Pregnant teachers- going on day trip

[Gardenspades]

We’re booked to go to a zoo 1 hour away when I’ll be 30 weeks. Is it fair to ask a colleague to swap me?

No.

Why?

You could ask. I was knackered at 30 weeks and couldn’t have walked the length of a zoo. I would need a full days recovery!

Are you feeling really unwell, or have SPD?

I think it all depends on how you’re feeling. If you’re struggling ask.

It’s fine to ask, of course it is. But not with any upset if they won’t.

No but do be careful about touching certain animals.
From a health perspective I mean not a getting eaten by lions perspective

If you're not fit to do your job you could always start your mat leave

Unless you have a medical problem I think it’s unreasonable, what part are you thinking you can’t do? Lots of people have multiple children at 30 weeks and would still have a zoo day out.

I think it’ll just be too much, there’s no resting. I know people go on day trips pregnant all the time but not with 30 kids!

What is your concern? Has a risk assessment been done with this trip and your pregnancy.

God people are being so unsympathetic!! Of course you should ask for a swap. And a risk assessment if no one can swap. How will your loo breaks be covered and will you get to sit down at all during the day.

I think PP are missing the part where you are a teacher responsible for the class of 20 (or more!) students. It’s not like a leisurely day trip where you can sit down whenever you want, take breaks etc. When you take a class as a teacher, you have all the safeguarding responsibilities, and are also responsible for behavioural issues etc. Unless you’ve taken classes for trips, I don’t think you understand what it’s like. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to sit down on a field trip.

OP, I’m a teacher and have 3 DC. At 30 weeks there is no way I’d do a field trip. No one would bat an eyelid if you swapped with a colleague. Or if you requested extra parental presence (depending on age of students). My classroom is up 3 flights of stairs, and by 30 weeks I had the class teachers bring them up and down the stairs, because it was too much for me. Teaching is exhausting at the best of time, without the added pregnancy tiredness.

It’s unreasonable to ask for a colleague to swap for you.

It is however perfectly sensible and professionally appropriate to have a conversation with your manager about the trip, the risk assessment including your health as a pregnant woman and any additional threats to that from a zoo trip, and your capacity to effectively manage a group.

That might conclude that you can’t be ‘counted’ as a whole adult as there are areas that you shouldn’t go into / can’t chase after children - and point towards an extra person. (Or to reassign you for the day).

Check NEU advice about rights at work when pregnant, risk assessment etc. If you aren’t in NEU check your union advice.
When pregnant you are meant to have access to somewhere to rest (which I know you won’t be doing in your regular week) guessing you may need more regular access to toilets too.
A colleague may be happy to swap.

https://neu.org.uk/advice/your-rights-work/family-rights/maternity-rights/being-pregnant-work

I wouldn't ask someone to swap, but I would talk to the trip leader or HT about how the day could pan out, and accomadations you would need. My guess is they will boot you off the trip.

And, yes, at 30 weeks I'd have been more than capable of a day trip with my kids. But school trips are a whole different level of demands, and probably not suitable for a fairly heavily pregnant teacher.

School trip to the zoo is hard work even when not pregnant, I would not want to do it at 30 weeks, no way.

Has the trip been booked?
You'd need a risk assessment and I would have input from your midwife with regards to any issues.
They will writ if they don't belive you could do something.

Personally. Fuck that.

You shouldn't have to arrange the swap yourself.
Ask SLT/HR to sort it out.
Perfectly reasonable request.

I would definitely try to swap if possible.
Very reasonable request imho.

No harm in asking I suppose.

But the average school day is about 6 hours long and part of that will be taken up with transport.

I'm not sure anyone will assume that's too much (assuming a healthy pregnancy), so yes, you'll have to make it known that you don't want to go.

How many other adults are going? What age children?

There's no harm in expressing your concern and asking your manager.

It's not a typical work day. It's an above and beyond, extra physical work and risk assessment stress sort of day.

'Multiple children' of your own isn't a class of thirty to be responsible for! With your family you choose what happens when and you can rest and take your time.

I absolutely would not have been able to do this at 30 weeks. I'm an event manager and did my last conference at 33 weeks and we took an extra staff member so I could sit in one place and instruct and manage from there. Without it I would have struggled big time.

You should absolutely raise it that it may be a difficult day for you. And it's a whole different meaning doing something for work than with your own family. To the pp's who have said they should be able to mention. I think it should be remembered that every pregnancy is different and there's no point pushing yourself too far.