Pregnant nurse - any tips to keep stress levels down?

[Fourfoot]

Hi all,

I have recently discovered that I am pregnant with my first and I am absolutely over the moon!!

However, I am a nurse (junior sister) and work on a children's ward. I love my job but ever since my BFP it feels as though the ward is out to get me, I.e. there are more patients than beds, not enough staff to safely care for the patients and we have had a surge of violent young people being admitted. My matron and ward manager know that I am expecting and have advised me on what is and isn't safe for me to be around. I'm terrified about the impact of being so stressed could have on my baby.

Are there any other nurses out there that can give me some tips on how to avoid getting so anxious/stressed?

Hello, I’m not a nurse but understand your stress - I’m a medical registrar! I’m afraid I have no stress relieving tips (aside from taking time for yourself to chill out when you’re out of work), but just wanted to let you know you’re not alone.

It’s a tough job at the best of times, but even more so when you’re nauseous, fatigued and anxious! I have found that my anxiety has gotten much better as I’ve gotten used to the idea of being pregnant - I’m 15 weeks now and feeling much less precious about it all so can carry on more normally from a mental health point of view.

I’ve also found colleagues have been so kind and understanding once they know you’re pregnant - I’ve felt really looked after (as much as possible in the MAU!)

Now I’ve just got hyperemesis to keep me busy 🙄

Yep hear you. Mental health nurse for me it’s my anxiety about possible situations. I have never actually been assaulted and the risk is there wherever I am. Even out etc. Look at strethham this weekend.

I also think about women in less developed countries and that makes me feel greatful and more realistic

Hey I’m a paeds nurse too, congratulations! I found it quite stressful when I had my first 4 years ago, I worked full time and had insomnia and got very anxious and stressed towards the end and ended up on reduced hours. But the thing that used to get me through every shift was the fact that I had my little baby inside of me, and every time I felt stressed I would think of that and it would make me smile. Cheesy I know but it did help!
Know your limitations, don’t take risks even if it is busy, there is always somebody else to help instead. And take a few minutes out here or there to have a drink or a snack. Take one shift at a time and just keep thinking of mat leave and it really does help to get you through.
I’m 24 weeks with my second now, and I’m part time. It’s made such a difference this time round, I haven’t got the exhaustion from all the shifts, I’ve got time off in between shifts to recover and most of the time people have been generous with what patients I’m allocated. I’m a band 5 so I haven’t got the added stress of being in charge. But use that to your advantage to delegate (within reason). Most people will be happy to help you out if you are fair. Steer clear of the violent ones, we have lots of those too and I stated right from the start that there’s no way I’m going anywhere near them. That’s completely reasonable.
Try and relax and enjoy it as much as you can. A bit of stress here or there isn’t going to do baby any harm, but try and keep as calm as you can x

Hi! Im with you.

Im an A+E nurse and its so stressful. I feel like nobody really cares, because the department is under so much strain people just want to get the job done rather than manage staff well. Its always crisis management.

Things were ok up until around the 25ish week mark. After that I had to really start to fight my corner about where in the department I could work. For example, I had countless arguments about being allocated to resus as I cant run to collect blood from labs, cant really do CPR anymore etc etc. Ive found I had to be really, really forceful about what I can/cannot do, and im pretty sure ive annoyed some people in doing this.

My solution has been to get reduced hours on a medical basis. Ive saved up AL so am able to take it all at the 36 week point which will see me up to my maternity leave.

Be aware though, that if you go sick after 36 weeks your mat leave will automatically start, so if you reduce your working hours on a medical basis and plan to work after 36 weeks pregnant, your mat leave will start early.

ICU nurse here. My only advice would be to listen to your body and if you need to dial things back then do so. I was doing 12hr shifts in a trauma ICU when I was pregnant and I ended up going on maternity leave early (33 weeks) because I just couldn’t carry on anymore, I was in so much pain by the end of the day.

I can also highly recommend a belly belt (a proper big Velcro one), I literally couldn’t have finished a shift without it towards the end of my shift.

Thanks everyone, such great advice!! I didn't realise you could love a tiny ball of cells so much. I'm definitely going to stand my ground and put us first.