Pregnancy and Exams? Am I being unreasonable?

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Hello,

I am currently 17 weeks pregnant and in my second year of University. I will 4 exams around May time (each lasting around 3 hours), when I will be 6/7 months pregnant. I have contacted my student support advisor asking if it was possible for me to take my exams in a separate room for the following reasons:

I need the toilet about every 30 minutes at the moment, which will only be worse I can imagine as I get further on

I can feel very light headed which might be made worse in a warm exam hall

I might need to walk around if I begin to get a sore back during the exam

I all thought this was pretty reasonable but I have been told that I am not allowed a separate space as I do not have a ‘long term disability’. Am I being unreasonable at thinking this is a bit unfair? The support worker has suggested I just let an invigilator know I am pregnant, but I still feel uncomfortable with the idea of leaving a busy hall multiple times in front of around 500 other people and disturbing them! I assumed they would make some allowances for pregnant women in the same way a workplace would have to?

Any advice on how I could argue this? Or do I just have to put up with the situation?

Thanks

Personally I would say put up with it and agree IRS not a disability your pregnant and many pregnant woman have taken long exams at uni no problem, you could though see about them giving you a different chair and taking in a cushion for your back to make things easier, when you get to 6 to 7 months the toilet has eased slightly but will come back at 8 months until birth so you might not need as much as you think also maybe drink little but often during exam to help with this x

OP, this is ridiculous!

Of course you don't need a separate room for being pg! If you need to go to the toilet, you take toilet breaks, like every other candidate. The sore back ... sorry, that's not any kind of reason for a separate room, you'll have to manage for the 3 hours. A warm exam hall is very unfortunate, but could affect others equally who are not pregnant but might have a tendency to faint.

I'm not saying studying and doing exams while pregnant isn't challenging but lots about pregnancy and, well, life, is challenging e.g. working or having other small children, having to travel long distances etc. It's not great but it is what it is.

Best of luck with exams and baby.

Many universities have a student maternity policy - have a look and see if yours does. I certainly know of universities where exam adjustments would be available in pregnancy, so it's not a ridiculous ask.

There may also be an advice service that can help you?