Any pregnant night shift workers out there?

Question

Just wondering how others that work night shift manage their sleep schedule and days off? Im an RN working night shift 3 nights/week and I have to maintain that schedule all the time. I go to bed on my nights
off around 4-5am and sleep until 2pm or later if I work that night. And after work in the morning I sleep until 3-4pm. I don't know how to do it otherwise. That's just the schedule my body wants to follow.

My coworkers usually only sleep 2-3 hours after working all night, so that they will be able to go to bed early that night and wake up early the next day. Or they don't go to bed at all. This seems really unhealthy for me (and the baby!) with all of the switching and sleep deprivation. But even on my schedule I'm still exhausted all the time (maybe just because I'm growing a human? 😂) And I don't know how I'll manage all this after the baby comes either. Any other parents or soon to be parents out there in my situation? How do you make it work?

Answer

I work 7pm-7am on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I take naps on Friday, Saturday I sleep until 5pm, Sunday I usually sleep until 2-3 and Monday I nap. My kids either go to school or the 13 year old watches the 6 year old. My husband is home all day Saturday and Sunday so that gives me a break.

Answer

I'm right there with you! I went crazy this week and even picked up a couple extra shifts! On my nights off I just sleep when I'm tired and be awake when I'm not. I used to force myself to keep to my schedule but I found I was always tired and never catching up on sleep!

Answer

I have been working 3-12s and 2-8s during my whole pregnancy and I'm 28 weeks. I have always napped for like 4 hours after I get off in the morning and then another 2-4 hours right before work. On my nights off I stay up all day and sleep at night like a normal person. The overtime and lack of sleep are getting to me now though I'm so tired all the time.

Answer

I work Sunday-Thursday from 11-7 sometimes later. I set a routine for myself when I get off in the mornings. I read a few chapters in my book and that usually helps me fall asleep. Also, I keep my room as dark as possible to help me sleep better. I wake up quite a bit now to use the restroom but make myself go back to sleep! Good luck! Working night shift is hard!

Answer

I'm in the same boat!  I have so much trouble sleeping now on my nights off that I don't fall asleep until after 2pm and then I toss and turn until it's daylight out when I finally fall asleep and sleep all day.  I know this sounds bad, but I just sleep when my body wants to. I'm just telling myself that I'm tired for a reason and I need to listen to my body.  It's hard because I feel like all I do is sleep and work but I'm doing it for the baby!  Night shift is hard enough on the body to begin with but so much worse when pregnant!

Answer

I work three 12 hour midnights, 7pm-7am with a two year old at home. I nap on my first day, work 7-7, sleep from 9-4/5. On my first day off I'll take a nap in the morning and wake up around 1. I'm 12 weeks now.

Answer

I work 4 nights a week (11:30-9:00) usually I sleep til 2 on my first day off and I wake up early my other two days off the last night I stay up as late as possible last night til 5 but sometimes I don't make it past 2 lol so I take a nap before work. I'm always tried no matter how much sleep I get but this has been working for me before I got pregnant and it's still working now I'm 10 weeks 6 days :)

Answer

I'm an aide who works night shift and I get home eat shower then go to bed around 10 or 11 then wake up at 4pm on my nights off I sleep durning the night and wake up in the morning then take a nap in the afternoon I'm 14weeks4days haven't had any extra energy yet

Answer

I'm an RN night shifter! Your schedule sounds just like mine, I will sleep later though if I'm feeling extra tired. The other day i slept until 4:30pm and I never do that.

Answer

How far along are you? I felt like my energy increased once I was 16 weeks

Any pregnant night shift workers out there?

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