Working Nights

[sarahkristy]

Hi mamas...

I'm currently 5 weeks pregnant and working nights 4 days/week. I sleep with my DS during the day during his nap and then get another 4 (sometimes) 5 hours at night before I go back to work.

I'm already exhausted and feeling horrible.

Is this going to hurt my pregnancy? I can't seem to get more than 6 hours of sleep each day when I'm working. and it's not consecutive hours.

If I can survive it, I'd like to keep working since I won't be after the baby gets here. Also, I may have to quit because I do physical restraints in my job ...which would get pretty difficult being pregnant.

I'm stressed....


Anyone else work nights?

[MissMorgan]

I feel for you! I used to work nights (and days!) as a caretaker in a group home and I don't know if *I* could do it pregnant. I slept through the majority of my first trimester. I had to quit my job a while back because because it was 1.) too scary for me since I had been assaulted way too many times. 2.) I didn't feel like I could chase someone down if something were to happen
Is there a way you can switch shifts or work a different job for a while? I don't think it will necessarily hurt your pregnancy (I knew many people who continued to work the job while pregnant and did great.) but it may just be extra stress for you. Good luck and I hope the best for you!

[isras1]

Man oh man, I feel for you mamma. I also worked nights, three 12-hour shifts/week (CNA at hospital). I admire what you are able to do, plus having a child at home. I don't have any children, this is my first. So, I was able to get the sleep I needed, kind of. I worked the shifts consecutively, when I got to the 3ed day, I was dragging but still able to do my job well. Then, I would sleep forever the following day. I don't think you would be harming your pregnancy, just try to catch up on your off days.

I was able to work up till about my 9th week, then hyperemesis gravidum (extreme morning sickness) arrived. I was really nauseous up till that point but I was able to work through it by eating a energy dense snack (and lotsa protein) every 2 hours and keeping up with my fluid intake. After HG, I went on sick leave and eventually resigned from my job because HG didn't disappear until around the 20th week. Plus, I was worried about the physical demands of the job on my body and the stress level I would very likely be experiencing. I am so grateful that we could afford to have me leave my job so soon, I will be returning when our babe (and me) are ready.

Good luck momma.

[curvyred]

I work rotating shift work-- two weeks of nights (7 12-hour shifts every two weeks), two weeks of days (again, 7 shifts.) I feel your pain!

It's hard, but doable. I'll be 39 weeks this week and worked my last night shift last Thursday night. As the pregnancy progressed, I had a harder time sleeping during the day so I was probably in that 6 hour a night ball park.

All you can do is guard your sleep time as much as possible. I think it will help that you're on a consistant night schedule, but if there's any way to increase the amount of sleep you get, that would help. Even if that means hiring somebody to watch your LO for a couple hours after he would normally get up and/or extend your evening sleep by a couple hours, that would help.

I'm a solid 8-hour a night gal, but have survived on much less during this pregnancy simply due to periods of low sleep. I tend to stockpile my sleep a little on days off (naps when possible, extra long nights on days/nights off.)

Do what you can to take care of yourself, but don't feel bad about having an atypical schedule.