EDIT: It looks like they're not going to push me on it. I'm so relieved. My boss said she understood and it shouldn't be a problem. Phew!
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I'm 17 weeks pregnant today and I've been UPing. So, obviously I'm sure most of you can imagine how I feel about unnecessary chemicals in my body and being a pin cushion. Those are things I'd hoped to avoid. Thing is, I work for WIC as a Peer Breastfeeding Counselor and I love my job. I was hired in Dec of 2006 (well before I was pregnant) and I was told I'd have to take a Tb test once a year. I took and passed the test, as requested. Now they want me to take another. The reason give for this was that the schedule their testing dates per department and they wanted everyone in WIC on the same schedule and it wouldn't "hurt" me to do it again. Honestly, this would piss me off normally, as I am generally annoyed about additional medical tests and BS for convenience and I'm pretty scared of needles. If I believed I needed to be Tb tested, it might be worth the risk and I'm sure I could breathe through it, I did fine in December, but why should I risk even the small chance of a reaction for me or the baby when we clearly don't need it? Yes, I'm an employee, but when I was hired I was told once per year and I fulfilled that and will be happy to retest in December, after my baby is born. Additionally, part of my difficult pregnancy is my teeth. I have two teeth in need of root canals and I'm fighting off infection because of it. I feel fine now, but I'm aware that until I get that taken care of, I really don't want to aggravate the delicate balance going on in my system. I feel downright whiny about this. I'm pregnant, I'm tired, and I distinctly do not want to have a medical pregnancy and do not want to be poked and prodded.
I've spoken with my husband about it and we're on the same page. I'm not getting it. We both agree that a) I've already fulfilled my obligation with them b) No one needs me to get it, not me, not the baby, not my coworkers c) It's ridiculous for them to ask me to do this for their convenience. So, yes, I'm refusing. My boss loves me, but I don't know what she can do about this. She already tried to get it waived for those of us that tested in December, because she thinks it's dumb. I already told her I didn't like the idea of it while pregnant. She called and told them that and they said it's "not contraindicated". Right. I'd hate to lose access to my job and my mothers. No one's threatened this, I just imagine it could be my worst case scenario. I assume it would be a non-issue if I had an OB and he/she agreed I didn't need it and wrote a letter, but I don't. My boss and everyone in my department knows I'm UPing, I talk about it freely, so it'd be hard to fake it. I'm prepared to stand up for myself and my baby and face the consequences. Any links to articles and other sources would be helpful.
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I'm 17 weeks pregnant today and I've been UPing. So, obviously I'm sure most of you can imagine how I feel about unnecessary chemicals in my body and being a pin cushion. Those are things I'd hoped to avoid. Thing is, I work for WIC as a Peer Breastfeeding Counselor and I love my job. I was hired in Dec of 2006 (well before I was pregnant) and I was told I'd have to take a Tb test once a year. I took and passed the test, as requested. Now they want me to take another. The reason give for this was that the schedule their testing dates per department and they wanted everyone in WIC on the same schedule and it wouldn't "hurt" me to do it again. Honestly, this would piss me off normally, as I am generally annoyed about additional medical tests and BS for convenience and I'm pretty scared of needles. If I believed I needed to be Tb tested, it might be worth the risk and I'm sure I could breathe through it, I did fine in December, but why should I risk even the small chance of a reaction for me or the baby when we clearly don't need it? Yes, I'm an employee, but when I was hired I was told once per year and I fulfilled that and will be happy to retest in December, after my baby is born. Additionally, part of my difficult pregnancy is my teeth. I have two teeth in need of root canals and I'm fighting off infection because of it. I feel fine now, but I'm aware that until I get that taken care of, I really don't want to aggravate the delicate balance going on in my system. I feel downright whiny about this. I'm pregnant, I'm tired, and I distinctly do not want to have a medical pregnancy and do not want to be poked and prodded.
I've spoken with my husband about it and we're on the same page. I'm not getting it. We both agree that a) I've already fulfilled my obligation with them b) No one needs me to get it, not me, not the baby, not my coworkers c) It's ridiculous for them to ask me to do this for their convenience. So, yes, I'm refusing. My boss loves me, but I don't know what she can do about this. She already tried to get it waived for those of us that tested in December, because she thinks it's dumb. I already told her I didn't like the idea of it while pregnant. She called and told them that and they said it's "not contraindicated". Right. I'd hate to lose access to my job and my mothers. No one's threatened this, I just imagine it could be my worst case scenario. I assume it would be a non-issue if I had an OB and he/she agreed I didn't need it and wrote a letter, but I don't. My boss and everyone in my department knows I'm UPing, I talk about it freely, so it'd be hard to fake it. I'm prepared to stand up for myself and my baby and face the consequences. Any links to articles and other sources would be helpful.
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