Should I get train to work while pregnant?? V.worried!

[kedooo]

Any advice on this would be greatly received. I'm 20 weeks pregnant, furloughed because my workplace is closed, my manager called and said it is due to reopen soon and I should expect a last min call to go in. I work with the public though apparently they've put screens up to protect us and will give us masks in work. However I'm 20 weeks pregnant and only way I can get to work is via train (can't drive, too far to walk/cycle). I am concerned about my unborn baby, especially as they don't know the full effects covid could have on fetus/babies yet. I recently heard about a 3 day baby who died with no other problems other than the mother had covid which scares me so much.
Apparently once I'm 28 weeks the advise is to shield anyway, not sure my workplace will allow that either though or I may be forced to take early maternity.
I really don't want to lose my job and want to make sure I get my maternity leave.

[CuppaZa]

Sorry I don’t have any practical advise OP. Someone will be along soon with advice though. Just wanted to say I would feel the same in your shoes

[CuppaZa]

*advice

[kedooo]

Thank you, I am so worried and even my midwife doesn't know what to advise :/

[bythehairsonmychinichinchin]

Health and safety adjustments at work during the Covid-19 pandemic

As pregnant women (at whatever stage of pregnancy) are classed as vulnerable under the Coronavirus Restrictions Regulations your employer must ensure that you can work from home where possible, avoid public transport and keep a 2m distance from others. If it is not possible to avoid the risks by taking such action, your employer must provide suitable alternative work, if available, on the same terms and conditions or suspend you on full pay. The risk assessment must be kept under review throughout your pregnancy and as Government guidance changes

maternityaction.org.uk/covidmaternityfaqs/

[Hugglespuffed]

I thought pregnant people were shielding? My family member is 15ish weeks and her employer (she is a teacher) has said she is not to come in for the remainder of her pregnancy.

[kedooo]

Thank you for that link, very helpful! Well when I was 12 weeks I was sent home from work as initially all pregnant women were in the shielded category, then that changed to women who are 28 weeks plus. Then a week later my workplace closed so my manager said you are now off but not because you're pregnant because we're closed, and now he's saying expect a call to come back soon, I haven't argued with it I just thought when they give me a date to come back I'll ask about a risk assessment being done and take it from there

[bmachine]

Do you have a collegue who lives near you who could offer a lift in ?

[kedooo]

Unfortunately at my workplace we cover shifts so nobody starts and finishes at the same time. Nobody I work with lives near me either

[ragged]

The trains & buses are extremely empty right now where I live.
They were quite empty for the two weeks before lockdown.
I don't think it's more dangerous now than it was in the early weeks of March.
Were you taking your local train to work on a regular basis in March?

[Racoonworld]

Pregnant people were never in the shielding category, just classed as vulnerable. I’m in the third trimester, the guidelines say you can work but employers need to take precautions to make sure you can social distance, and if that’s not possible you should be given tasks where you can.

[bythehairsonmychinichinchin]

@kedooo you are correct your employer needs to carry out a risk assessment and remove any risks, if they can’t they should suspend you on full pay as outlined in the link I posted.

The risks of complications from covid increase in the 3rd trimester that’s why the guidance is slightly different before 28 weeks, and as new evidence unfolds the guidance changes on a daily basis. However saying this the risks of complications to pregnant women at any stage in pregnancy who are generally well are low, the risk of complications unfortunately increases for women with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity had those with heart conditions. Evidence is also showing that women from BAME backgrounds are also at risk of developing complications.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/#occup

[kedooo]

When I was 12 weeks mid March I stopped going to work then and getting public transport. My employer is putting up a screen, giving out masks, it's just the commute and being on busy train stations I'm worried about. Not even so much worried about the risk to me, more worried about the risk to my unborn child

[sandragreen]

Absolutely no way would I use public transport in your situation OP.

Your employer will need to find you work to do from home. Do you have a union rep?

[bythehairsonmychinichinchin]

Your employer needs to make reasonable adjustments as part of their risk assessment, this would include things like letting you travel to work at off peak times. I’d contact your employer and advise them that a risk assessment needs to be carried out before you return to work and speak to your union

[kedooo]

Yes I'm in a union so I plan on contacting them when I am asked to go back and will ask my manager if the risk assessment they've done includes my commute, don't want to kick up too much fuss too early in case they do find me alternative work nearer where I live which I can walk to or work from home.

[covetingthepreciousthings]

I'd try contact ACAS for some advice, I wonder if you could keep being furloughed for a while?

I wouldn't get public transport in your situation hope you get sorted Op.

[kedooo]

Last option if all that fails I suppose I could ask for unpaid leave which would be a struggle. Or I just take the risk getting the train and hope for the best, by the sounds of it after 28 weeks it's only guidance to distance so they could expect me in then too

[kedooo]

Thank you, I will look into getting advice from ACAS

[bythehairsonmychinichinchin]

As pregnant women (at whatever stage of pregnancy) are classed as vulnerable under the Coronavirus Restrictions Regulations your employer must ensure that you can work from home where possible, avoid public transport and keep a 2m distance from others. If it is not possible to avoid the risks by taking such action, your employer must provide suitable alternative work, if available, on the same terms and conditions or suspend you on full pay. The risk assessment must be kept under review throughout your pregnancy and as Government guidance changes

maternityaction.org.uk/covidmaternityfaqs/health-and-safety-at-work/

[bythehairsonmychinichinchin]

ACAS are generally a bit rubbish, I’d contact maternity action who are a charity for advice or look at the links I’ve posted.

maternityaction.org.uk/advice-line/

[kedooo]

Ok thank you I will, yes I looked at that link it was very helpful and reassuring just hope my employer doesn't find a way to get around it :/

[cologne4711]

Someone asked about trains in my local commuter group. They said they had 12 carriages and about 20 people.

Clearly it depends where you live and how many people use the trains, so I would suggest you investigate. From next Monday there will be more trains.

The baby who died had something a lot more serious wrong too, maternal covid was a secondary cause of death.

[bythehairsonmychinichinchin]

I looked at that link it was very helpful and reassuring just hope my employer doesn't find a way to get around it glad it’s reassured you. If they try to get around it and force you to go into work and you feel unsafe, or if they cannot adjust your role to make you safe they can continue to keep you furloughed or suspended you on full pay. Please try not to worry and speak to them on Monday and take it from there. Under no circumstances let them make you go off on sick leave.

[Emmacb82]

The 3 day olds death was primarily hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain) so although Covid was listed as a secondary cause, the baby sadly had a bad outcome anyway 🙁

It’s very difficult as most of the guidance is for third trimester. I would feel apprehensive about getting a train too, defo speak to your union x