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?

[Cringechilli]

Evie, pregnancy impacts people differently. I think you need to see a doctor or midwife or someone who can help you get a sick note/assistance to reduce your work schedule.

My sickness record was great - 2 days off in 6 years. Then I got pregnant and was signed off work for the entire pregnancy. I felt bad about it, but really you must look after yourself. Pregnancy does not agree with some of us but others are perfectly fine and indeed some feel amazing. So those ones can operate on me if they wish!

[Tulip26]

Some medical staff work well over what they're supposed to. A good mate of mine once had an anesthesiologist who said he had been working on call for 36 hours (this was only ten years ago). They were short staffed in an emergency so he just kept working. He said he could do the procedures 'upside down in his sleep' if he needed to.

[Sunnysummer]

YABU to ask, YWNBU to take a day off.

I'd have no issues being operated on by a pregnant surgeon. However it sounds like your real issue is not the pregnancy itself but the exhaustion and side effects that you are personally experiencing. It must be really hard for you right now.
If you are looking for validation about taking time off, I'm happy to join the choir... But maybe it would be better to do it in ways that don't perpetuate other stereotypes?

[dammitsue]

I'm pregnant. I feel wonderful!! But, ask me on the first day of my period...if I haven't already fainted from the pain of it and then you'll see a woman not fit to even feed herself, let alone be responsible for others!!
Should women surgeons be banned during periods too?

[FutTheShuckUp]

This thread title is ridiculous and nonsensical. I have a streaming cold. It's like me saying I have a dripping nose if I was a chef would you be happy for me to make your food? But I'm not a chef so off to work I go....

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

Dammit no one is suggesting a ban for pregnancy, periods or anything. Just that if people's lives depend on your concentration and ability to do your job, you need to be responsible enough to not embark on eg performing surgery if your abilities are impaired, whatever the reason.

[cardibach]

dammit all surgeons, male or female, should be banned on any day on which they are not fir to operate, for whatever reason. If a health related issue of any kind makes this so regular an occurrence that they are ineffective, then maybe they need to reconsider their career.
OP, of course you can call in sick, and you should have done. As many others have said, what will happen when you are on ML?

[OddBoots]

georgesdino - I think there are a lot of variables there, with my own children when I was ill I flumped on the sofa and they watched a lot of TV, I'm not sure the same would be acceptable in a nursery. Also, very few people have four 2-year-olds or eight 3-year-olds to take care of at once, you do need to be pretty alert and awake with that number.

[Snatchoo]

Why can you not take time off? It's protected you know. I had to take loads of time off during my twin pregnancy (and yes, some of it was due to sleep deprivation) and it was fine.

Surely if you can't trust yourself to get things right then there's not really any point you being there?!

[MorganLeFey]

As people have said - it's not the pregnancy that is the issue but anything that van impact on your performance & professional responsibility to be aware and take steps to minimize risks - which might involve taking sick leave. Neurosurgeons or other medics don't have a complete monopoly on risks at work.

I suspect all but the smallest Obstetric & Gynaecology departments have at least one pregnant doctor at anyone time on the on call rota. My last place I seemed to start an epidemic!

[MorganLeFey]

& pretty much all of the pregnant doctors on that rota need to take pregnancy related sick leave/amended duties at some point..! Which has its own risks e.g. understaffing, unfamiliar locums or cancelling electives - but it's a balancing act.

[georgesdino]

oddboots - If all the workers (usually mums) went off when they were sleep deprived you would have no staff.

[TeacupDrama]

sleep deprivation makes all sorts of people make mistakes this is why they stopped doctors doing the ridiculous work all day friday on call all weekend work all day monday, sleep deprivation did result in mistakes, going to A&E on sunday night did result in poorer outcomes now doctors are not allowed to work that many hours on a stretch junior doctors hours are still long but the the 100 hour weeks they could be 20 years ago

Sleep deprivation causes mistakes 10 times more people are killed by tired drivers than drunk ones, if someone killed one of my loved ones it would not really be any comfort to know they were really tired and had no sleep as opposed to drunk, both make people less alert less aware of surroundings and what is happening and slow reaction times

some painkillers make you drowsy you are told not to drive or operate machinery, drowsiness is DANGEROUS especially the competitive tiredness i drove 5 hours after 2 hours sleep it's not brave, it's not clever it's just stupid

