Pregnancy & working night shifts

[dee997v]

Hey there does anyone know can your employer still ask you to work night shifts while pregnant??

[bednobs]

of course they can! What is so special about being pregnant that you cant be asked to work nights for 9 months? i dont get it. If night working is detremental to health, then why do it before you are pregnannt, and if its not detremental to health then why woud you need to be let off of it while pregnant?

[becki1]

depends on your job. i work with people with challenging behaviour and so when i finally conceive i will not be allowed to work alone, day or night.

[Goodsoulette]

Actually dee, bednobs is wrong, as you need good sleep patterns it would be entirely reasonable to have your risk assessment state that you do not have to work night shifts anymore. Women who work night shifts are more likely to deliver a low birthweight baby, or have longer or shorter pregnancies. This is because you are up at the wrong time and what should be happening in the uterus, might not be happening properly. Presented with this, your employer will have no choice but to either off you days or suspend you on full pay for the rest of your pregnancy. Working between 10 pm and 7pm are the significant times by the way. If you were pregnant and working dayshift, any employer would not be allowed to let you switch to nightshift for these reasons.

In short, tell your employer immediately that you are pregnant and make sure they carry out a risk assement as soon as possible.

Of course some women will deliver very healthy babies after working months of night shifts but we all want the best start for our children and the law is geared to protect you and your baby. Don't feel bullied by it, heavy lifting was a part of my job which could have been easily delegated to someone else but I felt sniped at and victimised already for being pregnant and found myself at the top of ladders and lifting stuff whilst pregnant.

[andrea81]

You need to ask the HR department for a Risk assesment. If YOU feel that working nights could be detrimelntal to your pregnancy, then your emplyer has to listen to you! They will need to discuss changing your situation that is better for you!

Congrats chick x x x

[dee997v]

Hey thanks for your comments - having lost a baby in Jan and newly pregnant again I just want to make sure im doing all the right things while pregnant, cheers guys xxx

[Goodsoulette]

Make sure you get a medical certificate from your doctor to say you shouldnt work nights any more when you tell your employer.

[apelila]

well good soulette you are wrong u need to have a doctors note stating you cannot perform the duties i worked up to 8 months as a waitress very light duties of coarse everyone different

[Goodsoulette]

apelila, read the post above yours posted by me!!!!!!

[jayden98]

i'm a midwife and have worked rotational night shifts for my entire career, however now i am pregnant i will be requesting not to, pregnant women need their sleep and i for one never get enough when i'm on nights. i don't think it's necessarily bad for the baby just exhausting for the mum's