Key worker and pregnant

[Silverski5]

Hi all, I have just found out that I'm finally pregnant with my first. I'm nervous and worried as it is and then theres this coronavirus situation on top of that.
I am a key worker in a busy food warehouse with over 1000 staff over the 3 shifts. I know that initially the government classed pregnant women at one of that at risk groups and advised they should self isolate for 12 weeks.
I dont think that is the case now BUT on my company website its says I can choose to be off for 12 weeks if I feel at risk or unsafe and I would be paid in full.
My first question is, should I do it? What would you do? My fiance works at the same place and he thinks I should.
Next question is what would I tell my work colleagues? I'm only 4+1 so very very early days and we planned on waiting until after 12 weeks to tell anyone.
What should I do?

Anyone?

Pregnant women do not need to self-isolate unless they have other underlying conditions (such as heart problems). Pregnancy on its own does not really do anything. The official advise was worded in a way where they left it to employers- I work in a school and some schools sent pregnant staff home, and some expected them to still turn up. Maybe someone can correct me if this is wrong but in education at the very least this is what happened.
4 weeks is early... I know ladies who told their employers early just in case, and some who waited until the first scan at 12 weeks. I don't think there is any harm in telling your line manager in this situation so that they know and can adjust workload if necessary.

I think it's best to discuss this with your line manager. They wouldn't want to put you at risk. Pregnant women are higher risk due to their low immunity.

I would definitely discuss it with you employer. I had to tell my boss at 4 weeks and they were very discreet about it.

Pregnant women are still in the vulnerable (not shielded group).
I'm not sure why you wouldn't stay off and take care of yourself.

Thanks everyone, im going to speak to my manager monday and see what he says

28 weeks plus definitely need to isolate as immune system compromised in the third trimester.

Guidelines say that for 1st and 2nd trimester the woman’s preference to work from home or not should be respected. I’m NHS staff and in my first trimester. I told my work and they have totally supported me in staying home for the next 12 weeks. I am doing this as the impact of Covid on the 1st trimester is unknown. I think put your own needs above work right now

Although the impact isn't known, what is known is that a sustained high temperature can be harmful to a foetus.
I'm almost 8 weeks pregnant, I've been at home for a month now except for exercise and necessary shopping trips (DH has asthma so I feel I'm the least vulnerable out of us).

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

"I know that initially the government classed pregnant women at one of that at risk groups and advised they should self isolate for 12 weeks."

No they didn't. Pregnant women were only ever in the "vulnerable" group and strongly advised to follow social distancing guidelines and wfh if possible. Pregnant women were never in the "extremely vulnerable" group advised to shield for 12 weeks - not unless they also have certain health conditions (respiratory ones).

There are several organisations which are sharing excellent advice on this: RCOG and Maternity Action are two of the most comprehensive and helpful.

If your employer is offering 12 weeks leave on full pay, you might as well take it. But do consider the timing, too. If the situation is the same in 3 months, will you be able to take another 12 weeks off?

Perhaps you could consider whether there is any useful work you could do at home or working in a separate room or area at work, to limit your contact with others as much as possible.

@NameChange30 OP didn’t say pregnant women were in ‘extremely vunerable group’.
What she said is true that the government classed pregnant women as in the most at risk group and said they should self isolate at home for 12 wks (this was before compulsory lockdown was introduced) I watched it when it was announced in mid March, google it

I'm pregnant myself so I can assure you I was paying attention. That's not what they said.

I'm a key worker and found out I'm pregnant yesterday however I am still going to be going to work.

If I took 12 weeks off I'd get no pay as I'm on zero hours.

Congrats. I too am recently pregnant (5 weeks) and frontline. I'm agency though, not in a permanent role. They have said I need to take SSP, which is £90/week so if I was offered being on FULL pay, I'd take it!!!

I'd suggest reading the info from Royal College obstetricians. It basically says pregnant women should work from home where possible, but its ultimately down to the women to decide. My company said they cannot enforce I don't book shifts, as it would be discrimination, but recommended the SSP and staying at home. I have asked for any WFH jobs if they come up though.

My understanding is that pregnant women are vulnerable, but only deemed to be in the highest risk, shielded group if they also have underlying heart problems.

Pregnant women told to stay at home for 12 weeks after being added to the at risk group

Congratulations!!
I am 9 weeks pregnant and told my work at 5 weeks.
A high temperature in the first trimester can lead to miscarriage and abnormalities and they don't know how the virus affects babies in the first and second trimester.
I am not going to work for the next 10 weeks.
If you have the chance to, I would go off work.
But I am a worrier and always think of the worst case scenario.

To clarify, pregnant women (at least before 28 weeks) are not required to self isolate and this has never been the case - please take information directly from gov website or RCOG as the advice has been skewed by some papers. www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/#general

It's a tough situation. I'm 8 weeks and had to tell my manager a few weeks ago as I'm a nurse and was required to work with potentially positive patients. I'm fortunate that I'm able to WFH and do phone consults but I think under these exceptional circumstances, we need to look after ourselves and if that means telling a couple of people before we're ready then so be it unfortunately. Best of luck x

As for what to tell co-workers, it depends how often you speak to them? If you were off, you they call you? Could you say you are isolating as X in your family has a symptom, then 2 weeks later x in the family now has something? If they speak to you all the time outside work, this may not work, but might give you a few weeks grace.

I personally hate to lie, but have only told my boss about pregnancy and no one else either, not even family.

@gg321
Thankyou. I know they said this 100% when the guidelines for vunerable people were first mentioned, before the lock down. I watched it on the tv and sat and cried because it was just another reminder that I still wasnt pregnant ( who knew it was just around the corner eh?)
I will speak with my manager on monday and seek his advise as I'm really concerned about miscarriage as I've had 1 previously.

@gg321
What's the source of that image?
I don't think it's gov.uk
After the announcement on 16th March I read all the guidelines very carefully.
That is not what they said.

From the PM's statement on 16.3.20:

"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

Reported in the Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/pm-tells-britons-to-avoid-non-essential-contact-with-others

@AnotherEmma, it was all over the news after Boris’ statement on 16-03, just listen to it. @Silverski5 I remember it well and I cried too as I’m pregnant(doesn’t take a lot to set me off these days 😂

The relevant parts of the speech are above, with a link to the full transcript if you want to check.
As bluebell said, some media won't have reported with full accuracy but the guardian article I shared was accurate.
People who want to panic will put 2 and 2 together and make 5.

I appreciate the media will sometimes bring on panic and make things sound worse but the fact is pregnant women have been placed in a more at risk group, the main reason for this is because it’s unknown how it affects pregnant women and their unborn babies. As my midwife told me so far luckily all the earliest evidence from China where the virus began is positive but it’s still unknown how it affects mother and baby of virus caught in early pregnancy as the earliest cases from China havent got as far as birth yet as it’s a new disease, this is why they’ve been placed in the at risk group as it’s not been proven it doesn’t affect them. Chances are it doesn’t but it’s the unknown! It’s also a fact that a women’s immune system is suppressed during pregnancy again making them more vulnerable. Say otherwise if you like but this is fact not just my opinion or from reading untrue media. @Silverski5 agrees with me anyway 😀

@NameChange30
The information you just posted shows exactly what I and others have said, that is what was initially said about the people at risk. I am aware this has now changed to pregnant women with heart conditions etc as I already said in my original post.
Why it means so much to you wether I self isolate or not I dont know.