Pregnant working for royal mail

[pregnantpostie]

Hi,

I am a postie for royal mail and have just found out I'm pregnant, guessing about 6-7 weeks.

I told my boss on Friday and he wants to do a risk assessment tomorrow.

Does anyone know if they'll be happy with me continuing in my current role? Or even if it would be sensible?

I have to carry bags that weigh around 16kg and walk around 3 miles a day.

Had some morning sickness issues last week but managed to get through my walk and have been feeling increasingly tired and have a lack of energy.

Does anyone have any advice about what I need to ask/say during the risk assessment?

Thanks

Lifting could be an issue as the hormones in pregnancy mean it's a lot easier to injure yourself. Also, tiredness is a common issue -and even if it eases in the 2nd trimester, it then comes back in the third!

Hi, I used to work for RM although not as a postie. I went through a pregnancy risk assessment... it involved questions about what aspects of my job might have been an issue with pregnancy, and what might become an issue later on. For me, I was in a desk job so there wasn't too much.

I can't see that they would have a problem with you continuing your walks for now, but you may want to discuss with your manager what the process will be if it does become a problem later. It should be the beginning of an ongoing conversation I think (hopefully you have a good relationship with your manager).

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply.

Think I'm being naive believing I can continue in my current role. Not sure my boss will see it the same way though. They've never had to deal with this before, no other women in the office!

Thanks mostlycheese.

I can breakdown the bags to make it easier but that will mean going over my time most days. I do have a good relationship with my boss but not sure how much he will understand!

Can you not have a trolley to help with the weight issue?

Other than that, it will need to be a thing that is looked at periodically and see how you are.

Would there be a possibility of breaking your bags down and having one of the drivers meet you at a certain point with the rest?

Your boss will probably just look to you for guidance, so try to think through all your own questions.

Thanks for the reply.

We don't have trolleys at our d.o, well just one for the town walk which a disabled member of staff needs.

I think i'll be able to cope for a few months, just have to be careful and stop jumping over walls etc.

Mostlycheese, I do my walk from my car anyway so breaking down the bags is not a problem, I don't use pouch boxes at all.

can i be cynical? The risk assessment is to cover your employer if anything should happen to you that harmed yourself or the baby whilst in work.

It gets done at the beginning and then periodically throughout your pregnancy if I remember correctly. (ds3 was the first time I had a risk assessment. I didn't know they existed prior to him)

As a pregnant employee they have a duty of care towards you. They should also have a policy on what reasonable adjustments you can expect from them whilst pregnant.

The suggestion of a trolley is a good one. You may not feel you need it now - but trust me you will be grateful for it. Regular rest breaks is another thing I think you're entitled to.

Tbh if you're not sure I would ask them if you could have a look at the policy first and possibly chat to occupational health. hth.

Thanks nellie, great idea at looking at the policy, i'll ask my union rep for it when I get in and also see if he has any advice.

I can ask about the trolley, maybe they could borrow one from another d.o for in a few months. I just don't want to be a burden to them, I don't want them to see me as a 'problem'!

you're not a problem. Remember they do have a duty of care towards you and the baby. I think most of us feel that way with the first (I'm assuming it is ) and most of us carry on with things we wouldn't dream of doing in subsequent pregnancies, having learnt our lesson.

I do a physical job too so can empathise. My back is knackered from pregnancies and lifting so please dont worry about being a nuisance.

hopefully they'll be supportive.

Thanks that does put my mind at rest, and yeah its my first.

I hope they will be supportive, maybe they'll give me a nice driving job (wishful thinking)!