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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Teaching pregnant coronavirus

45 replies

Jonsey1987 · 16/09/2020 07:46

I'm in my second trimester, I don't feel safe at work (secondary) what are people's experiences?
My school has staff and pupil cases but no bubbles self isolating for the 14 days - just a few sent home. I'm also hearing stories that if the NHS guidance is to self isolate for 14 days it doesn't apply to teachers. Tbh I don't believe it and wanted to see what others' experiences are!!

OP posts:
HopeWish · 16/09/2020 19:04

I'm halfway through 2nd trimester.

We had a case at school last week and a bunch of pupils were sent home to isolate but no staff were informed (who would have been in contact during lesson time) and the school is not disclosing the pupil's name to staff so that they can isolate if they know they were in contact.
School leaders are terrified that staff will all go off to isolate so they just aren't giving us a chance to know if we were put at risk!

I don't feel safe at all. Pupils can't keep at the 2m distance from staff and I don't feel that anything can be kept clean enough to be safe. I asked for a specific risk assessment due to the exceptional circumstances at the moment and the fact that I teach a subject which involves singing and playing wind/brass instruments. I was told no.

colourofblue · 16/09/2020 19:05

Third trimester here. It’s not good at all.

GameSetMatch · 16/09/2020 19:05

The whole year group and teachers at my sons are self isolating for 14 days after one positive case. I thought you had to?

StealthPolarBear · 16/09/2020 19:10

Game that is also my understanding of the concept of a bubble but apparently not. I find it all a bit odd.

colourofblue · 16/09/2020 19:13

@GameSetMatch

The whole year group and teachers at my sons are self isolating for 14 days after one positive case. I thought you had to?
Not in secondary.
Natalie654321 · 16/09/2020 19:14

I am in my final trimester and teach secondary too.
I don't feel very safe at all, but I guess so many pregnant women in lots of jobs don't e.g. Supermarket staff, NHS etc.
The 14 day isolation definitely applies to teachers too but only if you were a close contact.
With one Covid case the whole bubble should isolate for 14 days, this does not include the teachers as we don't belong to a specific bubble as we are maintaining distance, not touching their books, worksheets etc.
If another teacher gets Covid and you were in close contact then you need to be off too, but for me this probably wouldn't happen as I wear my mask all day, keep a distance from all staff and eat lunch in a separate room.

FirstTimeBumps · 16/09/2020 19:14

Third trimester here. We've had two year groups go home to isolate so far. Parents and teachers informed asap. PHE also rapidly contacted. My school did an RA and deemed it unsafe to be in so I'm now teaching from home. My school have been very rapid at acting and have handled everything really well in my opinion even if I do despise teaching over teams.

SchrodingersUnicorn · 16/09/2020 19:16

Not pregnant but I am critically vulnerable and was borderline for shielding.
Because teachers are not in bubbles and are meant to be 'social distancing' ('where possible', ha!) we don't isolate even if a pupil in our class or colleague in our department tests positive.

Pearsapiece · 16/09/2020 19:22

Not a teacher but questioned my midwife re risks to pregnant women (20 weeks at the moment) and she told me pregnant women are no higher risk than anyone else and we should go about as anyone else is, following the guidelines.
So I don't think being pregnant has a huge difference to not being pregnant in this instance However, it's appalling how some of you have described being treated re not being told who has tested positive and being given the option to isolate. That's just awful

CuriousFluff · 16/09/2020 19:28

Those of you in your third trimester why are you not at home? I thought you were sent home at 28 wks and you'd teach online if possible?

CuriousFluff · 16/09/2020 19:29

Third trimester you are classed as clinically vulnerable or maybe extremely vulnerable?

