Pregnancy and working from home

[HopefulMama2020]

Hi everyone :)

I recently found out i was pregnant and am having a bit of an inner dilemma about what to do about work. I have an office job and was working from home for the first few months of lockdown, in the last 2 months I've been going in a couple of days a week as there are some aspects of my job that are harder from home, and frankly I was a bit lonely!

Can I ask what anyone else in a similar position has done? If you're able to work from home have you done that for your entire pregnancy? If I wanted to do that I'd have to inform work I'm pregnant and I feel a little uneasy doing that when I'm only a few weeks gone.

Sorry for my incoherent ramblings, I'm just a bit stuck i guess!

I was doing 2 days office/3 home but dropped to 1/4 When I for pregnant. Then the work from home instructions came back so the office is much quieter so I feel very safe on that 1 day.

I told my manager at about 5 or 6 weeks but I've not formally done anything or shared this with any colleagues yet.

Does the office feel safe to you? Lots of space and socially distancing and handwashing, if so I'd keep going in. I've got friends who are teaching and nursing through their pregnancies and know how lucky I am to WFH most of the time

I was working from home like you through lockdown, then in August when the advice changed we all came back, but when it changed again we were given the option to go back to home working. I chose to work from home again, and then found out I was pregnant soon after so it worked out well!

It’s better for me because of tiredness, the risk of catching it and other bugs and just easier to not have to commute. It also makes it easier to make calls/go to appointments I find as I don’t want to tell my work yet. I’m 8 weeks.

I think if you don’t want to tell them yet you could just say that as the advice has changed you’d like to go back to home working as you’re a bit concerned, they can’t argue with that. Do you get public transport to work? That’s a good excuse too cos of risk level xx

I was working from home and then went back to the office. Once I got my third trimester I was asked to work from home full time. It’s our companies policy that women in their third trimester do this. Before then it was expected you come into the office.

I was working from home throughout the lockdown and resumed office 2/3 days a week since mid September. I think it is a wise decision to not disclose your pregnancy at work till you have your 12 weeks scan. I informed my manager after my 12 weeks and due to the nature of my job I can easily work from home. You should also take your commute into account because later on in the pregnancy you may prefer to work from home rather than traveling to office every day.

Wish you all the best !

Thanks everyone for all your wise words.

I think I'll continue going into the office one day a week for now, as I do find being at home a little lonely! I do usually get public transport but will switch to driving in to be less exposed.

I was in the office 50% of the time, I was glad to get back in.
Just finished at 38 weeks so on maternity now!

I was WFH full time initially; back in August I went back 2 days per week, with 3 still WFH. I have decided to stick to that and am 28 weeks - like you, some things are just easier to do in the office and it is nice to have the social interaction, bearing in mind I will be at home for a lot of my maternity leave!

I go by car - may well think differently if had to use public transport.
x