Pregnant and working during COVID19

[stepmumwarwick91]

Hi mums!
I need some advice if you could

I'm 10 weeks pregnant today (woo!) and I was asked to go back into the office last week after being off for 7 weeks furloughed.
I have no issues with this at all, I made my employer and direct manager aware that I am pregnant only because of this virus.

I waited to tell my mum I'm back in work until this week because I knew she'd have a right barney over it and no surprise she did!
She's been non stop texting me for 2 days now with all this info that I should be shielding and should be working from home etc... and she's driving me crazy!

I can do parts of my job from home, not all of it, and there are so many benefits from being in the office, I have all I need there and I have no kids running around.
Also, I can't afford to stay on furlough as with many other people that have been furloughed so I'd rather work and get full pay if I can.

There is nothing to say pregnant women are kore vulnerable than anyone else to this virus and they are 'clinically vulnerable' as a precaution BUT am I being an idiot going back into the office during this pandemic when pregnant? Or is my mum being a complete pain in the arse for no reason?

Just abit of clarification would be nice

Depends how you’ll get there, how distanced you’ll be while there, how diligent you you will be about opening kitchen or bathroom doors and then washing hands before touching anything else.

It is a tricky one and it's not the most ideal time to be pregnant is it, so I feel your pain!
I'm a nurse but in a private clinic and have been able to do some work from home (as my whole team has) the past few weeks but will be going back in to work in 2 weeks time - I'll be 16 weeks then. I won't be seeing patients but will be working in a building with lots of other people but with social distancing and lots of changes throughout the whole place, as I'm sure most other places are too. The RCOG states that women under 28 weeks are at no higher risk that they know of but must follow the same levels of social distancing as anyone else, then be more stringent for the 3rd trimester. I plan on working relatively normally until 28 weeks then will work from home again.
It's a scary and uncertain time without the additional worry of money isn't it. I would say that as long as you're strict with social distancing and precautionary measures, there's no reason you need to stay at home until 28 weeks anyway. Having said that, guidance will change as we know more so keep an eye on that but that's all you can do I think. We certainly as a general rule have never been told to officially shield or stay home completely at the moment x

I’m going back to work in June . I’m 14 weeks pregnant at the moment . I’m looking forward to it actually as my mental health hasn’t been great in lockdown . I know it’s not ideal however I can’t work from home with my role . I will be careful though and at any point if I don’t feel safe then I will speak my employer!

I know a lot of people think I’m crazy too but I honestly feel fine about it 🤷‍♀️

All any of us can do is to do our best. Provided you’re maintaining social distancing wherever possible, then if you can’t do your job from home, then you’re doing the right thing by going in to work. Hope your mum gives you a break soon!

I'm an nhs hca and I'm still working, I'm bank only so if I stay off I do t get paid at all which I cant afford so I'll be continuing to work u til 28 weeks, then if the advice is still the same and coronavirus is still lingering I will go on early maternity leave then

As long as you're generally fit and healthy, I think it's fine to be in the office - but you should practice sensible social distancing.

No hugging colleagues or shaking hands!! Wash your hands regularly.

I'd suggest taking your own coffee mug and water glass as well, just so there's no cross-contamination.

As others mentioned, the RCOG states that "All available evidence suggests that pregnant women are at no greater risk of becoming seriously unwell than other healthy adults if they develop coronavirus."

They go on to say that, "If you are in your third trimester (more than 28 weeks’ pregnant) you should be particularly attentive to social distancing and minimise any contact with others."

So, I would argue that, from 28 weeks, it would be advisable to look to work from home - but the world might be quite different in 18 weeks time so it may not be necessary. Who knows!?

In relation to 'shielding', you only need to do that if you are defined on medical grounds to be at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus, i.e. if you're pregnant and have significant heart disease (congenital or acquired).

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy

being pregnant doesnt = shielding. it's supposed to be socially distanced - i've been working the whole time but aslong as you keep distanced you're doing what you can :)
x

Thank you so much for all your lovely replies and advice