CuriousFluff · 16/09/2020 19:32

"People at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)
People at moderate risk from coronavirus include people who:

are 70 or older
have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
have heart disease (such as heart failure)
have diabetes
have chronic kidney disease
have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)
are pregnant – see advice about pregnancy and coronavirus"
"What to do if you're at moderate risk
If you're at moderate risk from coronavirus, you can go out to work (if you cannot work from home) and for things like getting food or exercising. But you should try to stay at home as much as possible."
SOURCE NHS
So if you could teach remotely in lockdown you can teach remotely now.

NoNameIdeas · 16/09/2020 19:33

I'm primary rather than secondary, currently 29 weeks. I'm not in my own class anymore but working in a shared space with groups all day and different people (staff and pupils) coming and going all of the time, definitely not at home or able to properly socially distance...hmmm!

WildAboutMyPlanet · 16/09/2020 19:34

Not a teacher but my job meant I was in contact with hundreds of different people every day, more new people than in a school and people of all age ranges including children. I’m in my third trimester and was not concerned. Pregnancy is no higher risk than anyone else. I’m now on mat leave and have had no issues.

Try not to worry about it. Unless you go on your mat leave early, there isn’t much else you can do. Stressing about it will likely be more harmful than the risk of catching it. Maybe you can chat to your boss about extra precautions?

colourofblue · 16/09/2020 19:35

@CuriousFluff

Those of you in your third trimester why are you not at home? I thought you were sent home at 28 wks and you'd teach online if possible?
Because you can’t WFH as a teacher
CuriousFluff · 16/09/2020 19:37

@colourofblue you can. I had colleagues teaching via live videos on Teams with another adult in the room for behaviour purposes when they were isolating having returned from a foreign country.

colourofblue · 16/09/2020 19:39

[quote CuriousFluff]@colourofblue you can. I had colleagues teaching via live videos on Teams with another adult in the room for behaviour purposes when they were isolating having returned from a foreign country.[/quote]
Well yes but not all schools are set up for that. I’d hazard a guess and say most aren’t. I can’t see my classes just sitting in a classroom and watching a screen and I don’t work in a ‘rough’ school at all.

CuriousFluff · 16/09/2020 19:44

I'm probably very lucky then. I'm surprised that most schools aren't set up for this considering what we've gone through over the last six monthsHmm

Original poster
Jonsey1987 · 16/09/2020 19:49

I've had an appt today with the midwife and she said from 28 weeks we shouldn't be 'pupil facing'
She said most other mums to be have negotiated with their schools.
I just don't feel the situation will get any better anytime soon?! Thanks for all of the comments....

OP posts:
Marmite133 · 16/09/2020 19:50

I'm first trimester and I'm off work (as are 2 2nd trimester at my school). My boss is more worried about legal repercussions if something were to happen. Not that we would sue the school but he sees things that way. It's not a risk he's willing to take eventhough we've all said we're happy to be in.

DisneyGirl2387 · 16/09/2020 19:52

I'm a pregnant primary teacher. 32 weeks and currently teaching year 1 two days a week and working from home the other three days. I'm counting down the days until I finish in October half term. There is no way of socially distancing with little ones! I've had a chat about risks with my HT but no risk assessment as of yet! I feel for all or you pregnant teachers out there, sending the love although it is nice not to feel so alone! X

Bernardstolemywatch · 16/09/2020 20:03

Not a teacher but in my third trimester working as a beauty therapist, so extremely close contact with many people. Just being sensible and hoping for the best.

FirstTimeBumps · 16/09/2020 20:14

@colourofblue I'm doing just that. Cover supervisor in the room for behaviour plus a student teacher in some lessons. Done on my school's insistence, I would actually like to be in the classroom but my school are being safety conscious.

colourofblue · 16/09/2020 20:16

Doing just what, sorry - slow.

Jess1309 · 16/09/2020 20:53

Primary teacher and I am going to be working from home from 28 weeks (in a couple of weeks time). I've had to discuss with my school but the guidance says from 28 weeks and my midwife said the same.
It has been a really hard decision and my school aren't particularly pleased but I read the guidance as it needed to be done.

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