Shift work choices

[OComeAllYeFaithBaby]

Hi, I after advice/wisdom of experience re shifts. I'm a nurse on a heavy ward (elderly). I've been there since 12 weeks pregnant and doing 3 x 12 hour shifts per week. Before that I'd been doing more office based told god a while. I've found it physically demanding, much more than expected. I did a short shift today (Christmas off duty) and found it loads easier. My boss says I can swap to short shifts if I want. So pros and cons - long days: only 3 days a week, 4 days off. Cons: fatigue, swollen legs from being on my feet all day! Short shifts: less fatigue, less swollen legs. Disadvantages: in 5 days a week, possibility of up to 10 days in a row(though if ask boss to avoid that!).

So wwyd? What have those of you who are shift workers chosen to do?

I work shifts of 5am-2.30pm, 2pm-11pm & 9pm-7am alternating a week of each. It's been really really hard work & at times I've questioned how much longer I could keep going with not enough sleep/rest but as I have an 18 month old & my daycare has been set up around my shifts I couldn't really accept the offer to work same hrs over more days & better times as it would have meant shunting around my childcare & prob spending a lot more money on childcare.
Anyhows, its been really tough but all of a sudden I find myself with only 4 weeks left at work before maternity leave starts! It's tough but you can stick to the shifts til the end of pregnancy & if you don't have any other children I can only imagine the joyous days of rest you must get with 4 days a week to do nothing but look after yourself! I'd def persevere if you can

That's what I'm leaning towards twitchy. It used to be short shifts were rubbish because lates were 1.30-9.30 but now they're 11.30-7.30 so I wouldn't feel like I'd be there too late. I might try short shifts for a month then review it again.

Hi faith
I do 3 x 12 hour shifts in A&E so like you its heavy and fast paced work but I couldn't bear the thought of working 5 days - I need my days off to recover! When pregnant with DS 5 years ago I kept up the long days until mat leave at 36 weeks but this time round I am far more knackered which I think is a combination of being 5 years older and having DS to amuse on my days off!
Anyhow, I carried on with the long days until 30 weeks and then I've used a few hours of annual leave each week to reduce my hours to 22.5 a week which is obviously only 3 shorter shifts. I've done that for the last 2 weeks and its been lovely! And I've only got 2 more weeks to go as Im starting mat leave at 34 weeks this time I've also been wearing Ted stockings to work since about 22 weeks and that helps massively with the swollen feet/legs!

I never thought of using my leave to have shorter hours! I am carrying a week over so I get more time with DC since I can't afford much mat leave.

I think I'm going to carry on with long days over January aince the duty is already done but then ask to switch to short shifts after I come back off leave at the beginning of February.