Is it safe to be in the office if you are pregnant?

[SB91]

I'm keen to get back to the office rather than be working from home. I'm really fortunate that my company has offered the flexibility during the pandemic. However, I've just found out I'm pregnant and although it is still very early on I'm wondering now if it is safe to go into work? I am in England, my company have only a small number of people in at the moment. This is my first pregnancy so naturally I'm just a bit worried. Any advice would be welcomed!

Depends how covid secure they have made the office regardless of your pregnancy

Advice mostly relates to the third trimester where you are higher risk, earlier stages I believe are just same precautions as everyone else

I’ve been told by my midwife/workplace to not come into the office from 28 weeks, before then I’m okay to go in if I need to and feel very comfortable in doing so as they’re taking all the necessary precautions.

My work made me ring the GP to ask this when I first got pregnant. He said it's fine up until 28 weeks as long as all precautions are taken- social distance, wear a mask etc. He pointed out that they had pregnant healthcare staff working directly with the public so an office should be fine.

Agree with above - it's only 3rd trimester there is slightly increased risk. It also depends a lot where in the country you are to be honest - my region has about 5 cases last week across a huge area, whereas certain parts of London are surge testing with 50+ cases a day.

I'm 25 weeks and have carried on acting the same as I was before - carefully, but sensibly. The risk to your baby and yourself is no higher than it was before you were pregnant until right at the end (by which point hopefully cases will be negligible in the UK).

everyone can now have access to lateral flow tests, does your company arrange that through work? Im worried going into our office in a hospital, but we have a rota and easy to social distance etc. also knowing that everyone is doing twice weekly lateral flow tests helps so assume that any asymptomatic folk would get picked up.
im more worried about 3rd trimester which comes when boris says can abolish social distancing etc, and not every adult will have even been offered a first jab :s
they should give u a risk assessment at work as well i think, if they dont u can ask?
congrats on your pregnancy btw!

Something to bear in mind is that your immune system is lowered while pregnant, I’m not sure why the government guidance seems to say that there is no increased risk until 28 weeks — if there’s an increased risk of picking up colds and the flu then there must be an increased risk of picking up Covid. Whether you would be more affected if you did get in in 1st/2nd trimester I don’t know, it would be logical that you may be as your immune system may not be as ready to fight it off. The increased risk in the third trimester I believe is due to reduced lung capacity. I’m not a medical professional of any kind, just what I understand of it — I’m being more cautious during the whole of my pregnancy personally.

I have wanted to ask a similar question. Have seen the guidance re 28 weeks onwards. I'm currently WFH (6 weeks pregnant) and my work want me to return to the office. I do not want to. I have one person on the desk next to me, within 2 metres. Also one opposite me (with our two computers in between) and two behind me. When I brought this up before they said if you're facing back to back it doesn't count?! My work don't know I'm pregnant but I'm aware I should probably tell them soon. I don't feel safe going back, they have all had their jabs as they're older than me but that doesn't stop something being passed to me. Masks are only worn when people leave their desks. To me this isn't covid secure but I just don't know how to approach the subject without looking like a trouble maker. Any ideas anyone? Xxx

@Leo090813

I have wanted to ask a similar question. Have seen the guidance re 28 weeks onwards. I'm currently WFH (6 weeks pregnant) and my work want me to return to the office. I do not want to. I have one person on the desk next to me, within 2 metres. Also one opposite me (with our two computers in between) and two behind me. When I brought this up before they said if you're facing back to back it doesn't count?! My work don't know I'm pregnant but I'm aware I should probably tell them soon. I don't feel safe going back, they have all had their jabs as they're older than me but that doesn't stop something being passed to me. Masks are only worn when people leave their desks. To me this isn't covid secure but I just don't know how to approach the subject without looking like a trouble maker. Any ideas anyone? Xxx

They'll have to do a risk assessment when you return to the office/tell them you're pregnant so that's your time to raise any concerns. If they don't do one, ask for one, but they should do one, they're legally obliged to.

Everyone is still being told to work from home if they can so I would still do that. But if you need to go in sometimes for things that you can't do at home then I think that's fine now we are out of full lockdown and you aren't yet in your 3rd trimester. I did that till my third trimester then stopped going in at all and also avoided shops etc. But cases are lower now in my area and could be lower still by the time you're 3rd trimester.

I’m 32 weeks and my work have said there’s no need for me to be working from home as they’re covid safe (socially distanced desks and sanitiser everywhere). Not sure if that’s correct but I’ve been fine, we have weekly tests here too so that’s made me feel better about it.

Thanks for replies. Even with the work from home "guidance" they still want me back so I guess I'll just have to oblige! I'll definitely mention about the risk assessment when I tell them I'm pregnant too xx