When I found out I was pregnant in September of 2025, I was just coming off shift. I kept it quiet for a while as I figured out with my immediate officers the next steps. During the first trimester, I was perpetually nauseous. I would sprint from the backstep or the back of the ambulance to go throw up after most calls, smells would hit hard, and it became harder to hide from my crew.
I happened to attend a Science to the Station convention that fall. They had a fantastic "Family Track." It gave me insight into what raising this child would be like while on the line. It was incredibly informative and helpful information … and it was terrifying.
I was an emotional wreck the entire conference, becoming more and more nervous about what the pregnancy journey and the postpartum journey would look like on and off the line. I learned about coming off the line as soon as the first trimester because of the toxins we’re exposed to on calls, and even being in the bay could affect the baby during their biggest developmental phase – and at that point, I was rounding the base into my second trimester. After a tear and snot-filled ugly-cry call with my mom, I left the conference with a new sense of determination to share my experience and current research with other women in fire.
The Research
First stop – Like every good nerd, I bought every pregnancy preparation book and devoured them, but there was a huge gap that left me intellectually hungry for more. The "what to expect" pregnancy books often neglected the growing population of women in shift-work, on the front lines, or in uniform–they didn’t consider me.
Next stop: social media. It felt like every female firefighter and athlete I follow on Instagram was also now pregnant. I was truly appreciative of the women out there sharing their journeys, but most content was inspirational and personal, but little to no guidance for timelines, to-do lists, and goals.
It reminded me that my pregnancy isn’t their pregnancy. Every body is different, every pregnancy is different, and one woman’s journey will be different from the woman standing next to her in the same firehouse. What we do share are the risks we face, the general lack of understanding and support in the fire service, and the passionate first-responder personality disorder we have overcome to take care of ourselves before others.
Here’s what I found, and a little bit about the moves I made along the way.
What and When to Tell Your Department
What and when you tell your department is totally up to you and your relationship with your doctor and the department. Fire Commissioner AND midwife, Melissa Lawlor, calls this the triangle of care:
- The FF/EMT navigating a reproductive health need
- The FF/EMT’s healthcare provider
- The municipality that employs the FF/EMT
Based on what I found (and experienced), the earlier you speak up, the better. Unfortunately, some pregnancies terminate prematurely or result in other health issues along the way, but *all *pregnancies have varying degrees of physical and emotional effects on the parent. Mental health and peer support has played a huge role in my career, and frankly, keeping me alive. I knew I needed my fire-family’s support through this transition.
It wasn’t until the conference that I learned about the potential risks of working through pregnancy during the first trimester. It was then that I decided I should tell my Chief, but I kept it quiet on the line until I couldn’t hide the constant nausea and fatigue.
Pregnant employees are protected by the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2023*, which ensures they get the accommodations they need for a safe pregnancy, like modifying duties or taking extra breaks. I recommend working with your triangle of care to figure out light-duty options *before you go on light duty. Honestly, I did because I didn’t want to be bored for the rest of the pregnancy! It was hard enough agreeing to come off the line, and I still wanted to contribute.
What and When to Tell Your Doctor
I very quickly found an OB so I could confirm the pregnancy. After I told my Chief, I was provided a document outlining my job description and a simple form for my doctor and me to sign to confirm whether I was medically cleared for duty each appointment.
As boring as NFPA standards can be, a great resource is NFPA 1582, particularly Chapter 5 and Annex C. I recommend asking your department for a copy and how frequently they would like an updated evaluation.
There often isn’t an SOG established (more on this later), and they can’t force you to give them any information about your pregnancy. I discussed this with my Chief and we decided to provide one for every appointment, as long as it felt comfortable.
My doctor and I discussed physical limitations regularly, and we chose what felt like a fairly arbitrary date physically, but it was exactly what I needed financially and emotionally.
What and When to Tell Yourself
“I am not alone.”
The "brotherhood-sisterhood" gives you access to a family that shows up like no other. I am incredibly grateful for the support from not only my department but the folks I have met through CRACKYL, Women in Fire, and the IAFF along the way. The beauty is that there are other women on this journey, just like us, figuring it out along the way. In a profession based on service, there are so many willing to share their experiences and support. We just have to be willing to ask for it.
“More research is needed.”
It’s not just our industry that is woefully behind on women's health research and advocacy. Up until the 1990s, medical research was predominantly done by men, on men.* The fire service isn’t necessarily known for its progressiveness, and is further behind than most industries in researching firefighter health and wellness, and more so, female firefighter health & wellness. But initial research *is out there. Leaders like Dr. Sara Jhanke, Dr. Brittany Hollerback, and Commissioner Lawlor are working with initiatives like Women in Fire and the First Responder Center for Excellence to advocate for more research. In a world where we feel underrepresented, on a journey that feels uncharted, their work inspires hope.
