Hit with a ball

[CathyandHeathcliff]

I’m really shaken up. I work in a primary school and kids were playing football for P.E. I was standing there innocently and one of them kicked the ball hard (they’re 6 and 7) it hit me in the lower right hand side of my bump. Where baby normally sits 😔 I went inside as I was so shaken up.
I have felt him move quite a bit since. I also have quite alot of padding because I’m plus size! Should I be worried or is it ok because I’ve felt him?
I feel really unsafe at work, they make me stand outside in the boiling heat and on Thursday we have sports day for 2 hours in the heat of the day!

I'd ring your midwife. I wouldn't leave it. I'd also be asking about your duties in work as it sounds unsafe.

Are you rhesus negative? This could be a sensitising event and might need Anti-D. Call your midwife and get work to redo your risk assessment

You might need to get checked, it depends how hard it was. But if it's any consolation I got kicked, very hard in the bump (karate, apparently they forgot!) when I was 6 months pregnant and we were both completely fine, baby is very, very well protected. It's a tiny bit more of a concern if you are rh- too. If you think it was forceful there is no harm if n getting checked, but I imagine you will be totally fine.

The sun thing sounds crap, can you not take a massive brolly?

I just called the assessment unit and they seem to think it’s ok because I’m feeling him move.

I’m A+ so no issues there.

I had this happen to be during a netball lesson op, I was about 28 weeks I chose to not get checked as he was moving around as usual so I wasn't too concerned.

I agree with a pp about changing your duties though , I was given other things to do during pe after this , stopped supervising the football pitch at break time and was responsible for the obstacle race at sports day.

My son is fine by the way , he's 8 months now.

I can see why you felt shaken op , I hope you've been reassured by the hospital.

Have they done your risk assessment? I'm a primary teacher and had one at 12 and 20 weeks, then told to go back and re-discuss if I felt there needed to be any changes. They specifically talked about how I should not do long periods outside if there was a heatwave - had no expectation that was likely back in April We also talked about how they could cover playground duties if I was feeling unsafe.
Have you told your school what happened? They should probably put it in the accident book which might push them to revise your duties.

I’ve had no risk assessment done whatsoever.

Hmmm. Not sure if that’s something that depends on your area but I thought all employers had to do a pregnancy risk assessment? Might be worth phoning your county HR to investigate? Teaching can be quite a risky job if you’re pregnant do I think that’s really bad form of your head

Tell them that you want a risk assessment in place ASAP, cite this incident as a reason you feel it is necessary. They shouldn't have needed prompting to do this really, although it isn't law that they have to do one, it is good practice, particularly in roles where you might be at risk.

Not sure if ur a teacher or other member of staff but as a teacher at my last school we did not have to do any duties other than teaching when pregnant.

@noenergy I’m Support Staff, I’m attached to a child as their one to one so I don’t have much choice than to be at the sports day

Being at the sports day could be managed.. As long as they allow you to be seated and you take a sun shade, wouldn’t that be ok?

I'm pretty sure every workplace has to do a risk assessment. I work at a desk all day and they still went through a risk assessment with me, we filled out a form and I was told to let them know if anything changed e.g. if I felt I needed a different chair if I was uncomfortable.

While being hit by a ball was probably mainly shock, you should ask your employer to do a risk assessment. It's their obligation to keep you safe, which may include finding another staff member to cover sports day in case you feel faint etc.

I think I remember you posting before OP, and I know you've had issues with anxiety so definitely raise this so you can have some peace of mind at work

@NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking I’m going to ask about a chair and shade but because of needing to be with the pupil I support throughout the afternoon, I don’t know what he will do while I’m sitting on a chair in the shade as I’m supposed to go around the circuit to the different activities with him

Portable chair and sunshade? You don’t have to be away from him then.

@NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking that’s true. Don’t think there are any portable chairs at school, I’d have to order one and I’m not sure it’ll arrive in time.

Unless they put out a chair at every activity station? So you’re not actually carrying anything other that your sunshade?

@NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking I’m not sure they’d go to those lengths for me

Then they’ll have to let you sit out...

I’m a great believer in pregnancy not being an illness (I’ll get hate for that I know!) and it irritates me when pregnant women refuse to do something purely on the grounds they are pregnant (not you).

There’s usually a meeting point however, where compromise is made. If they won’t meet you at that point then you definitely shouldn’t risk anything if they are not willing to put themselves out.

That added to the fact they’ve not even done a risk assessment wouldn’t fill me with hope either.

It's awful working in a school when you're pregnant. I'm secondary and broke up a couple of fights. Got pushed over by a non student who was trying to fight one of ours. Babies are very well protected so I'm sure all is fine but do get checked out to put your mind at ease.

@CathyandHeathcliff I'm a teacher in a secondary school so not exactly the same as you but your school have a duty to take reasonable measures to ensure that you and your baby are safe at all times including sports day. I understand that you work on a one to one but they still have to do what is best for you. You need to speak to whoever is in charge of HR related issues and insist on a risk assessment. They may be able to suggest a solution for sport day that works for you and the student.

@niclw I just feel like a massive inconvience and trouble maker. That’s the way they make me feel. What would the worst happen from standing in the heat and sunshine for 2 hours? If I have water, a hat and sun cream on?

If you are generally fit and well then nothing. But there should be provisions in place for if you did turn light headed etc. I don’t think you should ask not to do your role, but there are relatively easy steps they could put in place to enable everyone to just get on as they should.
You wouldn’t be unreasonable asking for that.