Telling work I’m pregnant (healthcare)

[Lolly2019]

Hi all,

In a bit of a dilemma.
Around this time last year I found out I was pregnant in the worst possible way you could imagine meaning my boss basically knew I was pregnant before I did. Long story. Either way I then miscarried at 12 weeks, only my boss knew. Her being a nurse she kept trying to diagnose me with all types of shit acting like she was a doctor. This really offended and upset me, regardless of her trying to help.

I’m now pregnant again and found out myself this time. I really don’t want to tell her. Like I’m talking until I legal have to or I have no choice because of showing.
The only problem is the work environment I work in. Working with sharps and blood. So I may have to but may see what my doctor says.

Anyone else working in a medical environment with bodily fluids and sharps ect.
Thanks

Hello!
I’m a dental nurse and I have recently found out I’m pregnant.
I’ve only told one very trusted colleague. As far as I can see as long as I follow protocol there shouldn’t be any risk to myself or baby from sharps or body fluids so no need to tell anyone for at least 12 weeks xx

Universal precautions apply regardless of pregnancy. There should be no difference in how you deal with them (unless it makes you nauseous).
The risks of healthcare in pregnancy are certain viruses (chickenpox) and radiation from x rays. This will depend where you work.
Also you may need to think about nights and coming off as you get further along (a lot of people stop at 28 weeks).
Telling/not telling is up to you!

I worked in pathology in my first pregnancy. Precautions around blood and sharps should be exactly the same as without pregnancy. Everything should be treated with care as though it could contain something infectious.

Be wary with lifting, chemicals and things like imaging. You may have to be careful with certain drugs if you handle drugs.

Hey, I work in healthcare too and didn’t make any changes around sharps, I told one colleague so I could avoid seeing small children with rashes (if you’ve had MMR jab and chickenpox as a child it’s only really parvovirus to avoid). If you work around radiation then you might need to tell someone to avoid exposure there. Otherwise crack on and legally I don’t think you need to inform work till 25 weeks.

Unless you're dealing with cytotoxic things or chemo patients there shouldn't really be a problem keeping it quiet, like someone else said universal precautions should be used throughout anyway. I'm a nurse who's 13 weeks and the only things I don't do anymore is give things like methotrexate, mytomycin etc and I don't patslide patients and things like that

The only other issue is if you're in direct patient contact, you need to be careful rolling patients etc. Maybe you could say you've hurt your back?

Remember though that you cannot be penalised for pregnancy sickness so if you're off sick but have kept your pregnancy on the down low, it might be a palarva getting that sorted so you don't end up on monitoring or with letters.

The trigger for risk assessment is usually when you give your mat-b in which is ages

It's a shame you're having to worry about this, is there no way you could have a discussion with her to gently tell her you don't want to talk about these things?

I’m a veterinary nurse and I told my employer as soon as I found out - risk assessment were done and my role adjusted immediately. (Home visits/certain appointments not to do etc)
That being said, hyperemesis started at 5 weeks so everyone knew pretty quickly!

Hi, I'm not in Healthcare but I am a scientist who works with blood, and I'm doing my phlebotomy training at the moment. Like the others have said, sharps and bloods ok as long as you follow normal safety precautions.
I work with viruses too, so had to notify work this week (when I found out) because we're starting work with a particularly nasty one. So now they have to risk assess me and figure out what work I can do whilst this virus is being worked on, or if I have to move to an office for a bit, which would look suspicious!
Good luck

I practised Dentistry while pregnant- no getting away from blood and sharps in my job.
No changes were needed although I did wear a film badge for radiation it showed nothing to worry about. That was my pregnancy paranoia- film badges not needed- I paid for it myself.
Congratulations!