get swelling now in my feet and ankles despite wearing compression socks. I am going to have to buy socks with higher levels of compression. I would definitely recommend purchasing some yourself, if you haven't already.

My shifts in the ED aren't as difficult for me physically, since most of the patients are mobile and I don't have to turn them every 2 hours or give them bed baths, and I have a chance to sit down in between patients, etc. The smells aren't much better, though. LOL That being said, I don't know how you're doing nursing school whilst pregnant. I was so tired during nursing school and I'm EXHAUSTED with this pregnancy, so my hat is off to anyone who can be pregnant while in nursing school because that's just double the exhaustion! I'm very impressed with you!

I feel like such a wimp-- not a feeling I'm used to-- but I have to say in my defense that all the other pregnant nurses I see at work are in their 20s and very early 30s. I mean, before they were pregnant, they could handle going out to drink and staying up late the night before getting up at 5am to work a shift. I haven't been able to do that in about 8 years!

1Lump

Wow, ICU and ED so busy with difficult patients.  I just finished my critical care rotation, and I was in the ICU, ED, and telemetry.  Oh my gosh, the smells were horrible, but luckily most of my morning sickness was actually in the afternoon, so I usually finished my shift just before it began.  But the hip pain killed me by the evening, I could barely walk, and I only had two shifts a week.  I can't even imagine what you are going through.  

Oh man all of my other group members are in their early 20's, and I feel so old right now with how tired I get by the end of the day.  I started really slacking with my studying for about a month, because I also have a two year old who requires alot of my time and energy.  I would fall asleep each night practically right after putting her to bed, so I was not studying.  Luckily most of my tests and papers had already been completed, and now I just have finals week left.  So of course it is cramming time.  

It was really difficult in the ICU with the large sedated patients on ventilators, but I generally had the assigned nurse to assist with re-positioning.  Poor girl, I applaud you and all of the hard work that you are doing.  The only thing that I can say is try to sit down and put your feet up as often as you possibly can, which I know is not very often.

Thank you for replying to my question.  It looks like we are due around the same time.  Looking forward to sharing stories throughout this pregnancy.  Take care of yourself and the LO! 

1Lump

Thank you hisbabygirl176!  Work in general is hard, and I think it is even more so when you are pregnant.