Pregnancy

Post-Delivery: Return to Work

Because of different types of deliveries and associated complications, return-to-work decisions should be based upon an individualized evaluation of the LEO’s current status and the requirements of her work assignment. 54

Once the officer requests to return to full duty with the consent of her treating healthcare provider, all restrictions for patrol duty and training should be lifted, unless other medical issues are present.

The physician should consider various issues such as55:

• Delivery trauma and mode of delivery
• C-section healing,54,56
• Physical deconditioning, fatigue and lack of sleep
• Musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis)
• Pregnancy-related issues
• Hypertension
• Eclampsia
• Gestational diabetes
• Post-partum depression
• Post-partum thyroiditis
• Deep venous thrombosis
• Anemia
• Other complications