Firefighter and pregnant. Help....

Im 10 weeks pregnant and am a volunteer firefighter in Australia. I haven't been doing any work, however a massive increase of fires in my area are making me a little concerned and I want to help. But I dont want to do anything that will risk my baby. I offered myself as an emergancy person as a pump operator. This involves watching the gauges and pressing button, so not really hard work. Just watching the back of those behind the hoses and the water supply. I currently dont work or do anything due to the pregnancy. I just dont like sitting a home not doing anything. Do u think it would be silly to go help while pregnant. I dont pee alot or have any nausa anymore, and we always have plenty of water on our truck. We have too. Please help, I'm going insane while I sit at home an my partner is out there fighting fires. PLease help...

[nanis]

First let me tell you Much respect to ALL firefighters men/women.They are always helping & are always in danger.I live in southern cali.& we get alot of forest fires..SO THANKS.With that said please be very carefull.I would say to take it easy?But its up to you..congrats on the preg..nanis

[AnnieBrooke]

I would think it is fine if you aren't in a position to inhale a ton of smoke.  And there is really no proof that secondhand smoke is hard on the baby, just on the mom.  Push them buttons, honey.  It's a good thing you are doing.

[lovefamily]

Keeping busy as you did before is fine.  Just stay away from the smoke and don't do anything too streneous.  As for smoke...especially second hand smoke.  Read:

http://www.lung.ca/protect-protegez/tobacco-tabagisme/second-secondaire/children-enfants_e.php

Nicotine / Smoke speeds up your unborn baby's heartbeat and slows down the growth of the lungs and breathing passages.  It can also cause asthma, allergies, respitory problems, along with more ear infections and such.  It can also cause low birth weight and cause you to go into labor early.  

You can go to google.com and type in the effects of smoke to unborn and find all kinds of info.  I normally find that those that think it won't hurt the baby are those that are not willing to abstain from smoking or to get out of the enviroment.  Stay safe for you and your baby.  Monitor those gauges and enjoy your job away from the danger.  

Blessings!!

[empty]

Hi there

I am in Australia too and thank you for thinking of the rest of us out there! Just make sure you dont strain yourself i would say...so no heavy lifting. Perhaps call your GP / pharmacist who may be able to advise?

Congratulations and good luck

[shm79]

As long as you are not inhaling any smoke, I would think it would be ok.  I work in a prison, and once I found out I was pregnant, I had to watch myself.  I know it stinks when you feel like you cant do anything to help those you work with everyday.  They stuck me on desk duty :(  But I would rather do that than harm my baby.

[AnnieBrooke]

Thanks for the link but I wasn't talking about secondhand tobacco smoke.

[lovefamily]

You just mentioned secondhand smoke.  So that is why I gave that link.  I just came out of a situation in the family where a baby was born and the mother lived in a smoking enviroment and took a few puffs herself.  The baby was born early, low birth weight, and having breathing problems at delivery. She has continued to have some problems. The baby is only 1 1/2 months old now, so this is a very sensitive subject for me after watching all that has happened. The mother tries her actions and it causes family problems since we do not agree with her.  

I also know that anything that we take internally will pass from the mothers body through the placenta or imbilical cord.  So even if a building is on fire that cannot be healthy for the Mother and her unborn baby to breathe that smoke.  The smoke would be full of chemicals compounds that are being burnt in the building materials. As we know many chemicals can cause birth defects if ingested into the mothers body.  Just to be safe....stay away from the smoke.  You may be right there may be some that may not cause problems.  I just opt to "better be safe than sorry".

Blessings and I hope healthy pregnancies for all of us.

  

[AnnieBrooke]

I also got the impression she was talking about the Australian summer fire season, which would mean plants, trees and grasses, not formaldehyde, glues and plastics.  Not that it is great to breathe any smoke, which is why I suggested she do not.  Sitting in the rig (which probably has air conditioning) and pushing buttons for the pumper doesn't sound that dangerous.

[lovefamily]

lol....well you know us over protective Mom's.  We'll just come on over to the outback and take care of you!  We cover every angle and try to protect you and your baby as much as we can.  We all truly care for eachother and want to see the best for one another.  You take care and I hope all goes well for you.  Thanks for all your hard work & stay safe!

blessings!

[Baby Vol]

Hi! I am a K9 Police Officer, my DH is too....we are in the TWW right now and I am still working in my dangerous neighborhood until we get the BFP...if we get one lol!! I am just being careful right now, tryin not to PURPOSELY get into anything unless its life or death! You be safe out there and what a story you will be able to tell your baby!!! Fightin fires before it was even born!!! Awesome!

[leahms_87]

Lol, well reading ur posts is interesting, and I have been doing research. As I live in the outback, the chances of breathing in chemically dangerous smoke isn't too high. Being pump operator is actually outside the truck, but as we usually come up from behind the fires the smoke goes the other way. But thank you so much for your advice ladies. Last time I fell pregnant, I did continue with the work, although that was winter and there was none and m/c which was why I was so worried. But i've had an ultrasound at 8 1/2 weeks and eveything looks good. I'm 10 weeks and 2 days today so I'm getting closer my that 12 weeks mark and my next ultrasound. Thanks very much...