Struggling with work (I'm a nurse) at 29 weeks pregnant

[Strugglingat29weeks]

I'm 29 weeks and exhausted. I've got a 20 month old and a lovely supportive DH but I'm struggling so much at work.

I work 12.5 hour days on a really busy unit, which is especially busy at the moment because it's winter and flu season. I've got hypertension that I do have mostly under control but gestational diabetes which is getting harder and harder to manage. I need to take my insulin 30 mins before I eat but my breaks are only 30 mins long and if I can't time my insulin properly my sugars can drop too low, which is dangerous when you're in charge of other people's medications and wellbeing, or too high which is dangerous for the baby.

I've asked if I could do all of my hours across 3 days instead of 2 but my boss has said they can't accommodate it.

AIBU to get a sick note asking for amended hours or even to get signed off completely so I can focus on the end of this pregnancy. My consultant thinks it's a bad idea for me to be working the long shifts but I really don't want to leave the ward shorthanded at the busiest time of year.

Also, very interested to hear rationale either way 😊

Speak to occupational health, get their recommendation
Review your pregnancy risk assessment

Your manager isn’t being fair your allowed to requested different hours whilst pregnant look up your trusts policy for pregnant staff
Also I agree as for a referral to occupational health
In the mean time get signed off you and your babies health is the most important thing

Also speak to your union they can help you

They absolutely can accommodate your request to work different hours their just choosing not too! For that reason alone I'd go off sick, your mat pay has already been calculated etc so no lose. The only thing they can do is kick start mat leave once you get down to the final 4 weeks ( different trusts different time frames)

Go and see your GP and get note - needs to be less long days, proper timed breaks to ensure insulin on time. Get him/ her to to state the risk to you and patients if your medical condition is not well managed.
It sounds as though your job is very very tough. 12 plus hr shift is very very hard as HCP.
if you are on maternity leave soon do you have enough sick leave to have rest pregnancy off.
best wishes to you and your lovely growing family

That sounds like a really difficult situation. As I understand it, it's harder to manage breaks etc working on a ward, so managing GD would be particularly difficult.

Your employer has to make reasonable adjustments for you. I think they can also move you to a less demanding role. No, you don't want to go off sick and put extra pressure on colleagues, but you need to look after your health.

If you are part of a union it would be good to ask for support as they will be very used to dealing with this.

Get a sick note from your GP and make an appointment with OH to discuss possible adjustments. There must be some sort of admin role and shortened hours you can do for a few weeks? The alternative is that you stay off sick and leave them even more short staffed.

I started my maternity leave at 29 weeks, I’m a teacher and couldn’t do it anymore I think nursing is even harder.
I knew I wasn’t going back though so I wasn’t worried about saving leave for afterwards.

My advice is to mind yourself and you have been more than kind to offer to work over 3 shifts to make it work - but they are not accommodating you and leaving you no option

Go on sick leave or reduced hours if your gp says you need to
You've tried to get them to be flexible
Your health comes first
Also they'll need to cope without you in ten weeks time anyway

Thank you everyone, sorry for not replying yesterday - guess where I was? 😂

I'm in work on Monday for the long day (12.5 hours) then I've a week of annual leave, so I'll speak to my obstetric consultant and my gp then and see if it's better to go with a fit note for reduced hours or to just go off sick. My mat leave starts at 36 weeks anyway, so if I go off sick, it'll be sick pay until my mat leave kicks in. I just hate that idea.

I'm frustrated that my manager and matron are being so inflexible because I was so happy to do 3 shorter shifts a week and even said they could start after Christmas if that made managing the rota any easier. But nope.

You are entitled to a monthly risk assessment. Changing away from long shifts is a very common adaptation for pregnancy everywhere I've worked. I'd read the relevant policy, try again, stating clearly you believe long shifts are unsafe due to pregnancy related fatigue, and if still nothing speak to a union rep.

You have to prioritise yourself and your baby. If they are short-staffed it's because they have chosen to be inflexible over reasonable accommodations.

YANBU. If you were a patient in my clinic I would arrange to have you signed off immediately. NHS shifts when pregnant are brutal, and any type of diabetes is a full time job in itself. I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well x

That's awful. Occupational health. And get advice asap

I am a GP .. it makes me so so angry when healthcare workers are treated so bad;y.. you deserve the same care as everyone else! You are being subjected to bullying.

Thanks everyone. I was feeling so silly for struggling so much, I even had a little cry in the prep room because I just think I'm not that great at being pregnant. I had 7 first trimester losses before my son was born, this is my 9th pregnancy and they've all knocked me for six. I guess I'm just not one of those glowy pregnant people!

I'll have a chat with my manager on Monday, and if I don't get anywhere then I'll go straight to my obstetrician and my GP on Tuesday and get their opinion. I'm in the union too, so I can speak to them as well.

I really appreciate the encouragement to look after baby and I 💞💞💞

I don't know any glowy pregnant people! Good luck.

Please get yourself off sick NOW. Don't put yourself and baby at risk because you are doing so. You will be no better thought of by the machine that is the NHS.Sod the unions and managers, you don't need this shit on top of your physical issues.x

Love from a half a century nurse.x

You poor pet!
No wonder you’re exhausted. I am particularly concerned about your treatment at the hands of your ‘managers’ totally and utterly UNACCEPTABLE.
An absolute disgraceful way to treat a healthcare employee and with pregnancy on top of that! The fact they have made no adjustments immediately is a huge red flag.
You are being put at serious risk and also the health of your unborn child.
I really do wonder if we’re going back to the Victorian times for heavens sake.
The fact you have suffered greatly with losses compounds how you will be feeling, I’m so terribly sorry, but am also worried for how you are just now.
Please, speak with your union, ASAP.
And get hold of your GP. I can guess very well what they will have to say on the matter.
YOU MATTER. And so does your little one.
You are unbelievably valuable. As a mother, as a partner, as a healthcare professional, and a person in her own right. You are precious.
Look after yourself and bubs x

In fact, no…..I’ve changed my mind. Stuff the Union and get to the GP ASAP and get signed off. You don’t need any more crap from anyone!

Prioritise your baby and own health . What advice would you give a nurse friend in the same position ?
It would be harder for your manager to cover the few hours short they would be at the end of the shorter days . Are they saying it's easier to cover long days with bank if you were off sick ? they can also move you to another area like office based it doesn't happen often in the NHS but it can .
Id say put in a sick line with a view to being off u til mat leave kicks in . You might even be having your baby earlier due to the gestational diabetes .

He just said that he didn't think he could accommodate my request for 3 shorter days because I have some childcare limitations on which days I can work (DS is in nursery on my usual 2 days, then DH would be able to have him on his days off, so 4 days to choose from). I didn't specify earlies or lates, although earlies would be much easier to manage.

He should be in on Monday so perhaps I'll ask him what is easier for him - me dropping to short shifts or just being off completely.