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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this appointment is pregnancy related?

16 replies

Sodapop1 · 07/12/2023 22:44

I have an appointment for the whooping cough vaccine as I’m 23 weeks pregnant. So far my work have been accommodating with appointments but most have coincidentally fallen on days I’ve had annual leave booked or been very early in the day so not impacted on work too much.

I mentioned to my manager I needed to pop out for the vaccine next week and would only be 40 minutes or so but he’s not happy about it and said I’m having too many appointments. I thought this would count as pregnancy related and therefore I could take the time off for it? I volunteered to use my lunch break although I know I strictly don’t have to. AIBU?

OP posts:
flowerchild2000 · 07/12/2023 22:45

Yes its pregnancy related.

Noodleface99 · 07/12/2023 22:47

Yes it’s pregnancy related, are they even allowed to say no? I thought it was the law? Could be making that up though

grumpycow1 · 07/12/2023 22:48

Ring “Pregnant Then Screwed” for advice if they are starting to discriminate against you…

MadMadamMimz · 07/12/2023 22:49

You have a right to time off for pregnancy related appointments and the Whooping Cough vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women by the NHS (and it says so on their website). You may wish to remind your employer of this if he dares raise it with you as an issue.

ColleenDonaghy · 07/12/2023 22:52

It is pregnancy related, but I always just had mine at a regular appointment. What a pain to have to attend just for the vaccine! You could ask if you need a separate appointment for it? Regardless, it is a pregnancy related appointment.

Badgerandfox227 · 07/12/2023 22:53

Definitely pregnancy related, it’s for the health of your unborn child. I had a high risk pregnancy with about 7 scans but lots of midwife appointments and tests. My employer didn’t bat an eyelid.

Original poster
Sodapop1 · 07/12/2023 22:54

@ColleenDonaghy yes unfortunately I have to make a separate appointment for it!

OP posts:
Badgerandfox227 · 07/12/2023 22:56

honestly makes you wonder if he thinks you enjoy going to all these appointments and it’s not just a lot of faff for you too 🙄

Nicole1111 · 07/12/2023 23:02

Remind him that pregnancy is a protected characteristic under the equality act of 2010.

SpringerLink · 07/12/2023 23:03

I don't think your manager has a clue what lots of appointments looks like! I have a scan every 2 weeks, I was admitted several times for 2-5 days each time, and ended up taking about 5 weeks off with terrible hyperemesis.

You are definitely allowed time off for the vaccine appointment and your employer can't prevent you getting pregnancy related care.

Wheelz46 · 07/12/2023 23:32

Most definitely entitled to it, my employer was terrible when I was pregnant. I made sure all my midwife appointments fell on my day off so I only had my scan appointments off so 2 pregnancy absences in total.

I then needed a jab further into my pregnancy and the only appointment I could get was in my working hours. They were really shirty with me about it, saying it would be holiday and that it wasn't really pregnancy related as a doctor would be administering the jab and not my midwife. I pulled up the pregnancy policy to them, they really were not happy, wanted me to get my midwife to write a letter to basically say, I wasn't lying. An appointment card wasn't good enough, I was fuming so I reported them to our HR, they came back with their tail between their legs!

Had my jab and came out with a nice little sick note and there was absolutely nothing they could do!

Haveyouanyjam · 08/12/2023 11:20

Definitely iron this out now as you will have appointments every two weeks toward the end of your pregnancy so they need to get used to it! The law is that you are allowed time off for antenatal appointments. This is an antenatal appointment and comes under your antenatal care. You wouldn’t have booked it if you weren’t pregnant.

If they comment again email with the information about your entitlement.

Haveyouanyjam · 08/12/2023 11:22

As below

To think this appointment is pregnancy related?
Tandora · 08/12/2023 11:24

he’s…. said I’m having too many appointments

Sorry come again? Is he your doctor?? This is totally illegal. Call pregnant and screwed. Maybe ask for an appointment with HR to discuss the maternity policies? You need to address this , as it doesn’t bode well for what’s to come if he’s willling to make such a brazenly discriminatory statement.

chocolatefiends · 08/12/2023 11:58

Absolutely definitely pregancy related: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/whooping-cough-vaccination/#:~:text=When%20should%20I%20have%20the,he%20or%20she%20is%20born.

I had LOADS of pregnancy related appointments and my work never had a problem with any of them. You boss sounds either un-informed (he might just not be aware this is a pregnancy thing - I never realised pregnancy women got the whooping cough vaccine until I was pregnant) or he might be a crap boss.

If its the latter then I wouldn't offer to do this in my lunch break - that's just the start of a slippery slope where you won't get what you're entitled to.

nhs.uk

Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy

The whooping cough vaccination is recommended for all pregnant women, ideally between 16 and 32 weeks pregnant. Find out how this vaccine may help protect your baby's health.

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/whooping-cough-vaccination#:~:text=When%20should%20I%20have%20the,he%20or%20she%20is%20born.

Jan012 · 25/05/2024 01:54

Anyone had whooping vaccine at 16 weeks pregnant and baby is ok? I want to hear your experience please. I had the vaccine at 16 weeks and now worried maybe it’s too early.

Thank you.

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