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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Pregnant women included in high at risk for coronavirus uk what to do now!?

147 replies

NishaaS123 · 16/03/2020 18:52

So just saw Boris Johnson's conference said pregnant women are also added to the vulnerable group and should self isolate!? But what about working pregnant ladies what should they do!? I work for the MOJ which is a goverment department would they be more lenient towards me? What should I do? So confused still have 13 weeks to start maternity leave

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Desperateforadviceplease · 17/03/2020 12:59

@Abbyd222 i am in the same boat. 2 children at school but my eldest is due to take his sats in may so I am worried about keeping them off but my sister ramg this morning telling me the new advice to stay in. So i havent taken them. There is no point risking the health of the baby.
Clearly the government dont want to take too drastic measures so if they have advised pregnant women to self isolate then I bloody well will be!

Although I did want to visit my elderly grandparents today- i dont want to not see them for 12 weeks. Baby due in 8 weeks and I am getting scared to be honest.

Sunnydays60 · 17/03/2020 13:04

@lovelyjubbly12

The hints he was making for after the weekend are for seriously ill people who will be contacted personally by the nhs apparently. It says so on the nhs website... Its unlikely at the moment that we will be asked to do anything other than strict social distancing (If possible!) Possibly for up to 12 weeks (but I'm wondering if the 12 weeks has been misinterpreted by the press as it was only ever mentioned in relation to the seriously ill) .

Vebrithien · 17/03/2020 13:24

Secondary teacher here, 21 weeks pregnant, asthma and on consultant led care due to previous losses.

Both my school and union have said it's only government "advice", and so I have to be in school tomorrow (don't work on a Tuesday) . If I choose to self isolate, without proof of the need from my GP or consultant, then I will not be paid.

Joy of joys!

Sunnydays60 · 17/03/2020 13:34

@Vebrithien

See this is what I mean. How can it be fair that some people are getting sent home with full pay and others aren't?! What union are you with? NEU seemed to suggest that for pregnant women school would need to put measures in place to limit your risk. Whatever that means?! If so they'd have to guaranteed you wouldn't be closer to someone else than what is It, 2m? At any time? Hardly likely in a school?!

Sunnydays60 · 17/03/2020 13:52

Just seen this. Unbelievable. So its a lottery as to how nice your head is... and how much money your school has I'd imagine...

schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-decision-to-allow-pregnant-teachers-to-work-from-home-up-to-heads/

I would definitely be asking what precautions they're taking for pregnant teachers. As that has to be part of the risk assessment?!

Hhdxx · 17/03/2020 13:52

@Vebrithien this is completely unacceptable. They need to keep you away from children. My sister works in a high school and a pregnant member of staff is off. Our school have also sent home people with asthma and diabetes x

Sunnydays60 · 17/03/2020 14:10

That would seem to suggest no one should be staying at home... it just says adjustments should be made where possible (who knows what these adjustments are) and that they're awaiting advice for people who can't work from home. I expect there won't be any official advice. There isn't any for parvovirus and that's been a known actual serious problem for pregnant women for ages!!!

Williams3001 · 17/03/2020 14:34

The news headlines are making some assumptions, which I hope the government will clarify, but this is exactly what the PM said:
"Now, this advice about avoiding all unnecessary social contact, is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions.
[...]
In a few days’ time – by this coming weekend – it will be necessary to go further and to ensure that those with the most serious health conditions are largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks."
www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus-16-march-2020

I understood this as only those with the MOST serious health conditions should self-isolate for 12 weeks, but 'vulnerable' people (over 70s; chronic health issues; pregnant people) should take particular care over the recommended social distancing. The NHS has a list of what counts as 'high-risk' on their coronavirus page here (click on 'Who is at risk?') : www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Sunnydays60 · 17/03/2020 14:50

That's exactly what it means but the problem is for those of us who can't work from home... going to work therefore contradicts advice. It's not a question of self isolating but how to achieve social distancing in certain places of work...

toastandmoretoast · 17/03/2020 14:59

I have just been advised by the midwife I spoke to at my health centre that I should not be going back to work when I am due back this Thursday. I'm 18 weeks pregnant. After explaining that I work in retail and on a checkout she said that this is a particularly high risk area to be working in as I will come into contact with so many people. I have since phoned my work and my manager agrees that it is best after the government advice yesterday that I don't come in at the moment. He told me that as it stands with company policy if you are off with no symptoms it will be unpaid but that this was likely to change by tomorrow. So I am hoping that when I phone back tomorrow I will be told that I am entitled to sick pay.

