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?

[puntasticusername]

Yes, yes, yes. But will you answer the bloody question - are you a surgeon, or aren't you?



Am in haste but - sorry for being judgy, I do get where you're coming from. But I also think you need to look after yourself. I appreciate it's totally shit when you have to choose whether to prioritise your physical or your economic wellbeing.

[RevoltingPeasant]

OP I also think it is not as simple as, if you don't feel well, don't go in.

I work in a very different sort of environment to a doctor - I'm a university lecturer - but there is also pressure there in the sense that often, you are the only one who can deliver a particular course because you are the expert. Sooooo, you balance 'Do I cancel a 9am lecture for 200 people with an hour's notice, when it will mean they don't get their exam revision session?' with 'I feel like shit and can't string a sentence together anyhow.'

I have a colleague who once told me she walked into the theatre, turned around and ran for the loo, puked her guts out due to sheer exhaustion, and then went back and delivered an hour-long talk. Another of my colleagues puts her DC to bed at 7/8pm and then works till 1-2am every night, getting up again at 6am. I have no idea how she functions.

And yes, a lot of it is about not wanting to fall behind compared to men, because of course theoretically we're all E&D, but in reality, if you haven't published recently, or haven't pulled in a grant, well.....

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

A pregnant surgeon gave me my c section, just as she was about to start she said 'Oooo I think I should've had breakfast!'

[TeacupDrama]

puntasticusername that has been answered about 20 times she is not a surgeon

[puntasticusername]

Teacup yes I know. It was a joke

[Sharaluck]

What is your job evie?

Sorry to hear you had a hard day

[girlwhowearsglasses]

OP when I was 23 weeks pregnant with twins I went into Mamas and Papas (on first sunny summer day - trying to buy something cool), and, I kid you not, there wasn't a skirt that fitted. They all looked at me like 'oh why would you bother to buy anything now - you must be about to give birth'

I cried in the changing rooms.

I hope you're able to go on maternity leave earlier than a normal pregnancy?

[girlwhowearsglasses]

Also - to OP - I can tell you that a twin pregnancy is most VERY different from a singleton one, so you are genuinely getting the extremes of what pregnancy tiredness is like, and what is possible. If you're able to plan ahead with your freelance workload I hope you can also plan to wind it down as you go along? I know what its like to be freelance too.

I can tell you now that while I worked until 36 weeks and drove to term with my single baby, I gave up driving and walking more than 100 yards after about 34 weeks with my twins. It was a very healthy twin pregnancy, and I didn't put on as much weight as I could have done. I hope you can plan for this in your situation, and I hope it works out well for you and yours

[RabbitFromAHat]

Poor old OP, I just want to give you a hug. Honestly, some of the people on this thread giving you a kicking sound completely batshit very literal. I hope you get more sleep tonight.

[Evie2014]

I got some sleep!

Thank you to all the lovely people who gave flowers and cups of tea and sympathy and who made me laugh (puntastic I laughed out loud!).

Thinking of changing my user name to IAMNOTASURGEON!

[puntasticusername]

\o/ for the sleep! And the lol