Fellow pregnant teachers -how are you feeling about Coronavirus?

[mouse1234567]

Hi all,

Teacher here -26 weeks pregnant. Just wondering how everyone else is feeling about working in schools and the spread of coronavirus? I’m feeling quite vulnerable and although it’s great that kids don’t seem to suffer badly from Coronavirus -I feel a bit like Boris doesn’t really care too much about the staff who work at schools and may suffer more! I understand it would cause huge social disruption-but also find it frustrating when I’m hearing about others working from home!

Also interested to hear if you schools are taking any special measures?

All the best.

Hi Nishanive seen a case announced in the news saying that a new born has been diagnosed in London and they are trying to figure out if it contacted the virus through the womb. This has really worried me and I feel like it's the start of more cases like this happening.
I'm 25 weeks and very very scared.

You need an adequate risk assessment really. I've been frontline healthcare for years and have worked through all four of my pregnancies, nursing people with flu, meningitis, HIV. It's all about appropriate contact and scrupulous hygiene. Try not to worry too much

I am extremely early in mine and I mentioned to my head of department because I work with chemicals and I was due to take a school trip abroad in two weeks time. I would advise mentioning it if possible as I’ve been advised I will be risk assessed over the weekend and may need to stay home. Just make sure someone know as we don’t know what this virus may be like 😊

@mouse1234567 I know, it's really annoying. I'm the same - feeling those lovely reassuring movements and now this to worry about. Personally, I'm going to take it all on a day by day basis and see how I feel.

Tbh, I do think it's just a matter of time until schools do close, just not sure how long until we get there.

I'm probably going to get so much hate for suggesting this but in all honesty if it's going to make some of you/us feel better, don't go in. Don't go on early maternity leave - you can't be forced until 4 weeks before EDD. Instead I'm sure there are other pregnancy related ailments some of you could have which mean you need a bit of time off or you could self isolate for 7 days with mild symptoms or you could be completely honest and be off with anxiety and then reassess the situation in a couple of weeks when the government guidance will inevitably have changed. Don't "waste" your maternity leave unneccessarily. Boris is already expected to do a U-turn on crowded events. Ultimately we/you have to put yourselves/your babies first. No one else is and Boris doesn't even know/care that we exist.

The likelihood is that if we did catch the disease we would be absolutely fine and our babies would be too. Otherwise there would be much more in the media about its impact as there must have been pregnant women across the world who have had it. It might also even be good for the baby to develop immunity. However, for a very few of us (like the pregnant woman in the news with pneumonia) things could be worse and I don't think any of us would be able to forgive ourselves if something went wrong.

@Zest11 yes you are so right. I do think we are very likely to recover well from it but I do believe we have to put ourselves first.

Day by day us sensible. I don’t feel it’s so widespread just yet that I can’t go in but I am nervous. It’s just so hard when you feel a commitment to your job isn’t it -I just hope we get news from the government at the end of the week. I hope it’s not two more but also wondering if he will make us push till the end of week 5. I guess time and numbers will tell.

Def feel pretty helpless and like it’s out of our control.

I'm 14+3 and wasn't overly worried until I read the news about the newborn baby contracting it yesterday. I'm not so much worried about me getting it, it's the fact that nobody knows for definite what the effects would be on the baby yet. I'm 0.4 and fortunately working in a non-class based SENCo role at the moment so I can plan to do more of the paperwork side of things and shut myself away in my office for now as much as I can. I also have lots of work that I could do from home if it comes to that. My headteacher emailed something to us all from the DfE a couple of days ago asking all staff to declare to the headteacher if they fall into any of the vulnerable categories and they included people who are advised to have a flu jab under medical advise as pregnant women; it said they will need a separate risk assessment for preventive procedures so I'm hoping that would put us in the first group of people to move to working from home if measures come in.

@mouse1234567 yes I agree that it's not widespread enough just yet but I guess it depends on peoples' local areas. I know how you mean about the commitment side of things. We are close to the end with exam classes and I just want to give them as much preparation as possible. But I also want my baby to be as strong as possible before I contract the disease in the low chance event I do develop complications.

Hopefully this will offer some comfort to people for now at least (sorry it's the Daily Mail). The newborn baby is doing well and it doesn't appear the virus was caught in the womb.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8113665/Newborn-baby-worlds-youngest-coronavirus-victim-danger-recovering.html

Hello all,

I just wondered what everyone’s thoughts are now that the new guidance from the government includes pregnant women in the ‘vulnerable’ category? The new advice indicates that pregnant women should take special notice of the social distancing guidelines.

