to ask if you would be happy to be operated on by a pregnant surgeon...

[Evie2014]

… who had been up all night with various pregnancy-related issues?

I'm 23 weeks pregnant with twins, and I've been up most of the night with preggo rhinitis, a grumbly tummy and the usual pregnancy insomnia. I'm heading into at least a 12 hour day at work, which will involve supervising people, directing teams and making relatively important decisions. I have quite a responsible job. Calling in sick isn't an option.

I average one day a week at the moment where I go in to work having managed an hour's sleep (despite going to bed early). I can honestly say that never in my professional life have I performed as badly as I do on those days. I've been making stupid rookie mistakes as a result of the awful state that comes from being pregnant, poorly and sleep deprived.

In the past, I've gone to work with ludicrous hangovers where I was probably still drunk from the night before . I definitely still performed better and made fewer mistakes on those ridiculously hungover days than I do during the present sleep-deprived pregnant days. (Pregnancy. The free hangover that never ends.)

I've learned from previous days like this. I'm going to warn two of my colleagues to keep an eye on my work today, in case I make a mistake. I have a lovely supportive team so that's not going to be a problem. However, there's no getting away from the fact that today is going to suck. I had a little cry in the bathroom as I pulled my exhausted body out of the shower just now, and then snuffled and said to myself, "Well, Evie, at least you're not a neurosurgeon. You can't kill anyone today."

But what if I WERE a neurosurgeon? Would you be happy for me to operate on you?

[YellowDinosaur]

I'm a surgeon. When I was pregnant I had a habit of fainting, especially in theatre although only when assisting. I'm was a relatively junior trainee so there was always someone more senior with me or contactable in the hospital and it didn't happen all the time. At 24 weeks I asked to stop on calls since I didn't think it was safe to be the most senior surgeon present in the hospital being expected to operate on my own until the consultant arrived potentially from home. They advised me I should be signed off sick, advise I was happy to take a week later when I fainted while sitting down. I was better immediately I stopped.

Second time around the set up was slightly different and I stopped on calls early and worked in clinics instead so managed to work until 36 weeks.

There was no way I was prepared to risk patient safety (most important issue) or my career by making a mistake that shouldn't have happened or our health.

So, if you job is similar in responsibility and you know you're not up to it I think you should consider making the same call.

[YellowDinosaur]

And 6 years later it hasn't impacted in my career one iota apart from making my training a bit longer. I can live with that against fainting while holding a scalpel inside a patient...

[YellowDinosaur]

But to answer your op I'd be happy to be operated in by a pregnant surgeon, if she was well and felt confident it wasn't affecting her ability. I wouldn't have been happy to be operated on by me at that stage or by someone like you.

[Pumpkinpositive]

Admittedly, it was the middle of the night when I read this, but I understood OP to mean she was a surgeon, just not a neuro surgeon. And was consequently a bit at her hangover claims.

[Evie2014]

I AM NOT A SURGEON.

But am indeed at work so will reply properly later!

[trampstamp]

If you have to ask the question then .........

[WitchWay]

OP isn't a surgeon - is how I interpreted the post. The title is for illustrative purposes. Yes there are female surgeons of all type, including neurosurgeons. Yes some may be pregnant.

FWIW the NHS shift pattern for junior doctors/surgeons is pretty gruelling & unforgiving - yes a pregnant or otherwise unwell member of staff could go off sick, but in reality the guilt & pressure in the NHS is so great that they put their colleagues & patients first & make themselves worse

[VivaLeBeaver]

As a midwife who works nights and struggles to sleep during the day I often go to work after only two hours sleep. Repeated over quite a few days. Not say I feel like shit and am not on top form is an understatement. But I'm not alone, most of my colleagues are the same.

If I didnt go into work after a bad sleep I'd never turn in for nights.

[Melonbreath]

I was operated on by a pregnant surgeon a couple of years ago, on her last day at work before maternity leave.

I never thought about fainting etc as I had no idea what being pregnant was like then.
I'm really glad i didn't or I'd have been even more terrified!

She fixed me though, so thumbs up from me

[FiveExclamations]

No, I wouldn't want to be operated on by someone who has only had one hour of sleep.

I wouldn't want them driving me, flying the plane I was in, investigating crimes, calculating my pension, working in a bank (in any position), basically if your performance could have a negative effect on anyone then you shouldn't be at work.

What if your team has there own issues to battle through? What if they don't spot your mistakes?

I have quite a responsible job. Calling in sick isn't an option.

Why? No access to a phone? E-mail? Carrier pigeon?

People get sick. Any business who pressures people to turn up when they are incapable of performing adequately is short sighted to the point of idiocy.

