Any pregnant nurses here?

[Popcat120]

I just got my BFP, period due Thursday, but strong lines on Frer and CB, so I'm taking that as pregnant (haha), I don't think I'll believe it until my period doesn't turn up!

With covid, I need to tell my manager pretty soon, bottled it today.
I've only been in the department since Feb, I find the manager a bit funny, not really sure how to take her, sometimes nice, sometimes sarcastic. I'm dreading telling her.

It feels way too early to be telling people at work, once my manager knows, it'll then be obvious to a few other people, allocations person, and my mentor.

I'm so worried about things going wrong.

How are work handling pregnancy for you?is it OK? Are you having patient contact?
Any tips for my predicament please?

Congratulations

I think it’s probably important you tell your boss. I know it feels strange to announce it so soon but it will hopefully ensure your wishes are respected in terms of patient contact etc.

I’m a nurse and currently 8 weeks pregnant. I told my line manager immediately and have been working from home since and intend to for the next 8 weeks (as per the initial 12 week guidelines). In fact I’m hoping I can have minimal patient contact after that.

The RCOG guidelines for those in first and second trimester are a bit woolly but essentially say the pregnant women’s preference to whether they have patient contact should be respected. Although evidence points to pregnant women being of no greater risk of severe complications than the general public it’s still best to avoid being ill with a fever, particular in the first few months.

Try not to overthink it. Let them know and snuggle down for a few months. Good luck!

Congrats! Are you employed by the NHS? I've heard some trusts have sent pregnant nurses/healthcare staff home for 3mths, others have just moved to less front line roles!

I'm 8 weeks but with an agency. They cant refuse to book me shifts IF I want them, but advised me to go on statutory sick pay at £90/week! I realise agency is different from being employed permanently and/or via NHS. Do you have covid patients? Could you work from home or in a non-patient facing role?

Thanks for your replies.
I work for the NHS yes, I'm in an outpatient department doing endoscopy procedures.
We've limited the amount of patients were doing
(ie. Today I've seen 3 patients), and as we do areosol generated procedures, we're in full PPE.

There isn't any work I could do from home, I dont mind patient contact, but don't want any contact with suspected or confirmed covid really.
Just didnt know the rules, or government / rcn advice.

Ill have to pluck up the courage tomorrow!

Congratulations! I'm a junior dr, I ended up telling loads of people at 5 weeks because of COVID, which I wasn't delighted about. I'm now doing non-patient-facing support work. I also let occupational health know early on, then sent me their guidance to show my manager.

I'd double check your contract in terms of pregnancy, incase there is something in there about 'in the case of pregnancy, where possible women are moved to ….' or procedures etc.

I'm not sure if you are with the RCN, but here is further info about pregnancy:
www.rcn.org.uk/get-help/rcn-advice/pregnancy-toolkit

Im not a nurse but do work in front line healthcare on inpatient wards with 100% positive covid patients (designated ward for these patients) I am only 5 weeks pregnant and have my risk assessment tomorrow. I suspect they will tell me as long as I wear PPE I have to continue. My feeling is I should be moved to another ward but unsure if I can insist on this....

@Amanda855
You should be able to insist on this have a look at the RCOG guidance, they state it has to be agreed with you and you can decline. Personally working in full PPE and early pregnancy is a horrible mix!

I'm a sister on a children's ward and 19 weeks pregnant. I was offered redeployment to non-patient facing roles but one role offered was still patient facing(!) and the other would have driven me insane. Instead, I am only taking patients that are deemed low risk, I.e. mental health awaiting assessments and fractures. I am not allowed to go to theatres, ITU, ED and we are wearing PPE for all patients. As soon as a patient is swabbed for COVID-19 I am keeping well away. Currently, I will be going on full pay leave at 28 weeks as per PHE guidance though this may all change. Such a weird and stressful time to be having a baby.

@Elouera thank you, yes in the rcn. I'll have a look at that.

I feel like I may be judged for actively getting pregnant at this time, especially because I'm a nurse, and should Know the effects/consequences .
Feel like some people May think I've been silly.
But I can't put my life on hold, I'm sure we will be at least semi be back to normal by January! I hope anyway.

I'm lucky we're in a low risk area, and most the patients we see are over 70 or shielding because of their conditions, so very low patients.
But we do get the occasional inpatient with suspected or confirmed Covid.

My matron is very understanding, and when we had a suspected come down the other day, she said to me 'you're not going in there are you... Good'
My OH is under her IBD team, and moderate risk due to his immunosuppressants.

