Pregnancy trigger warning

[Pittiemama]

Hi all im 25 weeks pregnant amd a student midwife and next week have been assigned bereavment placement am i overreacting in saying its too much for someone whos pregnant, i mean it will include memory making footprints etc and ill be in the mortuary, my job description means that i have been exposed to this before but im not sure when im pregnant

I think it's absolutely fine to ask that this is delayed until after you give birth, I can't imagine doing that whilst pregnant. I'm not sure if you'll still be expected fo do it but definitely worth asking

I would raise it. Will you be with women who have lost their babies as that might also be distressing for them. Also you have a lot of employment protection whilst pregnant so I can’t imagine them listening to you about this.

I expect it will be equally as important setting for the ladies who have just lost their babies too

I agree this is better for both you in your pregnancy and for those you may meet who have just lost their babies.
I think you are absolutely justified in asking for a different assignment at this time

Yes i will be with women who just lost their babies i can hide my bump under my scrubs but thats not the point its still distressing for all involved i cant imagine taking footprints of a stillborn baby while worrying about my unborn child i have asked to change so fingers crossed

As a midwife. This is sadly just part of the job.

A midwife that works exclusively in bereavement for example couldn’t simply stop doing their job if they became pregnant, any more than a mortician could stop doing their job because they have had a bereavement.

If a midwife is visibly pregnant they wouldn’t be assigned to care for a bereaved family as to not distress than family any more but midwifery and in fact the NHS as a whole isn’t known for prioritising staff wellbeing.

Being a student you might be able to get your uni to support you with this and change your placement but you do need to consider how you would cope as a qualified midwife with such situations?

A colleague of mine that works in EPAU for example was dealing with women undergoing miscarriage throughout her pregnancy as you can’t simply take 9 months off.

A midwife that works exclusively in bereavement for example couldn’t simply stop doing their job if they became pregnant....If a midwife is visibly pregnant they wouldn’t be assigned to care for a bereaved family as to not distress than family any more
Those two statements contradict each other. My friend who is a bereavement midwife did indeed stop doing that job for a few months when she was visibly pregnant so as not to distress anyone else. Don't think there was any expectation she would stop for her own sake though.

They don’t contradict.

I’m saying they would stop doing the job for the patients sake. Because they are visibly pregnant. But they would not stop doing the job for their own sake, because they find it distressing. Just as the mental health midwife wouldn’t be able to stop doing her job because she suffered mental health, assuming she was well enough to return to work of course.

The NHS is not known for looking after it’s staff!

Hiya i was a maternity care assistant before uni and have dealth with bereavment a lot on gynae iv been at stillbirth deliveries too but i think its a bit much at the mo