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?

The only way we will know it doesn’t affect pregnant women or their babies is when all pregnant women infected from the very beginning have come through the other side with healthy babies so seeing as this virus began in January in China, we should have a more idea about any affects if any 9 months from then. Until then it’s not rocket science to put the ‘unknown’ into an ‘at risk’ group. I’m being extra careful as I’m pregnant as Boris and my midwife advised, I don’t really need to listen to anyone else’s opinion and @Silverski5 neither do you, we know what Boris said!! Better safe than sorry I say. Good luck with your pregnancy x

Well it depends on your comprehension skills, to me it is clear that the PM was first referring to a broad list of "vulnerable" categories of people (including pregnant women) and then referring to a separate smaller group of people with "the most serious health conditions" who would be given more advice within a few days. (When that happened the list of extremely vulnerable did not include all pregnant women, only those with additional health conditions.)

Admittedly there was room for some confusion as to how exactly the announcement should be interpreted, but the government guidelines which were published that evening did give more detail about what pregnant women should do - nothing at all about isolating for 12 weeks:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults
(This link was live on 16th March because I emailed it to my boss.)

Just to clarify, I am not disputing that pregnant women are in the "vulnerable" category, just that there is a distinction between the "vulnerable" and "extremely vulnerable", and only the latter have been advised to shield for 12 weeks. Obviously the rest of us still need to follow the social distancing guidelines and may or may not choose to be even more cautious - I guess you can shield if you want, but it certainly hasn't been advised by the government and never was.

However you interpret what Boris said, not even Boris knows how this virus might affect pregnant women. Not even you @NameChange30 How can anyone say that this virus does not put pregnant women and their babies at risk until women affected in the earliest cases have given birth. The earliest cases in China have not yet given birth so nobody knows!! Meaning until they do they are classed as more at risk whether Boris says it or not, it’s not hard to understand. Covid 19 was not around 9 months ago. Chinese women in their first trimester who got the virus in January have not given birth yet, when they have and they all have unaffected babies then I’ll be happy there’s no risk. Anyway I’m going by the facts and proof so far (which there isn’t much of) so I don’t really need to listen to anymore of your ‘knowledge’

Ah do keep posting it's amusing me that you keep repeating yourself and also that you're on first name terms with the prime minister

But no one has said they are in the ‘extremely vulnerable’ group!! We know they are not @Silverski5 only said they were in the at risk group which they are

Lol sorry is it against the mumsnet rules to call someone by their first name 😂 I’m glad I’m amusing you, you’re boring me, goodnight 😘

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

Yes, at risk.
No, not advised to self isolate for 12 weeks.
Only the "extremely vulnerable" have been advised to do that.

And now I'm repeating myself (the phrase banging head against brick wall springs to mind ) so I am off to bed.

Best of luck to you all, it's certainly not easy being pregnant during these times

@NameChange30 Not that you probably need the support, but I agree with your interpretation. Government advice from the offset regarding pregnant women was/ is that we are "vulnerable" and therefore should strictly social distance. Shielding is only for very high risk people (the ones who have received a government letter).
To be honest, I think the difference between self-isolating and strictly social distancing is probably minimal. I'm not going to the shops. I've only been out to walk my dog in the last 3 weeks (I'm 30 weeks now and WFH).
OP, if you have the opportunity to work from home/ stay at home, I would take it personally. This is coming from a pregnant GP, if that makes any difference.