Working nights while pregnant? (long)

BG09 · February 2012

Hi everyone! This is my first post on this board (as I don't have any children yet), but I am planning on TTC in the near future. I was hoping I could get some advice on working nights while pregnant and what your thoughts are on it.. Have any of you worked nights while pregnant?

The reason I'm asking is because I work nights currently, and have been for the past 3 years. My job is very low stress with no physical strain whatsoever. I normally sleep pretty well during the day and think I have adapted well to the night shift since I have been on this schedule for so long...

I am just wondering if it may not be the best for my baby to work nights while pregnant? I was looking online and saw that it has been reported that working nights while pregnant can cause low birth weight, premature delivery, etc.. But I am thinking this is more for those that alternate shifts and go back and forth from shift to shift and never get quality rest? My work load now is actually much less than what it would be if I moved to the day shift, so that is why I am kind of defending my night shift, because I'm hoping it will work out for me to stay on nights until the baby would be born .

Anyway, just wanted to hear your thoughts and see if there are any new moms on this board that worked nights while pregnant.. Sorry this was so long!

Thanks!

BellieRue · February 2012

I'm a restaurant manager so I work a mix of nights and days, and beyond being exhausted on the drive home, there really wasn't much of a difference between the two shifts. Now that my second son is here, I try to work mostly mornings, but more so I can see them and am able to my husband at nights.

That being said, I'm a big believer in you knowing your body and what's right for you, if your job is minimal stress and you've adapted a great sleep pattern, than I say, why not? I have a pretty stressful job on average and I had more problems with my first pregnancy when I was working 6a-4p M-F than I did working wacky restaurant hours.

namara5532 · February 2012

Working nights will work in your favor actually. Babies often are born with their days and nights mixed up because they sleep in the womb when mom is awake and most active, then they wake up when mom is resting. Your LO would already be used to sleeping at night without the adaptation period.

RN0107 · February 2012

I am a nurse and I worked 12 hour midnight shifts while pregnant and I thought it was perfect. I am naturally a night owl and so I had no trouble sleeping during the day after work. It was nice to work nights because my patients were mostly sleeping so it was less stressful and more laid back. I had plenty of opportunities to rest when I needed to.

wilburpup · February 2012

I have never worked nights, but I would think sticking with your schedule that you are used to would be healthier for you and baby than trying to switch to a new schedule.

amber31288 · February 2012

i never read anything about working nights leading to premature delivery and all that, so i may not be well-informed in that way, but i worked a few nights a week during my pregnancy and had no problems. my daughter was born 8 days early with no complications. i ended up switching to all days & only one night in the last month because it was getting tiring. but if you are used to the schedule and its not physically straining, you will probably do fine.

mfgale09 · February 2012

i worked 12 hr night shifts for most of my pregnancy..until about 2 weeks before i had the boys. it worked for me. the boys were born early but i think that was more a being pregnant with twins thing than work related

BG09 · February 2012

Thanks for all the reassurance on working over nights! I figured that if that's what I'm used to it would be probably be best, but wanted to make sure what the general consensus was. Once the baby is born and after maternity leave I would move to working days, so I was happy to hear this ? !!! Thanks again!

namara5532:
Working nights will work in your favor actually. Babies often are born with their days and nights mixed up because they sleep in the womb when mom is awake and most active, then they wake up when mom is resting. Your LO would already be used to sleeping at night without the adaptation period.

autumn423 · February 2012

i was working in the ER during the night shift while pregnant, and my DS was born on his due date and 7lbs. So if it works for you keep it.

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Working nights while pregnant? (long)

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