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Original poster

Job for 18-year-old in early stages of pregnancy

28 replies

Papergirl1968 · 30/08/2022 20:43

Posting in chat for traffic.
DD2, who recently turned 18, is five or six weeks pregnant. Baby due middle to end of April, we think.
She has no real qualifications or experience although she has had a couple of part time jobs delivering newspapers and waitressing.
She has a medical condition which puts her at slightly higher risk of miscarriage so I don't think she should do anything which requires a lot of standing or being on her feet such as waitressing or retail, but I can't see her getting an office job. And employers are not going to be keen to take on someone pregnant anyway.
She's single and lives on her own and is worried about how she will be able to buy things for the baby, maternity clothes etc. I can't afford to help her much. I know she should qualify for the Sure Start grant of £500 but that won't go far.
I've suggested she looks into training or a course.
Just wondered if anyone has any ideas about jobs she could do?

OP posts:
Dippydonky · 30/08/2022 21:20

Pregnancy shouldn’t make any difference… employers can’t discriminate.

Maybe an administrator or call centre type job… not on her feet and entry level in a big company could mean it’s the start of a nice career (plus they have HR teams, just in case any recruiting manager felt the urge to discriminate!) And for when baby comes along, a bigger company could potentially be more flexible.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 30/08/2022 21:23

I’d nudge her towards a course.

I always fancied learning about hair or nails and kind of regret I never did it.

Even an OU course she could do at home.

TheEggChair · 30/08/2022 21:30

She should do a course and there'll be loads of help for her as she's unemployed. She should do as many courses while they freely available to her as possible. She could do a higher degree apprenticeship after the baby is born. So she earns money, learns a trade and gets a degree at the same time.

Was the baby planned and is the father going to contribute to its upkeep? She should put a claim in for maintenance ASAP.

I hope your dd stays well during her pregnancy and the baby is healthy and well. Please do talk to her about future contraception and also her job prospects.

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FavouriteDogMug · 30/08/2022 21:47

S a ss was

ShoesEverywhere · 30/08/2022 21:50

Register as self employed, do some bits and pieces of cleaning and she can get the full amount of maternity allowance. She will have to complete a tax return though.

whatshouldIdo2022 · 30/08/2022 21:59

Does your local authority have a post 16 support team? They might be able to help with ideas/CV writing etc.

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 30/08/2022 22:13

Thanks, everyone. Some good ideas here.
I just sent her details of a basic hair and beauty course at the local college, and suggested basic maths and English too as she has no GCSEs in decent grades. A GCSE course itself would go on too long with the baby due in April.
it definitely wasn't planned! She is supposedly gay but slept with a boy after breaking up with her girlfriend. He is 17-year-old traveller and has said he will give her money if a DNA test proves he's the dad. She couldn't go on the pill for medical reasons but yep, condoms don't seem to have entered either of their heads.

OP posts:
Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 30/08/2022 22:17

I should add that she gets some support from youth services as she is a care leaver - adopted by me but went back into care at 15 as she was totally out of control and I couldn't keep her safe.

OP posts:
GG1986 · 30/08/2022 22:25

Supermarket job? At the checkouts?

Hillrunning · 30/08/2022 22:31

Big companies will all conduct a risk assessment for pregnant employees so if as part of that a doctor was able to provide a statement suggesting minimal manual labour they business should allow her to do only the duties that she can so supermarket work could be a good option as they could put her on tills only work. Many years ago I worked in argos and two colleagues were assigned seats at the desk and minimal walking fairly on in thier pregnancies.

whatshouldIdo2022 · 30/08/2022 23:06

Prince's Trust offer grants for any training that isn't free ie nails courses often aren't, and equipment she might need for a college course. Is there anywhere locally that offers functional skills Maths and English for 16+? This can be a good re engagement option and not too full on but would get her some qualifications. I do something similar for a job and happy to look for some options for you if you let me know what county you're in.

BarbaraofSeville · 31/08/2022 06:52

Hair and nails involves exposure to lots of chemicals, so might not be safe/allowed during pregnancy. It might be fine to do this sort of stuff to yourself at home, but not all day/every day in a workplace/training environment.

Might sound like a slightly random suggestion, but what about a betting shop?

