Asking for pregnant teachers views after today’s announcement

[Prettylittlelady]

I don’t know what to think at all. I’m 9+4 and getting very stressed out, I was reassuring myself because pregnant women hasn’t been mentioned before up until this point but now we have. But schools remain open.
Anyone in the same situation care to share what they think is best?

Mixed info out there ladies.

Saw this on twitter. 9 women in China had cv late pregnancy and all women and babies fine.

mobile.twitter.com/WarrenMFoster/status/1238365322677293056

I’m not going to be going in now. I think this would come under the risk assessment would it not? Ie. With government advice etc they wouldn’t be able to mitigate the risk and so must either allocate different tasks (I am fully expecting my HOD to ask me to put together some remote learning packs from home) or put you on indefinite full pay sick leave but it doesn’t count towards your normal sick allowance. At least that’s my understanding of the Burgundy Book. Expect the unions will put out some advice soon.

Put your health first because the Government won't.

@GoodStuffAnnie it also needs to be considered that as the virus is so new, scientists have been unable to assess things such as what would happen if the mother had covid 19 in early pregnancy, as the babies have not yet been born. They've also said it's just precaution - they don't feel the risk is necessarily high, but still don't have enough reliable evidence to say it's fine either

The guidelines ask to avoid gatherings in smaller spaces. Each lesson in a classroom is a gathering surely. Even if you open a window. I don't mind losing money, but in this case I won't be working from home.

I'm only 7 weeks and really unsure as to whether I should be going in or not to teach in my secondary school

My midwife has advised not to go into school starting from tomorrow until/unless they hear otherwise.

My school head has replied, saying that the gov advice is possibly only from the weekend, and that there appears to be no extra risk to pregnant women.
With the subtext that I am expected back in school tomorrow morning (don't work Tuesdays).
21 weeks pregnant, have asthma and am under consultant led care due to multiple previous pregnancy losses. Which the school/head knows of.
Have emailed my consultant and my union for their thoughts.

That's terrible. My head said that the advice doesnt compel people but I should do whatever I feel most comfortable with.

Will be interesting to see what the union says. Good luck x

@Vebrithien I'm 29 weeks' and haven't gone into school today on the advice of my mw. Awaiting a call from the GP for further clarification...

My HT has been great and says myself and baby come first and all of this is unprecedented so she understands.

My local midwife advice line has said that at the moment, the advice hasn't been updates, so that cannot advise me to stay off.
So, looks like I'm back to school tomorrow.

All the pregnant people at work including myself Have been sent home to work for 14 days

Hi ladies,

I'm teach in a secondary school and whilst only 8 weeks, HR emailed me this morning to say stay at home.

I feel bad as the school is now incredibly understaffed and a lot of parents have already started to keep children at home... but the govt. need to close schools to safeguard everyone that attends. The staff are more vulnerable than the kids but are forced to go in, it baffles me. 🤯

I'm currently working at home, uploading a sequence of lessons for Y7 should we officially close.

Keep safe everyone. ❤❤

Our school has sent pregnant staff home. If yours are insisting you come in, ask to see the risk assessment. All employers are obliged to do one for pregnant staff. It should have been updated now that the government have clarified that pregnant women are included in the "vulnerable" category.

My daughter's head had told her it's her choice and it's 'only advice' at the moment. She's going to ring get union. Thing is will she get paid if she 'chooses ' to stay at home?

I'm a primary school teacher at a private school (2-18 years). I went in today and told my head I was pregnant (13 weeks). He then sent me home along with 3 other members of staff whom are pregnant too. Didn't really discuss how long for :/
It's all very unknown!

I'm on mat leave from teaching - started yesterday. We phoned public health England last night about my partner who is also a teacher. They advised him to self isolate too... he informed his school and they've been great and said that it's fine, as they have sent home any staff with 'Vulnerable'/ 'Hugh risk' family members anyway.

We're taking each day as it comes and keeping up to date on the guidance....

At this time is and our babies are more important than a few lessons and supply costs.... don't let SLT bully you into doing things you aren't comfortable with! Xx

Babies have been born unaffected despite infected mothers. Doesn't seem to be a major issue, but I totally understand you're concern. So many of us have vulnerable family members/children.

Pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to the consequences of coronavirus than the general population and there is no evidence that the virus can pass to a baby during pregnancy
As a precautionary approach, pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus when they go into labour are being advised to attend an obstetric unit for birth but their birth plan should be followed as closely as possible
At the moment there is no evidence that the virus can be carried in breastmilk, so it is felt the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of coronavirus through breastmilk

Both my school and union have said that it is only government advice, so I have to be in school tomorrow, unless my consultant or GP say I need to stay at home.

Consultant is currently on leave, but her PA is going to email her, so she will phone me. But, it won't be before I need to go back in. I've got 6 classes and tutor tomorrow, roughly 350 different kids.

So I popped into see HR this morning. I told them I was pregnant (10 weeks.) She asked me what I wanted to do and I replied I couldn't stay at school. She said I might not get paid due to chosing to leave. I said I would ring the union to check as I was following government advice. Find out she sent 3 asthmatics home about 10 minutes after me- will they get paid? I hate how unclear everything is!

I teach in a college and HOD sent me home this morning, she didn’t want to run the risk. Have been told I’ll be paid as usual, she also said the college will most likely be closing from next week anyway.

I know most uni’s have closed, my lecturer friends are already teaching their students online which I have been told we may have to with ours although fuck knows what will happen with exams in May.

Just been confirmed, if I don't want to take the risk of being at school, it will be as unpaid leave

That’s horrendously unfair @vebrithien surely you can’t work under government advice and will have grounds to appeal. Good luck.