Pregnant, severe HG and worried I may fail probation at new job

[DarlingLove]

Started new job in January. Was suppose to be a fresh start and in an industry I’ve always wanted to work in. Job role involves lots of travel and visiting peoples homes. I was all settled in and then found out I was pregnant two weeks into new job. Decided to keep baby. Two weeks after that I was hit with HG and vomiting multiple times a day. I had to tell work. I’m currently 15 weeks.

They seemed fine, they’re a local government sector so ok. They put in a risk assessment and found that it didn’t seem appropriate for me to drive or go on visits due to the sickness so that I’d be at home and just videoing calling people and no office either.

From this, I’ve not managed to meet many colleagues and I’ve had several complaints from my service users that I’ve not been visiting them. I’ve had two serious complaints put in against me about not seeing people in person? These are the only complaints against me. When it was recommended by my manager that I don’t due to the HG. (Which is still ongoing 😰)

I’m trying hard, working into the evening, overcompensating with doing others admin work too so they don’t feel I’m wasting time at home. My pregnancy is also high risk because of a condition I have. My probation finishes in June and I think I’ll be let go. I’m gutted and terrified. I was using this wage to save a bit as I won’t get SMP. I’m not sure how I’ll survive with no job until the baby comes. It’ll be four months before I was planning on taking maternity.

Guess just looking for advice. What would you do?

I wouldn’t overcompensate and I would stop the additional work immediately. Your health is the most important thing.

Have you had a mid probationary period check in? Had ongoing feedback? I guess try and get in writing that your performance is on track. I’d get in writing that you’re not meant to do field visits and that your manager has reassigned your duties / notified service users you’ll be delivering the job remotely. If you’re getting verbal feedback send a quick text or email summarising it.

I had HG with all 3 of my pregnancies, you have my full sympathy. Get signed off, work cannot touch you with a fit for work note. Make sure it says pregnancy HG as pregnancy sickness has to be treated / recorded differently to normal sickness.

Get yourself on some support groups for HG. Unless you’ve had it, you don’t understand how awful it is. I know women who have considered terminations, just to end the HG. I’m still traumatised after what I went through.
Take one day at a time x