A bit like retail, but lots of sitting down - I have a couple of relatives who do this and they have a chair behind the counter routinely. There is some standing/floor work but not full time and between them they've had 5 DC while working throughout pregnancies.

Dippydonky · 31/08/2022 08:06

It sounds like you’re a wonderful mum.

She sounds like a handful (I’m sure she’s a lovely handful) and it’s really nice she has you trying to support her to get on a good path.

It reads like there are loads of options for her. I’m sure with you in her corner she’ll be ok.

ChagSameachDoreen · 31/08/2022 08:11

Abortion then college. Harsh but true.

user1487194234 · 31/08/2022 08:14

Companies aren’t allowed to discriminate…
Meanwhile in the real world
Some kind of course may be best option

HouseOfWaffles · 31/08/2022 08:23

I agree that she should access some free education while she can. It sounds like she's going to have a hard life otherwise with no qualifications and a baby to look after. I'd try to go for something a little more niche than nails though.

Whichwhatnow · 31/08/2022 08:26

I know people look down on it somewhat but what about warehouse work? I did this for 5 years from 17 to 22 and (depending on the role, obviously) it often largely involves sitting down and packing stuff with several other (usually) young people. I found it really fun at the time - still miss it a bit now!

Parsley1234 · 31/08/2022 08:28

@ChagSameachDoreen yep sadly it sounds a total mess. The traveller boyfriend ex care leavers no qualifications thank god she has you OP looking out for her but it’s not looking good is it

Parsley1234 · 31/08/2022 08:30

Also as an ex UC work coach every child I had on my books that were pregnant none wanted to work and indeed none did. They said I can’t I’m pregnant I can’t stand I can’t sit I can’t etc etc

QueSyrahSyrah · 31/08/2022 08:33

user1487194234 · 31/08/2022 08:14

Companies aren’t allowed to discriminate…
Meanwhile in the real world
Some kind of course may be best option

Unfortunately I agree with this. No they can't legally discriminate due to pregnancy, but in this situation they could very easily and legitimately 'be looking for more experience'. It's hard enough to get a job with few qualifications and no experience as it is, unless something like hospitality with lots of time on feet and running around.

I am always pro-choice but I'd be having some very serious conversations about the reality of this situation both for the already troubled teen and the innocent baby that will arrive into this.

Whichwhatnow · 31/08/2022 08:38

I also just want to say that I was in a very similar situation to your daughter at her age. It took me longer than most but I went to college to do an access course (with no qualifications, having dropped out at 14), got into a top ten university and went on to be a lawyer. Your daughter can achieve anything, it just might take her a bit longer than the usual! Make sure she knows that (I'm sure you already do!)

lickenchugget · 31/08/2022 08:46

Pregnancy shouldn’t make any difference… employers can’t discriminate

Yes, in theory.

In practice… an unqualified pregnant 18-year old who can’t do many roles… a course would definitely help.

Local colleges often have many short vocational courses

BeanieTeen · 31/08/2022 08:56

Definitely a course. If she has no qualifications then now before the baby arrives it’s time to get one. Of course you could do a course with a baby, but it will be ten times more difficult.

She’s only six weeks so obviously not showing, I don’t know why people think there would be work discrimination - she doesn’t need to disclose that she is pregnant at an interview, so it shouldn’t make any difference. I did an interview at 5 weeks and didn’t know I was pregnant at the time so obviously it was neither here nor there. If I’d just taken a test the day before then the first people I announced it to would not have been the interviewers!

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 31/08/2022 08:58

My niece was pregnant at 16 but managed to complete a hair dressing course & handed in her final coursework the day before her baby was born! She showed she can work hard, which has led her to eventually finding work as a TA, progressing over the years & eventually becoming a room leader in an autism specialist nursery! And she is still a fabulous Mum too.

A college course would be a great start, she may have to start the course & delay study beyond her due date, but some colleges have nurseries (ours is used by the childcare students as real life experience) so that could be an option too.

I was 19 & completing another A level whilst pregnant; I delayed Uni until DS was 1 (the start age at the Uni nursery) & started my teacher training. It was hard (as a single Mum) & no family support (being a hundred miles away) but awesome. Be her cheerleader, support her as best you can (not financial, emotional support is just as if not more important).

She can do this!

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