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?

@partypenguins just spoke to the matron, who said there is no plan to stop pregnant nurses working currently. They are trying to move us from infectious areas but we can just use PPE if we need to. I’m feeling pretty terrified right now! Trying to keep calm...

Most of these experiences sound awful, RCOG have not yet published their updated information. I hope that gives us more support but I somewhat doubt it - we don't even have the correct PPE equipment yet in probably one of the most high risk settings in terms of aerosol generating procedures

I am terrified, but often the fear is worse than the reality. Stay strong ladies

www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/professional-bodies-response-to-government-advice-for-pregnant-women-to-self-isolate/

Says pregnant women to WFH if possible, or employers to modify our role if not.

I was instructed to go home today.

Hi

I'm in a similar situation and they are redeploying me pretty much to the front lines. Occ Health have not given any guidance, just a stock response via email. Our trust advises to work as normal until you get symptoms. I really don't know what to do or where I stand in this situation. I'm a good 3/4 months away from mat leave. This has been a difficult pregnancy thus far and I am getting pressure from family not to go into work. But I don't want to let the team or patients down.

I'm also trying to take each day as it comes but it seems the NHS are desperate to hold onto staff so will not sign anyone off who is fit to work (Or as we were described the other day "full time units")

What was the advice to pregnant health care workers regarding SARS during that outbreak? I wasn't really paying attention when that was happening. But SARS had a link to spontaneous miscarriage. The sample size was very small but there were many adverse affects. There are plenty of places to find reports on that. Whilst Covid 19 and SARS are not the same virus they are both a corona virus with similar types of infection so I would isolate myself for my own peace of mind. This new virus has not been around long enough or been studied enough to know with any certainty how it affects different people with different risk factors. I wouldn't be overly concerned with transmitting the virus to the baby either whilst pregnant or when giving birth. My concern would be the affect on growth and development of the baby before it's born.
Also, there is no question, you put yourself and unborn baby first. If that means acting overly cautiously then that's what needs to happen.

@backfarblackcar totally agree. They have no idea what the impact will be - when a pregnant woman who contracts and clears the virus - on the developing baby. In a sense we are all the test patients and there's almost a suck it and see attitude from the government and our professional bodies.

Their use of "there is no evidence Covid-19 is harmful for pregnant women" is simply a clever use of language.

There is no evidence to base their assumptions on.

Our Board sent all pregnant employees home on Tuesday. Along with all over 70s. And I mean sent them home with immediate effect.

Anonymous nurse do you have a union or could you go to your gp and get a letter to sign you off clinical duties ? It is really unfair for your organisation to put you in that position especially when pregnant women have been classed as an at risk group in the UK and we don’t know enough about this virus yet. I am in Ireland and pregnant women have not been classed as in the at risk group just to “take extra caution” whatever that means. There is very little information available for pregnant healthcare workers. I am off sick this week signed off by my gp. I have heard that some pregnant nurses in other hospitals have been signed off clinical duties and are being moved into admin positions for the time being

Hey everyone. Been following this post for advice. I'm a nurse working on a day unit. I haven't really heard any advice re the statement on Monday and social distancing. Yesterday my matron said if I want to go off I have to take mat leave at 26 weeks and sick until then (23 weeks pregnant atm). I'm not going to do this yet, I don't really think it's fair to be pressured to take your leave now because you have less time with your newborn then.
I have asked for a role that's in an office or something rather than giving treatments etc... Hopefully they can accommodate me for that but they are preparing all my colleagues to be redeployed to wards/ICU so not sure what happens if our day unit stops running.
Am interested in everyone's updates. I agree, it's so hard to know if you are doing the right thing.

It is so hard to know and never have healthcare workers been in such high demand, so it’s easy to feel guilty. But we have our babies to think of at the moment not just ourselves . I contacted my union here for info and they said they will step in on behalf of any pregnant nurses who aren’t redeployed to low risk areas. Might be worth contacting Union if you have one.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/updated-advice-for-pregnant-healthcare-workers-and-employers-during-coronavirus-outbreak/

Latest advice from RCOG.

