Pregnancy question for teachers - overseas trip

[MamaL86]

Hi all,
I got my BFP yesterday. Obviously very early days but hoping for the best. All feels very surreal at this stage as have very few symptoms!
Anyway, I'm supposed to be going on a residential trip to France a week after we get back from half term. We'll be away for 5 days with 45 Year 7s. Assuming all goes ok I'd be around 5.5 weeks when we leave.
Ideally I'd have liked to keep my pregnancy quiet at work until after the 12 week scan. However, the more I think about it, the more I think I probably need to let either the trip leader or deputy head know so they can factor into risk assessment? There's also the possibility morning sickness might kick in around then and of course that something could go wrong with the pregnancy. What do you think? Am I going to have to bite the bullet and tell them early?
I've done the trip several times before so know what to expect, including a trip to a goat farm (while baby goats may be being born!) and copious amounts of goats cheese, pate & saucisson. Feel it's going to be glaringly obvious that something is up! Any advice would be much appreciated

[PinkAvocado]

I think you’ll need to say for insurance purposes. Do goats carry the same risk as sheep (when it’s lambing season)?

[MamaL86]

Hi @ PinkAvocado. Thanks for your input. Yes, a quick look on the NHS website suggests goats carry the same risks. Not sure if that means I can't go into the farm though or if it would be OK as long as I don't touch them?

[PinkAvocado]

I think your clothes and shoes would have to be washed thoroughly etc. It is an avoidable risk though so I wouldn’t go there.
The Tommy’s website says in the first trimester there is a 10-15% risk of toxoplasmosis being transferred to the baby.

[MamaL86]

Thanks so much for the info. Definitely sounds as though goats farm visit isn't sensible.

[Wallywobbles]

If it's any help the don't eat list for pregnant women in France is different to that in the UK. The only restriction I can recall was no unpasteurized cheese. But as there's only a couple of cases of listeria a year......I wouldn't fret. But that's me.

Toxoplasmosis was more of an issue because almost all French women have had it. Unlike British women.

[noenergy]

I would tell them. I wouldn't b going on the trip.

I told early on as it meant u get out of break and lunch duty.

[surreygirl1987]

I'm a teacher and I told my line manager at 5 weeks. I would DEFINITELY say something if you're going on a residential trip like that. They can keep it confidential but do let them know.

[MamaL86]

Thanks all for your input. I'm feeling rather nervous about jinxing it by saying something, but imagine that if I don't I'd just spend the whole time worrying.
Good advice @surreygirl1987 - will ask to keep it confidential for a bit. Was your line manager fine about it?

[jubbablub]

I’ve told a few people at school (am 7+5) and it has actually been so useful. People know why I keep going to the loo, my manager is helping me reduce my workload, our Dep Head has been so supportive in organising cover for appointments. Honestly, I’m so glad that a few people at work know.

[MamaL86]

Thank you for sharing your experience @jubbablub. It's great to hear that your school has been so supportive and it must take some of the pressure off. One of my best friends is pregnant and didn't tell her work for ages - about 20 weeks or so. But I guess teaching is very different and you can't really compare.

[Girlwiththearabstrap]

I organised a France trip and went at around 10 weeks during my last pregnancy. I didn't tell anyone apart from my friend who Id told anyway, but if I were in your shoes and there were activities I was unsure of I'd probably tell someone and ask for it to be kept confidential. There's a lot of chat about risk assessments on these types of threads - apart from the farm visit I'm not really sure what is particularly risky. I did the risk assessment and didn't feel that I was in any danger. Needing to pee all the time on the bus was a pain but luckily I felt ok apart from that!

[blinkineckmum]

I'm a teacher, have been on 3 trips while pregnant. 2 at 20ish weeks, 1 at 10. For the one at 10 I only told my teacher friend who was also on the trip. I phoned my insurance before but they said they didn't need to know.
Congrats!

[OrigamiOverload]

I’m in your position too OP, I’ll be 8 ish weeks. We’re only we’re going skiing in Scotland instead of a trip to France!

I’ve decided I’m going to tell my line manager. I want to be clear that I will not be skiing and I want her to know in case I’m feeling sick/tired.

I’m also a farmer’s daughter - don’t go near the goat farm if they’re kidding. Fluids get splattered about during this time and that does pose a risk to pregnant women. I stay away from my dad’s farm during lambing when I’m pregnant.

[Buxbaum]

If it's any help the don't eat list for pregnant women in France is different to that in the UK. The only restriction I can recall was no unpasteurized cheese.

It really really isn’t. Source here. Exactly the same advice on cheese, cured meats, rare and raw meats etc. Incidentally, unpasteurised hard cheeses are considered fine in both the UK and France.

The main difference is that toxoplasmosis antibodies are routinely screened for at booking-in so French women tend to know if they are immune and can therefore be less cautious with foods such as rare steak which are a toxo risk.

OP, I think you need to disclose your pregnancy to the trip leader and / or the headteacher. Partly for insurance and risk assessment purposes as pp have said, but also because there’s a good chance that any pregnancy sickness could start to kick in around then - no joke on a coach full of kids.