Is this some male dominated, gung ho environment where any pregnancy related illness is all your own fault for getting pregnant? If so I understand why you've gone in, but if it's you putting pressure on yourself then I really don't.

[JanePurdy]

The issue isn't really pregnancy though is it. I never fainted or lost brainpower in either of my pregnancies. The issue is about not being well & able to perform. And in that case, no I wouldn't want to be operated on by someone who isn't 'together' on that day.

[VelvetGecko]

What if you have a child who wakes several times a night for 3+ years? Call in sick for 3 years?
Ime sleep deprivation is something you get used to.

[OddBoots]

If someone has a job where the lives of others are in their hands then I would expect them to make a professional judgement about if they were safe to be working, regardless of what their job is or the reason they may not be safe.

[FiveExclamations]

If you can get used to it and perform adequately then fine, but it's clear from what the Op says she can't, she's relying on others to spot her mistakes.

I still wouldn't be please to be operated on by someone who'd had that little sleep.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Calling in sick is an option.Because at times in life there is truly no option, and the world still goes on.

I would happily have a pregnant woman operate on me.
But not someone of either gender who is so exhausted that they are in tears.

Take a break now while yoyr body is warning you to.

[Quinteszilla]

See, this thread is a product of a sleep deprived mind who should not be in work, if she were a surgeon, but she isnt, so there,,,,,,

[Bugsylugs]

The difference op following GMC guidance doctors and so surgeons have a duty to not work if they are not fit to work. I guess there is something similar for pilots not sure about your chosen career. So yes I would be happy to be operated on by a pregnant surgeon but not a surgeon who is not fit to work.
Hope you colleagues are supportive and you get some rest

[BikeRunSki]

I wouldn't want somebody who was sleep deprived, for any reason, to be in a position where their decisions could kill or harm me, for any reason.

Pregnant neurosurgeon, hungover train driver, poorly pilot. I say that as mother of the Amazing Non Sleeping 2.5 yo, and holder of a responsible job. I am unlikely to kill anyone today, but mistakes could have repercussions years later.

[Jess03]

The superwoman myth really hurts women. I thought I was pretty tough until I got pg and the first trimester (and the rest) kicked my butt thoroughly. My OB when I was delivering dc1 had a 6 week old baby herself, she could not find my (posterior) cervix on 2 attempts despite being pretty rough! She should have been at home resting. She got removed and I saw a different OB for the rest of the delivery.

[BusinessUnusual]

I read the OP as her being a surgeon who specialised I non life threatening ops like, err, feet or something. Glad that she isn't!

OP- can you book a day off this week or next if you won't call in sick?

[callamia]

I had appalling pregnancy insomnia, so I really feel your pain/tiredness and general misery.

If you can take a day, or half day off every so often to catch up on sleep you will feel less wretched (of course I slept best from about 6am onwards - right before the alarm went off). It is important to look after yourself when you can.

Calling in sick is ALWAYS an option - respectfully, you're not indispensable - I assume you'll be taking mat leave soon. I was rubbish about handing over responsibility, but at least I was able to work at home some days. Nothing will fall apart if you have a few extra hours asleep before going in.

[puntasticusername]

YABU to think you cannot call in sick. No one is THAT bloody indispensable. If you've arranged the work so that you genuinely are (eg you are the only person with certain skills or knowledge; others are not confident/empowered to make decisions in your absence), you're probably not doing your job very well.

What would happen if you had a serious illness, pregnancy-related or otherwise, and had to go into hospital tomorrow for a month? Would your whole workplace fall into the ground? Set things up a bit better, then, so you feel happy that your team can get along without you when the need arises.

What plans are in place to cover your maternity leave?

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

Am also a bit worried about how the OP gets to work - because if on a weekly basis you are going in on one hour's sleep along with all the other difficulties that accompany pregnancy, I really hope you aren't getting behind the wheel of a car on those mornings...

[TwoThreeFourSix]

I've struggled a lot with work this pregnancy. No I'm not indispensable but I work on a project with strict deadlines and if I'm not there deadlines get missed which will have huge impacts down the line in 2015....

However I have been doing shorter hours (9am-7pm) and this week have conceeded defeat and got signed off for 2 days. I am forcing myself to think of the dire consequences my work might have on my baby and its not worth it but I agree its hard to see that when you're in the middle of work and deadlines and pressure.

To answer the qu - no I wouldnt want to be operated on by anyone who is exhausted. And I wouldnt want to be operated in by a woman who is having a similar pregnancy to me - I am too tired to think straight a lot of the time.

[georgesdino]

sharaluck- I wouldnt have nursery nurse on your list People have children and still look after them on no sleep its not a dangerous job.