Anyone doing nightshifts while pregnant?

[Whosthecrazy]

I’m 14 weeks pregnant and work 12.5 hour shifts both day and night. Days I am fine with but nightshifts make me so ill, I’ve actually called in sick the past two days. Has anyone else found this? I do need to have a risk assessment for work but not sure if it’s really cheeky to request no nightshifts. It really messes my stomach up, plus makes my ‘morning’ sickness even worse. I actually prefer nightshifts as I tend to be able to work more Independently but I’ve barely been able to get out of bed since I got home yesterday morning!

Yes and it is totally ok to ask to stop. I kind of wish I had - on nights tonight at 20 weeks, haven’t slept and just feel crap. Have these two then another 3 about 24 weeks before I am done - most people in my job (Nhs) stop before 28 weeks.

I was forced to stick to my shift pattern because of bubbles and covid, even when all the shifts started mixing I was still forced to work them, at the end it was hell.

Aww @CaramelWaferAndTea I’m sorry to hear that! I’m the same, never sleep during the day as I find it really difficult. I also find I can’t eat at during the shift due to that awful midnight bloat, which obviously exasperates the sickness as during the day I eat every few hours! It’s completely messed my stomach up, still haven’t been able to keep a full meal down! Are you going on maternity leave from 28 weeks or onto admin? Not sure which area of you work in but mine (maternity) is sooo busy at the moment so the nights are crazy with less staff!

I feel bad but definitely will approach them about it. I actually don’t have any for my next couple of rotas but the thought of doing them at 20+ weeks sends shivers down my spine! 🥲

I'm still doing on-calls including nightshifts (got a 24 hour on-call this weekend, another next weekend, then a weekend off and then on for 48 hours the following weekend... As well as 4 day shifts per week.. Yay).

For me the hardest bit is the fatigue building up, and having to stay alert and functional without coffee. I've found it helpful to set a reminder on my phone to take 5 minutes to sit down and drink something every couple of hours, and my colleagues have been great with helping me do that. I can't eat much overnight but so long as I can keep my fluid intake up the shifts seem to go ok.

I think it's absolutely reasonable to explore options for rearranging your shift pattern to reduce or remove nightshifts if they're problematic.

I did nightshifts whilst pregnant, although only 8 hours and I felt fine my whole pregnancy so didn't mind, but my manager always said if I don't want to do them anymore I can stop, so stopped around 22 weeks when I started to feel heavy and have a baby bump. It's not cheeky at all, you have to look after yourself it's making you feel rubbish.

I work 7 12.5 hr shifts then 1week off, and 1-2 weeks of days (3 11.5 hr shifts) and back on nights. I find the nights easier. I'm 24 weeks, haven't told work yet ( overweight so can hide it easily😂). Just trying to avoid all the fuss, occupational health and god knows what else🤷🏼‍♀️