[JuniperKane]

@MamaL86 hope you don’t mind me joining in here, I have a similar predicament, have a school trip coming up involving hiking, canoeing and camping, etc. It’s for 4 days and 3 nights, I’ll be 8 weeks by then. I spoke to my GP about it and he said the activities should be fine, just worried in case the morning sickness or fatigue are an issue around that time.

[Addy2]

I'd tell someone. People kept trying to make me go home for feeling sick in the early days! With regard to noenergy's comment, I still do break and lunch duty, so that might depend on your school. Then again, I've never tried to get out of it so it might be possible.

[MamaL86]

Thank you so much for all your helpful comments. I think the consensus seems to be that I need to let someone know, so I'll make sure I bite the bullet next week. It's a little nerve-wracking to speak up at such an early stage (struggling to believe I really pregnant as I have barely any symptoms!) but think it'll be for the best.
@OrigamiOverload thank you for the info re the goat farm visit - doesn't sound like it's worth the risk.
@JuniperKane - more the merrier! Are you going to tell anyone on the trip? Like with yours, I'm quite sure most of it should be fine.
I work in private sector so sure I'll still be expected to do duties, which is fine. Didn't expect to be taken off them.

[KathyBates]

Hello, I'm currently 13+2 and got back from a month long work trip in the states last week. Like you I was really worried about having sickness and exhaustion while I was away so went to the doctor to get advice. He told me it was absolutely fine as long as I followed standard pregnancy do's/ don'ts and I wasn't obliged to tell my management. Obviously I would have done if I had any issues whilst away but fortunately I'm in a position where I can decide what I do/ don't do myself so didn't have to. Luckily for me I was able to blame tiredness on the jet lag! No-one rumbled me and I liked sneaking off to the malls on my downtime to look at all the American baby things :0)

[surreygirl1987]

Just to say... I'm 6+6 and was feeling pretty great until now overall (minus tiredness and slight cramp) but morning sickness just hit me BIG time yesterday and very very suddenly. I know it's not the same for everyone but you honestly do not know how you will feel and apparently your body can change very rapidly! I feel like absolute crap and am NEVER ill- thank god it's half term! So yes I would DEFINITELY tell a like manager...

[MamaL86]

Thanks @KathyBates. I'm glad you didn't get rumbled and it all went smoothly. Sadly not much opportunity for looking at baby stuff on a school trip in rural France

@surreygirl1987 - sorry you're feeling so rough and good advice. I feel absolutely fine at the moment (in fact, I keep feeling like I need to poas to convince me I'm still pregnant!) but as you say there's no knowing how I'll feel then. I'd be 5+4 when we leave so hopefully still ok but there are no guarantees. Did you have many symptoms before now?

[JuniperKane]

@mamaL86 I hadn’t planned on telling anyone else on the trip, it’s just two male teachers that I’m friendly with but not close enough too to tell them the news yet.
@Surreygirl1987 That’s exactly what I’m worried about, I’m 6+2 now, and feeling fine but what if it hits me all of a sudden?

There has to be a female teacher on the trip and I was fulfilling that role, just wondering what are the possiblilites of being able to hike/canoe/camp in the great outdoors for 4 days if I have morning sickness?

[surreygirl1987]

@MamaL86 the only symptons I had until yesterday were mild cramps (the occasional sharp one) which come and go and sleeping more than usual. Week 5 I felt great and was feeling very smug! I was also fine apart from tiredness all this week but was on holiday and spent a lot of time outdoors and in the cold which I think helped acrually. Started feeling sick yesterday after my flight home and have felt awful since! Serves me right for feeling so smug haha...

I'd stay away from the goats at least but the rest of it is upto you! Just be aware you might feel great one day and awful the next (hope not though!!) X

[timeisnotaline]

Morning sickness hit me with a bang at 6 weeks exactly (hyperemesis ) and at 5 weeks with slightly less of a bang second time around. So it’s hard to know, because of course you could be fine but... and then there is so much you can’t eat in France, so I think you have to mention it (although if you go and do eat a few sneaky prohibited foods don’t beat yourself up!) any chance you could get off the trip without confessing why?

[MamaL86]

Thanks all.

The trip is so close now @timeisnotaline that I suspect I'd struggle to get out of it without revealing why.

I do think I should be ok to go, it's just the worry of what I'd do if morning sickness does kick in or something goes while we're there.

To confuse me even more I asked the GP about the goat farm issue. He laughed and was very dismissive, said it wouldn't be an issue unless I was actually delivering the goats which has made me more undecided! Maybe I go but just keep my distance.

@surreygirl1987 thanks for sharing your experiences and really hope you're not feeling too dreadful. Hope the return to school tomorrow isn't too tough.

[surreygirl1987]

Haha love the goat comment from your doc! Well best of luck with the trip! Maybe take some emergency provisions with you..
Ginger biscuits, mints and sick bags... just in case!!

Thanks- been on and off and feel much better when I'm hard at work (never thought I'd find pleasure in marking!) so will just plough on! Got an early scan after school tomorrow too which is a bit eeeeek!!

Hope you carry on feeling non-sick! :)