Check the RCOG guidelines for pregnant healthcare staff x

@Popcat120 people who think to judge you are only people with no clue what its like to long for a baby. We have been trying for over 2 years so the thought of stopping trying was never an option for us. Its so hard especially as we are now forced to tell our employer earlier than we may have wanted to but hopefully we can all be kept safe x

I'm a nurse in specialist palliative care, due at the end of August. As others have said, guidelines up to 28 weeks are a bit woolly, but essentially your employer should be supporting you to work in other ways if you do not feel comfortable in a patient facing role.

Please look at the RCOG guidelines as someone above has mentioned.

My manager (who is usually notoriously unsupportive!) has supported me, and our pregnant SpR to work from home in whatever way we can - essentially there is no way of completely avoiding covid in a hospital. Our role is patient facing, and even if we were to remain office based, collegues would be returning to the office after being in contact with covid patients (we don't really do any AGP so don't have full PPE).

@Amanda855 you can insist on this, and refer them to the RCOG guidance for healthcare staff. Liase with your occupational health department if you can.

It is such a scary time to be pregnant, particularly working in healthcare.

I am 8 weeks and pregnant too. Currently on sick leave for something unrelated but due to return next week. The RCOG guidance seems to have changed now from 2 weeks ago, now you can remain patient facing subject to a risk assessment.

@Sipperskipper thank you, that is reassuring! Will see how I get on tomorrow x

Thanks ladies.
Ill have a read up tonight before I go tell my manager tomorrow.

Congratulations and best wishes mammas on all your babies to be!

@Amanda855 I would love to hear how you get on as I feel like I’m in quite a similar position. I’m a nursing assistant in ITU, hands-on clinical with nothing but covid for 6 weeks, and I’ve just found out I’m 4 weeks pregnant. I feel so nervous about talking to occy health and letting my colleagues know (as they’ll work it out indirectly anyway when I disappear even if I don’t tell them). It’s my first pregnancy and I feel self-conscious about letting everyone know so early on.

I know I ought to move but my concerns are that I will just be sent to a ‘lower risk area’ but still patient facing. The people I know that are in risk categories have done this - but have ended up in awkward positions being accidentally exposed without adequate protection. The saving grace of ITU is that at least we know they’re confirmed and we have proper PPE. The whole ‘suspected’ stage on the outlying wards is really risky imo. I would prefer to go non-patient facing like admin or wfh but it sounds very much like my trust are just redeploying to different wards, and if that was the case I almost feel safer where I am with full protection and familiar supportive colleagues.

I feel really anxious about this as I don’t really know who to turn to for support other than going straight to the official work channels as I’m reluctant to tell anyone so early on. Hence having a vent here!

So I told my manager, she was fine.
Congratulated me and then joked about the lockdown, nothing better to do 😂

I'm in a low risk area, so don't mind patient contact, but wanted to avoid suspect or confirmed covid.
She said it's not always that easy, but to avoid it if I can, and remove myself from the situation if I can too.
Also she reckoned, just as much to pick it up in the supermarket as the hospital...
That wasn't so helpful, but ill see how It goes.

Would you all be happy doing aerosol generated procedures on a covid positive patient in full ppe...
Or am I overreacting not wanting to be anywhere near covid positive patients ppe or not...?

I don’t think you should be working with suspected cases whether you have full ppe or not. Areosol generates procedures are the biggest risk.

I work in theatres normally and am 25 weeks pregnant. However I have recently been sent home on full pay due guideline not wanting me in areosol generated procedures whether they were suspected or not as were not testing every patient that comes through the door.

Health at work said, to do a risk assessment with my manager, but I get the feeling my manager thinks I'm being fussy, and that I'm safe because I'm in full ppe.

There's a girl who's 26 weeks pregnant here and she's not going near covid or suspected, what's the difference in a 4 week gestation and a 26 week gestation. None in my eyes. X

We've got to do to confirmed this Morning, I got Out of doing the first one.

I don't see why I have to be put in that position when there's plenty of staff to do the procedure instead of me.

I'd try and get moved if possible. We don't really know how the virus affects pregnancy.
Also , it will be very stressful for you.
As another pp said , you can't avoid confirmed or suspected Covid.
A patient could be completely asymptomatic when you treat them but still have it.

That's her argument, is how do I know Joe bloggs in morrisons hasn't got it, I'm just as likely to come into contact in a supermarket than I am in work.

And actually we know they are positive and have full ppe on therefore safe.
🤷🏻‍♀️

But why double your chances of exposure then (supermarket AND at work)? Really feel for you OP, I agree entirely with what you’re saying. You and your baby need to come first. If your manager thinks you’re being fussy then so be it.

This is today's advice, so quite clearly says to avoid suspected or confirmed.
Hopefully she will do my risk assessment, and I'll continue to avoid them in the meantime.