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July 2015 Moms
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Night shift nurse...

mehlakneemehlaknee member
in July 2015 Moms
hi all! First pregnancy for me and I'm having a rough time adjusting. Luckily MS hasn't kicked in (yet) just dealing with my incredibly sore boobs (literally can't even stand directly under the shower head) and some MAJOR sleep problems.

I was wondering if there are any night shift workers here and what the hell do you do to get by? Lack of sleep isn't a new thing for me because of my job but not drugging the hell out of myself is. I toss and turn and can't even take anything. It's making me insane!!!

Thanks! I'm loving these different threads from all of you. so reassuring there are others with my same thoughts!
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Re: Night shift nurse...

  • aloha_mamaaloha_mama member
    I do rotating shifts on my unit so I do some days and some nights. It's mostly been the same for me but lower energy levels around 3 or 4. I do drink a cup of caffeinated coffee in the beginning of my shifts (decaf on my days off) because I absolutely need it to survive. But I do find myself being very sleepy, especially when I sit down to chart, so I walk around the unit a lot and make sure I don't sit too often.
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  • mehlakneemehlaknee member
    Once I found out was pregnant I stopped the coffee. May not have been the right move. I find myself dead tired when at work and end up napping on my breaks - which I used to never do. Then when I'm off (even after a few days) I am exhausted but just lay in bed awake. I so desperately want my ambien...
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  • aloha_mamaaloha_mama member
    It only took one coffee-free shift to figure out that was a terrible idea for me. Some caffeine is fine for you--
    I believe it's anything greater than 200mg that has been linked to effects, which is about the equivalent of one cup of coffee. Especially if you were a coffee drinker before your BFP, it's more than likely you're safe to continue in moderation.
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  • aloha_mamaaloha_mama member
    https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/caffeine-during-pregnancy/

    This is a good resource, it says less than 200 mg which is about 12 oz of coffee. I don't even drink that much, usually about 8 oz, but I just can't handle my shifts without it.
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  • BrittyBritty member
    Working ER right now. I stopped pop when I found out. I drink tea though, lots. I got so tired the other night I drank a mountain dew for the first time in weeks and was climbing the walls lol I think I stayed up until 10 am. I'll drink pop if I have to but I had to quit redbull for now :( first trimester sucks the energy out of you for sure.
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  • foodie12rnfoodie12rn member
    I work straight nights in the ICU. I've never been able to drink caffeinated coffee because it gives me palpitations. I found that it helps if I take a nap during the day before I go in. If I'm lucky, DD will nap for 2 hours in the early afternoon and I take advantage!
    Me: 28, DH: 33
    Married 10.12.11
     BFP #1: 5.30.12- Giannna, born 1.27.13
    BFP #2: 9.18.14- due 6.1.15 -- natural m/c @ 5w6d 
    BFP #3 11.2.14- due 7.16.14 -- mmc, d&c @ 10w1d

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic  image 


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  • jlv5646jlv5646 member
    I'm a night shift nurse and I do 12 hr shifts. I no longer break my back boosting and turning patients. I always ask for help! I go to the bathroom when I have to go - I no longer hold my pee in for hours!! I also drink a lot a lot of ice water!! No coffee and maybe 1 hot tea once a week (decaf) : & yes when the other nurses brew coffee it's torture because it smells so amazing!

    When it comes to sleep I sleep practically all day prior to my shift: I need 10hrs at least.

    I bought bigger scrubs that stretch on the side so I can grow into them. But the big thing for me is drink lots of water!

    Ankle pumps help too. I've been noticing I'm on my feet a lot and my legs get swollen! Whenever I could I elevate my legs even if it's on a garbage can
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  • stparrishstparrish member
    I do three 12s in a row at night and it's definitely hard to keep awake for me these days. I do drink a bit of coffee or a chai tea latte. This is my first also. During the day I just wear a sleep mask and hope I get 5 hours. Luckily the antiemetics the doc gave me poop me out so I take those the days I'm not working. Diclegis... If you get MS you may want to look into them. :-)
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  • ChristyM87ChristyM87 member
    I am also a nurse but I work straight day shift in the ER. I have done straight nights in the past and it did begin to mess with my sleep schedule. While I don't have the sleep issues the rest of you have, I haven't told work I am pregnant yet, so I am being more cautious around combative patients, those who are getting chemo, and those with shingles.

