Mumsnet Talk

I'm 30 weeks pg with a very precious IVF baby. I live in a leafy area of London and walk 15 mins to the tube downhill so after snow freezes it becomes packed down ice on a slope. Last year I fell twice and injured my shoulder, so obviously this year I'm terrified of falling - plus I'm rhesus neg so any bumps mean a trip to hospital (and we don't have a car). Should I risk trying to trek in on Monday if it's icy or am I justified in staying home?

Follow your gut.

FYI I use Yak Trax in this weather. They strap on to your shoes and are amazingly grippy. I feel very confident walking out in them and I am a little ice phobic as I seem to have a talent for slipping.

Stay at home.

I negotiated icy footpaths at 6 months pg and my sense of ballance was terrible - it took me ages to get where I was going and it was stressful.

Stay at home. I was going to say that its unlikely any fall would hurt baby but seeing your rhesus status is negative that does make a difference.

I'm RH Neg and have had far too many Anti Ds already in this pregnancy and I'm only 18 weeks. I'd definitely stay at home if it's really icy!

It depends on what you are going out for? I assume work and if so you would need to discuss it with them if you are hoping to still be paid. In my job it is quite hard to not turn up if I have appointments as I would be letting people down so in that case I would get a taxi - if I didn't have appointments I would work from home. But obviously only you know your job etc - so in short no I wouldn't risk the baby but I wouldn't necessarily miss work as I would try to get there safely.

HTH

32 weeks, also with a precious miracle baby, and feeling the same. Doesn't help that I live at the top of a valley, which means just to get to the car I need to walk down a flight of 13 very icy steps and down a steep hill.

Wear snow chains on your shoes, good walking footwear and get help travelling to and from places wherever possible. And if it really gets bad, listen to your gut and stay home.

Thanks all, reassuring to know I'm not just being wimpy! I have just bought some of those spikes you fit over shoes, I suppose I'm even reticent to use those because getting normal shoes on is tough now I'm so big, let alone putting those on and taking them off every time you need to walk on a non-icy bit (apparently the spikes break off if you use them not on ice).

My job is the other side of London so the cheapest cab is £40 each way - just can't afford that.

Normally I'd just work from home but my clients are both blind so I feel a huge responsibility when I'm needed to be there... But I know my baby comes first now so i'll just have to let them down if it's just too icy!

Sorry what I meant was a taxi to the tube - can't imagine the tube will be unsafe. Hope it all works out ok anyway.

Ha oops, probably should've realised that!

could you get a cab to pick you up and just take you to the tube station every day? most cab companies will accept very short journeys, and a local firm would happily do so both ways if you booked? or do you have any friends nearby who could give you a lift?

if you are worried about falling then you shouldn't risk it.

I was in Sheffield and the same stage as you when it snowed in december 2010. I had to get a taxi to and from work for the last 10 days or so before mat leave, as the ice stuck around for such a long time afterwards. There were several hills up and down on my journey. I did also have to take two days off as taxis were not running on the roads.

You have to do what you need to do to keep safe. I would get a taxi to and from the station each day.

Cripes, just got a quote for £10 per journey - it's literally a 15 min walk!

The snow and ice is driving me insane at the moment. Went for a short walk this morning to get out of the flat, and despite wearing yak trax (which have never failed me before) slipped over on the ice. DH went nuts (in a concerned not an angry way), and I am now confined to barracks for the foreseeable. I could cry.

If the paths are icy don't risk it, as I have just proved it is impossible to be 'safe', and it really isn't worth the risk.

Oh no - are you ok?? It's melted a bit here now, but have to walk on the roads as pavements still have hard packed ice all over. Managed to venture out to the post office (nagging ebayers demanding i dispatch immediately even though i always say allow 4 days) but other than that I've been indoors since Saturday...

I've been indoors since it started snowing on Friday. it's pretty but roll on spring I say!
Could someone walk with you? If you are really nervous though I wouldn't risk it, I slipped over and down a flight of steps outside (not on snow but on wet leaves) a few weeks ago and had the fright of my life sat in accident and emergency waiting to for the baby to be checked out.
It's supposed to snow again tonight...

I'm fine thank you leniwhite, as is the baby thank goodness, but I won't be walking on icy paths again any time soon. Really hate this weather!