To do 72 hours of night shifts in a week when I'm pregnant?

[Brightandshining]

I have not told my workplace I am pregnant. Im very worried about doing so as I've only been doing the job just under 2 months. I really love my job but it is physically hard due to being nights. It fits in with my childcare needs as I have two other children, and is decently paid.. its also a lovely place with a wonderful staff team.
I was rotaed on to do these extra shifts before I discovered I was pregnant. (This pregnancy was not planned and is very bad timing) I am around 7 weeks pregnant.
My husband thinks I am crazy still trying to do these shifts. I just dont want to tell my workplace yet I think im in shock still and not quite decided what to do... I havent had any scans yet or anything like that.
However my last shifts (im only contracted 24 hours) have been very hard due to nausea and tiredness.. I was only doing my usual 24 hours but it was arduous.
My friend was saying I could put my baby at risk by doing these extra shifts.... now im quite worried about it...
What does mumsnet think I should do?
My thoughts are that its just the once, these aren't my usual hours, and I could just power through it and then I can just tell my workplace im pregnant when I'm ready to..

But 72 hours is a massive amount to work even if it was day time and you weren’t pregnant. it’s 6 x 12 hour shifts in a week and is far in excess of the working time directive.

I don’t think you would damage the baby really but it’s a hell of an ask from your work. Is it usual for colleagues to do such shifts?

If you are otherwise healthy, it won't harm the pregnancy. Being pregnant doesn't mean you're disabled.

@Mediumred no its not usual. Im only contracted 24 hours. The team is very small and someone is off sick.
I dont think it will damage the baby but I just thought I'd ask as my husband and friend seemed worried it might.

And I googled it and it looks like there is a possibility it could harm the baby... but then again Google results would have you believing you're dying when you've got a cold

Is it even legal?

It would increase your risk of miscarriage. Honestly, I wouldn't do it.

It is legal, I work in the NHS and have worked that and more in a week. Horrible though

Its not legal to force someone to work those hours but it is legal for an employee to accept that overtime yes. Yes it does regularly happen in health and social care where there's 12 hour shifts. I'm only contracted 24 hours so under no obligation to take on extra hours I just said I would to help out but that was before I found out I was pregnant and the nausea started

@OhDearShirley is that true? I saw conflicting info when I googled it

Honestly if you are that concerned about your health, contact your doctor. Strangers on the internet aren't the best source of medical advice.

72 hours is a crazy amount to work! Do you really need the money that badly? Be careful your employer don't come to expect it of you.
Is only one person off sick? If so are they contracted for 48 hours per week? That is more than full time work in itself, even doing 12 hour shifts.
Can you just say you're unwell and can't do the the overtime anymore? It's not exactly untrue. If you're up to it you could do some of it if you feel you're letting them down (though you shouldn't feel that way).

www.nhshealthatwork.co.uk/images/library/files/Clinical%20excellence/Pregnancy-HCProfessionalLeaflet.pdf

@JeandeServiette thats reassuring thanks. Leaflet states theres no real risks to night shift work for pregnant women.

@Coolblur I dont really need the money I was just doing it to be helpful because I was free but that was before I knew I was pregnant. No the other employee doesn't work 48 hours they only work 24 but its rotating shifts so its just unfortunate the way the shifts have fallen means my two rotaed shifts fall in between 4 of theres for separate weeks so its 6 nights in a row for me if I do them

I have worked 7X 12 hour shifts on an acute medical ward before. Your manager cannot risk assess you if you neglect to inform her.

I worked 3 nights a week until 37 weeks with all 3 of my children. It's perfectly possible and not out of the ordinary. 72 hours a week is utterly ridiculous, speak to your manager and just say you underestimated the toll it would take on your health.

We need sunlight and mainly morning sunlight to regulate our hormones. If you work at night, you run the risk of miscarriage.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8743126/

Working long hours and many hours also puts unnecessary strain on a body which is already attempting to support two people.

Are they full on 12 hour shifts or are some of them sleep shifts /on call shifts? Would there be quite a lot of down time? It sounds grim and I wouldnt ever do that- pregnant or not - as I have a life that I enjoy more than working, but I wouldn't think it would harm the baby as a one off. I suppose you know your work better than us. Working in a factory doing heavy lifting for 12 solid hours is very different to 12 hours overnight in a residential where the service users may be asleep for the majority of it... if it was something like the second one then might not be as bad as it originally sounds. Then again you get a lot of residentials where the service users are more challenging at night than the day!

I did all through pregnancy until 37 weeks. It made my morning sickness 10x worse was the only problem. Its just the standard on call rota

Maybe you can request an occupational health review

If its not the norm and you are helping out say you can do 3 or 4 of the shifts and no more. Set your own boundaries. Working that many hours a week is hard whether pregnant or not. You need to think things threw properly before you offer help.

I’m not pregnant but recently did 5 night shifts to help at work in an emergency.
It absolutely ruined me. I couldn’t function, I barely slept in the day. I ended up sobbing at work and told them I can’t do anymore. They were great about it. I can’t imagine doing it pregnant!

I would ask to break it down to 3 nights, night off, 2 nights. Tell them you know you'll be asleep on your feet without a gap, can they cover it elsewhere?

This link is about increased risk of preterm birth, not miscarriage.

Just tell your employer you're pregnant, they can't hold it against you. Say you're feeling nauseas and you can no longer commit to the over time. Whilst I am not a medical professional, I don't think running yourself into the ground and stressing yourself out will be a good idea for you or baby.