Any other pregnant dental nurses out there?

[Nat4392]

I’m currently 22+5 and still working the same as usual; full days in surgery including AGPs. My practice says once I hit 28 weeks I’ll no longer be doing AGPs but will still be in surgery as normal.
It goes without saying that I feel quite anxious about this, I’m literally looking inside patients mouths everyday. The government guidelines state after 28 weeks, workers should be WFH or their job role changed to avoid direct contact with the public. However the BDA guidelines keep banging on about how the dental surgery is a safe place and only BAME/underlying health conditions need to be more careful. I’m seeing my midwife in a few weeks so I’ll ask her what she thinks.
I’d just like to hear from other dental nurses to see what your experiences are and what your practice is doing to minimise your risk.

Hi @Nat4392 I'm TTC, this is only my first month so prob still have a while to go but luckily I work in a hospital. Our policy is that you can't be clinical after 28 weeks but I'm not sure if they're allowing you to do AGPS before that. If that's what the GG says then that's what you should be doing, put your foot down and refuse to do it. It's not safe for you or your baby. FWIW, this is precisely why I left practice. You're so much more protected in a hospital. Good luck and don't let them take advantage of you xx

Hi @Nat4392 I am 24 weeks pregnant and currently doing 1 day of admin & 2 days on reception, have not been in surgery for weeks. As of 28 weeks I will be working from home/ furloughed following midwife advice & gov guidelines and my practice have been supportive of this. It is very difficult as, yes the BDA say no change but the Gov & medical advice is to stay at home especially in a high risk job. Speak to your midwife, I hope you get it sorted x

Thanks ladies. I’ve got my appraisal on Friday so I’m going to query it. I’m also seeing the midwife in a fortnight so hopefully she may be able to shed some light on the situation. It’s the BDA that’s the biggest problem because my bosses will just blindly follow them.
Any other stories will be appreciated so I’ve got as much ammunition as possible 🙈

Hiya I work in the hospital environment too and haven't been in the surgery since I have told my line manager. If you read guidence it says pregnant staff should keep a strict 2m social distance and really it isn't possible in the surgery no matter what the treatment is..have you had a risk assessment carried out?

@Alr91yes they did one a while back, I think it was more along the lines of “is appropriate ppe available?”. I think I may need a new one once I hit 28 weeks. I really don’t think I should be in surgery.

Had my appraisal today and told my manager I’m not comfortable being in surgery over 28 weeks and certainly won’t be doing AGPs. They were fine with it generally but said I would prob still need to go in if staff sickness etc. Really don’t know where I stand!

I'm no longer a dental nurse, but I was while I was having my first. I found them to be very unsympathetic, I was doing 12 hours in surgery with no break. I fainted once in surgery as they gave me the only room in the practice without air conditioning, they let me sit down for 5 minutes and made me go back. Needless to say I didn't return to that career after my maternity ended.
My friend is a practise manager now and as far as I'm aware with that company (Bupa) the ladies who are pregnant are starting their maternity at 28 weeks.