    I gave up caffeine and soda prior to TTC. I have been making a conscious effort to drink more water at work
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  • mehlakneemehlaknee member
    Thanks for all the tips guys! I'm in the PICU so it's easier for me to avoid the large combative pts you guys get in the ER. I don't know how you do adults who fight back
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  • WafflesFriendsWorkWafflesFriendsWork member
    I split my caffeine intake up by pouring myself a half/caff. I don't notice that much of a difference and it is so nice to know that I still can have a cup later if I need to.
    image
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  • iteachkids81iteachkids81 member
    Have you looked into the Healthy Mama line of products? I came across them on Pinterest the other day. Looks like they sell them at Babies R US or Buy Buy Baby (can't recall which off the top of my head, but if you google "healthy mama brand", it comes up. They still say to check with your dr, but they have a pregnancy safe energy drink, stool softener, pain reliever, and sleep aide.... I haven't tried them yet myself, but I definitely want to look into it. 
    ~Jenny~


    BabyFruit Ticker
    Excitedly Expecting our first!      EDD July 10

    VOTE on my Name List
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  • aloha_mamaaloha_mama member
    mehlaknee said:

    Thanks for all the tips guys! I'm in the PICU so it's easier for me to avoid the large combative pts you guys get in the ER. I don't know how you do adults who fight back

    I work in the NICU so when my patients fight me it's more adorable than anything else :) I love those feisty babies!
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  • aloha_mamaaloha_mama member
    jlv5646 said:

    I'm a night shift nurse and I do 12 hr shifts. I no longer break my back boosting and turning patients. I always ask for help! I go to the bathroom when I have to go - I no longer hold my pee in for hours!! I also drink a lot a lot of ice water!!

    Snip

    When it comes to sleep I sleep practically all day prior to my shift: I need 10hrs at least.

    Lol ain't nobody got time for that. I didn't get to pee yesterday and missed my lunch.
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  • ChristyM87ChristyM87 member
    loveandlignin said:

    jlv5646 said:

    I'm a night shift nurse and I do 12 hr shifts. I no longer break my back boosting and turning patients. I always ask for help! I go to the bathroom when I have to go - I no longer hold my pee in for hours!! I also drink a lot a lot of ice water!!

    Snip

    When it comes to sleep I sleep practically all day prior to my shift: I need 10hrs at least.

    Lol ain't nobody got time for that. I didn't get to pee yesterday and missed my lunch.
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Please take care of yourself and your baby. Even as crazy and hectic as the ER is I find time to eat every single day. I am not going to get weak or nauseous because I wouldn't take care of myself. We don't have assigned breaks or lunches on my unit, but no nurse should be a martyr
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  • ChristyM87ChristyM87 member
    mehlaknee said:

    Thanks for all the tips guys! I'm in the PICU so it's easier for me to avoid the large combative pts you guys get in the ER. I don't know how you do adults who fight back

    Lots of backup from security.
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  • jgrace82jgrace82 member
    Sigh, I actually have to work tonight. I've been having a hard time sleeping in the day as I'm also used to drugging myself up to sleep. It's safe to take Benadryl apparently. Going to try that. I usually nap on my break at work so that helps.
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  • aloha_mamaaloha_mama member
    ChristyM87 said:

    loveandlignin said:

    jlv5646 said:

    I'm a night shift nurse and I do 12 hr shifts. I no longer break my back boosting and turning patients. I always ask for help! I go to the bathroom when I have to go - I no longer hold my pee in for hours!! I also drink a lot a lot of ice water!!

    Snip

    When it comes to sleep I sleep practically all day prior to my shift: I need 10hrs at least.

    Lol ain't nobody got time for that. I didn't get to pee yesterday and missed my lunch.
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Please take care of yourself and your baby. Even as crazy and hectic as the ER is I find time to eat every single day. I am not going to get weak or nauseous because I wouldn't take care of myself. We don't have assigned breaks or lunches on my unit, but no nurse should be a martyr
    No worries, I usually drink water and have snacks if I can't take 30 minutes for lunch. Because I'm in the NICU I see too much how many ways pregnancies can go wrong so I am super paranoid and careful about things. Not all my days are that crazy but this has been a weird weekend...
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  • jlv5646jlv5646 member
    Yea i work in medical icu but still find time to pee.. After all I don't want a uti which can harm baby so I go whenever I can.
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  • mehlakneemehlaknee member
    Do all your coworkers have you figured out yet? I'm trying to keep it a secret as long as possible but us nurses tend to figure things out rather quickly. A friend of mine was pregnant last year and would go running off to the bathroom to puke. Had to request to not be given an intubated pt she couldn't run away from at a moments notice! Haha. Hoping I can keep it secret...
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  • ChristyM87ChristyM87 member
    mehlaknee said:

    Do all your coworkers have you figured out yet? I'm trying to keep it a secret as long as possible but us nurses tend to figure things out rather quickly. A friend of mine was pregnant last year and would go running off to the bathroom to puke. Had to request to not be given an intubated pt she couldn't run away from at a moments notice! Haha. Hoping I can keep it secret...

    I haven't told anyone except one of the techs. We were working together checking in patients and the patient had shingles. I told the tech if any patients come in with rashes or say they have shingles she needs to let me know. She figured it out
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