Night duty

[Caoimhe..x]

Hi everyone,
I start night duty tonight, and I'll be doing it for 2wks. I'll be working from 8.30pm tonight till 8.30am tomorrow morning. Recently I've been really tired and taking naps during the day, I was just wondering does anyone do the same sort of shifts as me and how do you manage to stay awake? Xx

 

[flisstebbs]

I haven't done any nights while pg, so i really feel for you. Doing nights in the summer is a complete arse anyway cos its so light its difficult to sleep in the day!

My best strategies were diet coke, strategic sugar bursts - time one for 4am when the cortisol slump hits, and keeping busy even when work is a bit slow (i'd do all my e mails in the quiet bit). I'm not very good at power napping though, my best strategy was to stay awake all night on a night shift, but i knew plenty of people who was be able to take an hours nap to freshen up.

 

[Jodie_2013]

Totally echo what Flisstebbs says.

I did nights for a while but wasn't pregnant.
It was easy for me to stay awake though (delivering babies on labour ward) however if it went quiet around 3-5am I was doomed! Anyway I'd snack on carbs during the night (sandwiches, bread Sticks, crisps) then around 4am I'd probably have a double decked followed by a can of Vimto. I know it's not healthy but fruit and veg and water really won't do anything for you that time of morning/night!!!!

Be careful of the coke though I'd maybe buy fanta, lilt or some other fruity drink.

Good luck hun just keep thinking its not forever xxx

 

[Caoimhe..x]

Thanks girls, yeah I usually try have a snack and a can of coke zero around 4ish. I work as a support worker so the worst bit is its so quiet coz all the residents are sleeping, thankfully some of them get up at like 6am so that wakens me up a bit. Hopefully now that I'm more tired than usual I'll be able to sleep better during the day xx

 

[Jess.]

I work permanent nights in a casino it's been more difficult now I'm pregnant but make sure you have lots of snacks like fruit and some sweeties for sugar xx

 

[futuremummy237]

I've just come off nights last week, and found them horrible now im preggers. I agree with what everyone else says, eat lots to keep your energy levels up! I especially agree with Jodie_2013, Lilt is amazing at perking you up at the 4am slump! Also, I always find it nice to take a proper meal with me, like sandwiches or some pasta or something to eat half way through the night (as well as having continual snacks paha) because then you are looking forward to that at that time around 3-4am when it really hits you, then after you can think 'half way there, wahoo'.x

 

[Caoimhe..x]

Yeah a girl that works during the day is gonna try keep me some dinner everyday which I though was really nice. Well I have my first night over me and it wasn't too bad, so I've tonight and tomorrow night to do and then I'll sleep all weekend xx