PurpleRain25 · 17/03/2020 15:10

Anybody else panicking about 20 week scan being cancelled? Mine is scheduled for Monday coming. I rang the hospital this morning to check if it would still be on, and she said she honestly couldn't tell me because everything is changing on an hourly basis and to ring the x-ray department on Monday morning to check. Not very reassuring ☹ what will happen if they do cancel, surely they can't just leave you to it?

WeeDinah · 17/03/2020 15:38

@purplerain25 I'm thinking the exact same, mines is on the 8th of April! It's a pretty important appointment so it's very worrying

soph91 · 17/03/2020 16:32

I have a scan on Thursday at 33 weeks and I called them today. In my hospital they are still going ahead with scans and consultant appts. And I'm sure your 20 week scan has to be between certain weeks for the measurements etc. So I don't think they will cancel them.

november90 · 17/03/2020 16:49

My manager has told me that it's up to us whether we go in or not despite government advice. They haven't yet set up the facility for us to work from home so if we don't go in then we will be unpaid!
Im self certifying myself off with stress for a week as this has just topped me over the edge and I need to think of myself and the baby!
I've got a telephone app with the doctor on Friday to see if they can sign me off following. I feel really annoyed by my works comments about it's up to us whether we go in or not.... we that's obvious but they should be supporting us staying at home as per advice

Yana123 · 17/03/2020 16:52

I am meant to be seeing all the family this Mother's Day to announce the pregnancy, am currently 12+2. Now that we have been added to the high-risk group should I see them and tell them?

Yana123 · 17/03/2020 16:58

P.S. The BBC have an article saying that pregnant women should still attend antenatal appointments.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51925455

soph91 · 17/03/2020 16:59

I've cancelled seeing family this weekend as have a sister of school age and my sister works in a nursery so not risking it.

Hhdxx · 17/03/2020 17:18

@november90 what???? What sort of job do you have?

november90 · 17/03/2020 17:25

@Hhdxx I work in a bush office with about 300 people dealing with home insurance!
They have suggested working from home but said they can't set it up yet so we will just get unpaid if we don't go in. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I feel like my employers aren't taking the risk seriously and that really bothers me! I know a lot are in the same boat as me... it's just really frustrating. My husband left me when I was 24 weeks pregnant, out of the blue, and we share a 3 year old son. I feel like I waited years and hoped and prayed for this pregnancy and it's just all been so difficult and I feel so ungreatful even saying that :(
Sorry for the self pity ladies, I'm just stressed!

Hhdxx · 17/03/2020 17:28

@november90 that's awful. I'm really sorry to hear about this. That's so sad. But remember you are a strong independent woman 😁 do you have a union to contact? Or HR to contact?

november90 · 17/03/2020 17:46

@Hhdxx apparently that advice has come from hr. They will only pay us if we are sick which is fair enough but seeing how they cannot alter our role to fit health and safety for a pregnant person I don't understand how they can say this! It's so frustrating!

Sunnydays60 · 17/03/2020 18:36

It's because the government haven't issued it as official guidelines yet. Just advice to work from home 'if possible'. Screw the rest of us!

Hhdxx you even posted that Iink to an article about doctors and midwives don't even say it's necessary to be staying at home... Not hard for an employer or union to argue the same case! Even education unions are saying that we don't need to stay home so if you've been allowed to you're one of the lucky ones and your employers are actually going against advice...

soph91 · 17/03/2020 18:48

If it were me I would go off with stress if I couldn't work from - let's be honest it wouldn't be a lie !

Mumofapuppa · 17/03/2020 19:09

My work have told me that if I self isolate and have statuatory sick pay, it will effect my maternity pay. I am 12 weeks pregnant and due at the end of September. How unfair!