Care work in pregnancy

[Okapi99]

Hello.
I work as a Hca on an elderly medical ward at my local hospital. I do a LOT of rolling patients, changing pads, moving beds around etc.

I haven't told work yet officially, but just wondering if anyone works within care and know if I need to be more careful, or even avoid rolling/turning patients whilst pregnant.

Thanks

You can tell your employer without telling your colleagues, I always told colleagues early however as I was a terrible liar saying I had a bad back.
When rolling patients, the other staff would be the ones to roll and I would do the 'care' so to speak. Then we would swap sides.
I would only use a slide sheet if the patient wasn't heavy, other times I would set it up and then call another member of staff to help.
As well, I wouldn't be the one to push the hoist, I would do the controls. I declined going into the heavier patients, especially those with a stroke which were unable to sit forward when dressing etc.
A risk assessment will need to be done for you too where your manager can explain what you can and can't do in more detail.

Thanks for your reply! Everything you've said makes sense. I work nights so don't tend to use the hoist very much, but good call on the other person doing the actual rolling.

I did care in the community up until last week when I’ve gone on annual leave, I told my coordinators and my manager who said I should be ok rolling patients on their side but no pulling or lifting was allowed what so ever which is much easier said than done when little old Dorris is sat on the floor and you’re the only one there to help! I found doing ‘single’ carer calls much better as less of the heavy work was required it was more showering assisting to dress and commode emptying than anything else. My advice would be just use your common sense more than anything and refuse anything which you don’t feel comfortable doing. But I would tell your employer so that they can make adjustments for you asap