Pregnant Nurse with new guidance RE COVID 19

[TTC1993]

Whats your thoughts on the new advice about pregnant women in high risk category for covid 19? Are you guys still going in to work given we've been told so self isolate now?

I’m a Med Reg and am also concerned by this announcement! I can’t think what I could do if use from home and there are only so many discharge summaries to keep me busy in an office...

I’ll just follow Occy Health instruction and hope that 12 weeks at home doesn’t send me completely up the wall

I've just been on to my occupational health department this evening. The stuff Boris said today has not been officially published yet by PHE, I think they're expecting guidance to be officially updated tomorrow or Wednesday.
I also only picked up social isolation, meaning we avoid unnecessary contact. Obviously with our jobs that's a little tricky but as far as I'm aware currently, pregnant people have not been asked to self isolate completely yet x

@bluebell94 yes that's my understanding too. I'm just going to wait for specific guidance from my trust.
Although we haven't had any maternity cases yet, I dont know what I'd do if we did. There isn't anywhere non-contact for me to work!

I’m a community nurse, so far my work has been normal. Following today’s advice Im not sure what to do. Im 24 weeks pregnant and have thyroid cancer although I’ve had it for years and not having active treatment currently. I’ll see what is said at work tomorrow. I’m not sure if it should be us as pregnant employees taking charge and saying “ I’m not working” or do we follow what the trust wants us to do? So far I’ve been disappointed in the response of my trust and management who only two weeks ago looked at me like I was crazy for asking about Coronavirus!

I’m a HCA. I won’t be returning to work as I’m 26 weeks now.

When they asked about over 70s and whether MPs were included, he said no exceptions.

So no exceptions.

From watching the live announcement they said women in the third trimester are more at risk then those in the first or second the information on mother and baby is very limited so that's why we're now included . The 12 week isolation hasn't come into effect yet but they think it will be put in place by the weekend. So far out of the women who have had this and given birth the baby have shown little or mild symptoms and have recovered well it seems to be the mother who has suffered. But like they said today information is limited at this time abd unfortunately the only way they can get a better understanding is checking pregnant woman and once they have given birth.

My understanding is that being pregnant, we are in the ‘be extra vigilant’ group rather than the high risk group.

It’s only the high risk group such a immunosuppressed transplant patients that are going to be asked to self isolate for 12 weeks.

Pregnant women and over 70s are in the increased risk group

I am also a nurse but work Mon - Fri in a non clinical OH role and then work Bank in Adult ED on the weekends. I was really hoping my Bank shifts would help me save but not sure it’s worth it at the moment so am pausing them for a few weeks until things are clearer.
Would be interested to hear how you all get on and hope they move you to more office based roles in the interim.
I have a lot of the same feelings as above, feel like this is what we train to do feel sad not being able to help our NHS. Feel torn!

Has anyone had support from the trust they work for, I phoned this morning to ask for guidance regarding the new guidelines. I was basically shot down, our trust haven’t changed any policies (although meetings are happening this morning). As I work in a ‘low risk’ area they don’t feel I am at risk. I feel my area of work, busy outpatient department with over 1000 people footfall each month isn’t particularly low risk. I spend prolonged periods (15mins+) of time in close proximity to patients.

Thanks

Just an update guys-

Director contacted me this morning and said i can't come as its not safe. Surely must be the same for all of you if thats coming from the director. I'm off for 14 days initially but looks like thats me off now as I only have 5 weeks of work left before matty leave!

Take care guys xx

Went into work this morning and head teacher has sent all pregnant women home so I have to work from home for 14 days

@TTC1993 I hope you don’t mind I have pm’d you

@Iheardit how do i access my private mails never done it before??

@KittyKat2020 me too... will try to work from home but it will probs be difficult all i can do it phone my patients and check in with them🥴

@TTC1993 I have the same issue as I'm a science technician so there isnt anything I can do really other than emails and online training

@TTC1993 click on the little man I have drawn around in red, and then inbox

@towerse have you had any further guidance? I also work in an ICU and have been in (unprotected) contact with these patients already, some staff isolating now... very poor advice so far and occy health apparently oblivious to any increased risk so far

@Iheardit i dont have that layout im on the app??

@partypenguins every nhs board should have the same protocol, that sounds like your manager is keeping you there without following the correct procedures, don't put yourself at risk any further your pregnant you'd never forgive yourself. Take care hun xx

Thanks @TTC1993

Our manager is great and gave me the night off at last minute so I could get more advice. It's the higher "powers that be" that we need to contend with, naturally the ones who have probably never set foot on the frontline

I’m a nurse on the frontline of it all with receiving suspected covid patients! I was told yesterday to come in for my shift as normal! I feel very unsupported with all this & I would never forgive myself if something happened to my baby or myself due to work. They don’t know enough about this virus so it’s concerning, they can only tell us what they know at this time but I feel like erring on the side of caution is better than risking mines & my baby’s health on something unknown!

I'm glad they've made the right decision xx

I'm just waiting for advice from the trust execs and our manager has a meeting at 2pm. I think my worry is that if they tell me to work and I dont think the risk is worth going in, I'll be forced to either take unpaid leave indefinitely and / or forced to take mat leave as soon as they can (is it after 36 weeks?)

Im just baffled how all NHS boards are acting differently.. it should all be the same. How can the director where i work say i can't come to work for the next 14 days at least and then other boards have their nurses out. Can't help but wonder are line managers just keeping people in the dark so they have staff despite the high risks associated with pregnant women still working amongst it. Can't understand that scary stuff!

I'm a HV and 12 weeks pregnant. I've spoken to my manager and she said because it's 'guidance' she can't tell me what to do but would support me in whatever. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to be doing home visits really. Baby clinic is busy too.