I was pregnant when SARS was about. I was sent home and told to get gp to write me a sick note.

After a bit of a confrontation I have been moved to admin duties. I have to say that I had to push and push on the issue, request a new risk assesment, and pretty much flat out refuse to work on the front line. All of this makes me feel like a huge coward and that I'm letting my colleagues down. But everytime the little one kicks I know I have done the right thing.

The support and advice is very lacking across the country, my advice is to be your own advocate. Make a decision on what or where you are comfortable working, get support from union or your occupational health department, then take this to your management.

I have been following this post for advice and support, I have been on leave for two weeks and due back into work tomorrow (very nervous). I work as a nurse in a general hospital.

I have just seen this petition, please please have a read and sign it people. Them we can have some more clarity on what is best to do.

chng.it/5vZCmyd7qG

I am 18 weeks pregnant & work in the front line receiving covid patients, as far as I can see people under 28 weeks can work as normal. I find this completely disgusting! If you are pregnant you are pregnant at the end of the day! Why is someone in their third trimester more important than my pregnancy? I feel we are being used as guinea pigs! I am signed off from my gp for 2 weeks but worried as my maternity pay is now going to be calculated. This is all a very stressful situation which is not needed in our positions

@Lolxx I’m really surprised by that I work Bank in ED and have been advised to stop and all the pregnant staff have been sent home indefinitely. It seems like different trusts are acting very differently.

This is a terrible situation to be in and I'm sending my love to all you ladies. I lost a baby before conceiving this baby and an currently 23 weeks pregnant, I work in mental health and am surrounded by colleagues in a small office for staff size, I have been advised to practice social distancing and have no patient contact but I feel I could easily be exposed from being in such close proximity to colleagues, sharing phones and computers etc. I understand the need for nurses and if I was not pregnant I would be working under normal conditions that others are however I am solely responsible for this little life inside of me and I feel because so little is know about covid19 it is not safe to take the risk of being exposed. I am fighting myself with guilt of signing myself off, severe anxiety about becoming infected and possibly affecting my pregnancy and carrying on as normal. I really have no idea what to do. Love to all you ladies please keep safe x

@Applesandlemons I’m Scotland & that was the announcement from the Scottish government today but I’m hopeful things change soon!

@mumof1babe I also had a loss before this so I’m the same as you, I’m taking extra precautions with this baby xx

@Lolxx I'm in Scotland also! Sorry to hear of your loss but so pleased for you being pregnant again it is such a happy/crazy/scary time and I dont feel anyone can make the decisions regarding risk apart from ourselves. As a previous poster said it is like we are Guinea pigs to this and I am not up for that xx

I'm pregnant - not yet in third trimester and a HCP in an acute trust that currently has no confirmed cases. I'm off self isolating with toddler with a cough currently but was called and told from today my department is sending everyone home on full pay to 'work from home' which isn't really possible in our jobs so they're going to try and find something for us to do at some point.. it's really frustrating as that's not what the guidance says but what can you do? 🤷

My trust is firmly sticking to the RCOG advice. Which is absolutely bloody insane, hence any pregnant workers previously sent home are being recalled.

That petition posted earlier is a good start at being heard.

@mumof1babe thank you! I’m sending you lots of happiness & health with your pregnancy! I just want to be able to enjoy this experience & I feel it’s being robbed from us with this covid let alone work being so challenging!

I pray we all get better answers in the upcoming weeks

Im 25 weeks pregnant. Im a community nurse. I’m on annual leave this week, at the end of last week I worked from home phoning patients etc. Are people who were previously sent home to work being asked to continue to be patient facing until 28 weeks? Are trusts aware of this new advice? I doubt my boss will be as she’s not very on the ball. I’m thinking I won’t bring it up, I’ll see what she has planned for me. I feel guilty not helping my team but when I think about being patient facing I feel really anxious