I'm a dentist, at 7 months pregnant i got pregnancy carpel tunnel it made my fingers feel numb I had to stop work immediately I did not really want to stop work at 32 weeks but had to for patient safety, it did cause some problems as had planned to finish courses of treatment by week 35 and had to get colleagues etc to finish them for me, but you can't put people at risk of even a wonky filling never mind more serious consequences

dependiing on your job you have a duty to go to work fit for work, hence a neurosurgeon/pilot/ lorry driver should not be up all night before operating whatever the reason

[Mignonette]

Many many of us have been treated by sleep deprived HCPs. Not condoning it but it is a reality of the job albeit less so than a decade ago.

But it is part of a HCP's legal and professional code of conduct to identify their professional limitations and take the appropriate measures whether they be functional or knowledge based.

[olympicsrock]

OP - As a surgeon who worked and operated independently until 36 weeks pregnant I'm a bit annoyed by your ridiculous title.

I had a reasonably good pregnancy although i struggled with nights for a month in the few trimester and on calls towards the end. I spoke to my consultants who were incredibly supportive (in fact they kept telling me to take it easier) and so from 28 weeks I just worked 8-6pm Monday to Friday and the trust covered my late shifts nights and weekends with a locum. On a couple of occasions, I called in sick and colleagues covered. This allowed me to stay well rested and active. I know that i did a good job, made life and death decisions and operated well at 36 weeks. None of my patients appeared to have an issue with my bump.

Things are actually much tougher working full time with a teething toddler. There has been the odd occasion that I'm so sleep deprived that i can't function. I have to make a risk assessment and if necessary colleagues cover for me.
It sounds like you need to be a responsible adult and realise that the world will not stop spinning without you. They will cope when you are on maternity leave, phone your boss and call in sick. Hope you feel better soon.

[skinoncustard]

I think some of these posters are sleep deprived, the op states quite clearly what her job involves, she is not in any shape or form a surgeon! If you can't read or understand the op , don't comment, a complete waste of time! Sorry OP but no job is worth your health. I am sorry but if you left (as you will on ML) it won't be long till people are saying 'Evie' --- ' Evie who ' no one is in indispensable. Look after yourself and your babies. Xx

[capsium]

Colleagues need to be able to cope if you take a day off. What are they going to do when you take maternity leave?

Makes sense to start gearing down now, for your sake, your babies' sake and your colleagues sake.

[maillotjaune]

Pregnant surgeon - fine (obviously).
Surgeon unable to perform their job due to sleep deprivation, illness, hangover - not fine.

OP if your team can spot / cover your mistakes at work then they can do without you. If I'm lecturing and call in sick sometimes we don't have cover without moving round several courses at the last minute, or merging 2 classes - but we do it because someone who is throwing up can't get on the train let alone stand up in front of a class.

No one is indispensable.

[ReadyToPopAndFresh]

What do you do OP? Because it would depend to be honest.

A surgeon I would hope would know better that to risk a person's life and their career..

[Sharaluck]

Do you really want a sleep deprived nursery nurse looking after your dc george caring for a group of different babies/toddlers with different dietary/health/care needs? quite a lot different to a sahm.

[georgesdino]

I am a sleep deprived nursery nurse, and I look after my children and lots of others. Of course I trust myself. Ive done it on 2/3 hours sleep before with soon to be 3 of my own still been running around like a cbeebies presenter. You just get on with it.

[georgesdino]

and yes it is different from being a sahm but I dont think being a sahm is a real job but thats an unpopular opinion!

[capsium]

george But people with your type of sleep deprivation working with groups of children are part of the reason I am a SAHM. Not every child is as easy as all that and quite often nurseries and schools are unreliable when SEN is added into the mix, albeit IMO mild SEN, as I have regrettably found out.

[georgesdino]

We have sen children, children undergoing speech therapy, children who have experienced severe abuse, global development delay, severe behavioural problems etc. I think it helps I had my children quite young Im used to working in difficult conditions.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

After 20 weeks I arranged my remaining holiday so that I had one day of a fortnight to ensure I was fit enough to continue to do surgery. I only stopped when I couldn't reach the table.