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3rd Trimester
bfstacy
member
Ugh...work related and advice needed!
bfstacy
member
Okay, so I work as a CNA in a nursing home. This means that I am constantly lifting people to transfer them along with other fun duties :-) I'm about 33weeks along now and have noticed how easily I get short of breath and squatting down as well as bending over has become much more difficult...not to mention the getting back up part.
I asked doctor's opinion of how long I should continue to work at my job and basically the response is that it's up to me and he's not concerned. However, the nurse teaching our baby class was very concerned about me working. (that's what worries me). she says that doctors don't realize how much work CNAs really do.
I've had a pretty easy going pregnancy. No problems except for getting punched in the stomach once (at work, by a dementia patient) and sent to ER for observation but everything came out fine.
I am on my feet all day at work (i wear my support hose but haven't had any swelling) but have been told that being on your feet all day can put you into preterm labor.
Basically, my concern is that I want to be safe and I want baby to be safe. I realize that everybody is different and every pregnancy is different but I would really appreciate some advice.
Thanks!
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Re: Ugh...work related and advice needed!
Fortunately my charge nurses are fairly understanding and always give me heads up on behaviors or isolation precautions. (the behaviors have been my biggest fear because we get alot of residents who just become angry and violent) But unless i have a doctor's note with a weight restriction, i'm expected to do my work.
I'm just frustrated because i want to do my work and not put off more work on my co-workers but i want to do what's best for me and baby too. ....ugh...
Is there any way to talk to a supervisor about your concerns and see if you can leave the heavy lifting to someone else?
I worked with disabled adults and did lots of lifting, transfers and dealt with tons of behavioral individuals. My advice is to talk to your doctor again and get exact guidelines of what you can and cannot do.
HR and management are not always "nice" to CNAs who are worried about pregnancies, ect. If you have a piece of paper stating no lifting above 40 pounds, and other guidelines that will make you feel comfortable, then HR and your manager will have to allow you to follow doctor's orders, even if they don't like it.
Speak to your Dr.'s nurse about it also - she will be more aware than he is of all the work that you do on a daily basis, because she probably started out doing the same thing that you are now. If worse comes to worse - take your Maternity leave a bit early so that you aren't lifting at 38 weeks pregnant. Your first concern is you and the baby - not the resident that MIGHT take a swing at you when your 9 months along.
I am an RN working 12 hours shift on a trauma and burn floor and there are lots of total care patients. Fortunately for me my co-workers are very protective of me and LO and won't let me do all the lifting and what not. I think in your case you need to explain to your doctor that you have to lift major loads and you need a note restricting you to a certain weight that you can lift. your boss will just have to understand that you can still do your work even with restrictions. when me and a CNA clean a patient up, they pull and hold the patient over while I do the cleaning. and when I can't do it I get another staff member to do whatever it is for me and offer to do something they need.
I don't want to scare you but years ago I had a friend who worked on my floor as a CNA and she lost her baby (she was like 16 weeks) bc she did too much. and another friend who is a RN on my floor lost her baby at 19 weeks last year for the same thing. Protect youself and your baby. If you think its not safe don't do it. If you get a note from your OB there is nothing your job can do about it. when you get the note make several copies and give it to HR and your direct boss and keep a copy for yourself.
If you were performing these duties before pregnancy shouldn't that make you in kind of a 'safe' place to continue doing those activities? Not trying to down play lifting people, I wouldn't be able to do that at all right now.
What about co-workers? Is it unreasonable to have them help you out a bit when it comes to that? Sounds like you're all on your own.
Thanks for the input everyone. I think Im going to talk to hubby about maybe dropping a day each week just for a little extra rest and that might help. Maybe when I get a little closer doc might be okay with "light duty" and then no more lifting the heavy ones.
I think as a first time momma I just get overly worried and try to be extra cautious...lol
Thanks again!!