I’m 25 weeks pregnant and teach reception 3 days a weeks so work very closely with 4/5 year olds. Social distancing is therefore unavoidable! Should I go into work when I’m next due in on Wednesday, or should I stay at home? What are others doing?

I take my job very seriously and wouldn’t think twice about going in were I not pregnant. My husband and I have been trying for 6 years to have a baby, had multiple rounds of ivf and suffered three miscarriages. We were over the moon to fall pregnant naturally last October and my husband doesn’t want me taking any risks (although I understand them to be low and that pregnant women are now in the vulnerable category as a precaution).

What are other pregnant teachers doing in light of this new announcement?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Shorty K x

@ShortyKoalaKay My HOD is trying to get hold of our Head and has asked me to set cover to be on the safe side. I've also been told to go and see him first thing and ask what he wants me to do. Like you I wouldn't think twice about going in if I wasn't pregnant but don't want to put myself at risk. If I don't hear anything tonight I'll go in and ask him what the course of action is according to the LEA first thing.

Hi all. So I have told work I won’t be going in tomorrow now. My head did speak to me yesterday evening and understood it could be an extra risk to me. I feel awful letting school down and am sure some will think it’s unnecessary but we have to put ourselves first and going to school is not what I call “essential contact” .

What re others doing?

Exactly the same, just spoken to my head. I won't be in work from tomorrow 👍🏻 a very scary time!

My husband is a teacher - so will still be exposed to everything 🥴

Now with the extra measures, does anyone know what the repercussions on pay would be if we were to isolate for the 12 weeks?

No way should any of us be going in in light of this announcement where we have specifically been targeted. I have offered to create some resources at home.

Spoken to my Head - been told not to go in under any circumstances but I have said of course I will mark all of my work from home once it's been posted out to me. Luckily my Y11 have been taught everything on the spec and everything we're doing now is revision so no panicked parents. Worrying times.

I'm only 7 weeks and teach in a secondary school. Really unsure of how to play this.

I currently sit on SLT so really do feel a pressure (only from myself) to go in

I really do feel heads don’t have much to stand on with the latest advice. We really shouldn’t be expected in and hopefully you can all explain this to your heads and they allow you off. Schools should hopefully be closed end of this week or next?!

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile That’s a really interesting point. I think it might be worth calling our unions to see if they can give any further information.

I think after seeing everyone’s posts, I’m not going to go in. There’s so little known about this virus, I’m just not prepared to put my unborn baby at risk.

Same here ladies! I wasn't going to go in but apparently this guidance is 'in the next few days' so I think I'm going to have to go in.
Super stressed thou!!!

Fellow pregnant teacher here. I am 10 weeks with my second and have asthma. Has anyone spoken to the unions to see where we stand with pay?

@Coi123 my head has said that because it's his decision for me to not be in to protect me, it'll be full pay for the duration. Not sure how if works if you just don't go in though - I would assume you'd still be paid but as sick. I think schools will close this week anyway in which case they'll pay staff.

I'm 11 weeks, have asthma and teach secondary. Lots of kids were off yesterday so my classes were only half full and I tried to distance myself from them as much as I could. My partner isn't keen on me going into work but I'll go in today to get a few things and speak to my HOD and take it from there.

Hi everyone, 19 weeks pregnant here. My deputy head actually beat me to it and I woke up this morning with a text from them saying not to come in. Feels bizzare doesn't it xx

Thanks @Frankincense88 and @permanentlyshattered1. I am speaking to our HR soon to ask can I work from home (I was going to suggest planning etc) until I speak to the midwife and unions. I’ll just go in later today if she says I have to go in 😫

@Coi123 That's a good idea - I've said for school to send all of my Y11 marking home and I'll make resources for teachers covering my lessons and do all my marking from home. Y11 also have my school email to send me additional essays done as revision too. Hope it's not for too long but I got the impression speaking to my HOD last night that schools will close this week anyway.

I'm going in today but I emailed HR and my HoD last night saying that it would be the last day. Not spoken about post yet but on the NASUWT website it says people who are self isolating shouldn't be penalised for it so should be full pay. Can't see them staying open past next week so everyone will be in the same boat soon!