Working late shifts?

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Hiya ladies, i'm just wondering if any of you work shifts, and how you are getting on?
I am due back to work soon, after maternity leave.
But I am pregnant again - oops!!
I am expected to work one late shift a week.
I said I would do it, but I am usually in bed between 9-10 pm, cause I am so tired.
( I have 2 under 2's already).
I dont want to be a wimp, and say i'm too tired, but wondering what you think is acceptable yourselves?
Dreading driving the half hour journey home after my shift, incase I drift off asleep !!

Can't see the problem myself, presumably you'll be starting later. I often find pregnant staff preferring late shifts, especially if they're suffering from morning sickness.

Yeah, it would be a later start - so extra time in bed in the morning, and getting the breakfast routine done easily is a positive.
And I wont have to put the kids to bed for one nights!!
I was on the rota to do a 5-3am.
But it's now been brought back to a 12-10pm.
Which I suppose I could live with going to bed at 11pm, instead of 9pm for one night!

Good luck!

I work four 12 hr shifts a week and don't know how much longer i can do it . Not due to to go on m/l till end of april. [i nearly be sleeping in work never mind the drive home

Working shifts when pregnant is awful, i'm only 18 weeks and struggling with full time hours and shift work.

Depends on what your manager is like, if you did a late shift I think it would be acceptable to ask not to work the early the next day. That is the killer for me, getting home late and then having to get up at silly o'clock to be back in work the next day.

Good luck.

With my first pregnancy, I was obviously tired, but wasnt actually that bad.
So managed working the shifts full time. Along with lots of exercise, long walks, mountain walking etc.

This is my third pregnancy, so it must be my 2 year old and 8 month old that is making feel worse this time!?

Dont want to let work down, and i'm very stubborn, so wouldnt let them know if I was struggling.
Sometimes too eager to please.

But this time, I am well knackered!! lol.

Cant even muster the energy to do much exercise, which I normaly love!!

Well, at least if some of you are still working shifts, then it must be ok.
Just didnt want them taking the piss, with me nodding like little puppy !!

I work 12 hour shifts, mainly nights, they've been tough in early days especially as my 'morning' sickness used to start about 6pm and peak about 9pm. Work in a busy A&E so none stop some shifts. Does get easier after 1st trimester but then i'm one of these people that just gets on with it, didn't tell work i was pg until 19 weeks so was deprived of any sympathy or special allowances from colleagues!!!

Hi,
Congratulations and Good luck with work.
I have worked shifts through all 3 of my pregnancies too(11 weeks pg with DC3 now).
I worked 19-07 with DC1,19-04 with DC2 and now 19-01 (it varies but generally that's the longest and latest shifts).
I find it harder now as may not get to bed til 2am (having been up since 0630!) and then up again at 9am at the latest (that's a lie in!) but generally it all works out well. And have to agree with 2 running about there isn't much chance for the down time I used to have before a late shift.
I find thinking about it always makes it worse and just powering through and getting on with it always makes it easier than over thinking amounts of sleep etc. But that's just what works for me!
If it's too much you must say though - everyones different and in a week or month or so your energy levels may improve and you will be raring to go again!
have you had your iron levels checked etc? Also your shifts are quite long (my longest is 7 hours) can you spread your hours across another day to reduce your shift length?

Hope you start to perk up soon