Pregnancy after COVID rules relaxed

[Leo090813]

Good afternoon

I was just wondering, the current guidelines is for women 28w +pregnant to WFH, ensure social distancing etc. With the rules being relaxed in a few weeks I'm wondering if anyone happens to know if there will be any guidance still for pregnant women or will vulnerable categories just be totally back to normal like the rest of the country, with no social distancing? etc? Thanks x

Think it’s likely to be back to normal if all SD and mask wearing goes.

I’m 29 weeks, will still go into work until 37 weeks and plan to be totally normal in that time.

I’ve been wondering about this too. I’m assuming it will go back to normal, I suppose it has to at some point. The recommendation is now that pregnant women get the vaccine (although I can completely understand why some are reluctant to do so), so theoretically have the option for the same level of protection as anyone else. I suspect it’ll be like all the other shielding categories, and just stopped.

Also been wondering this. I am 28 weeks tomorrow and know I have a work review. I don't want to work from home so am hoping they relax it a bit. Having said that I don't want the vaccine until after baby arrives either. Work have been understanding of this so far.

Thanks all. I assumed it would be back to normal too. I am postponing my vaccination until after baby is born so would like to carry on wfh if possible, so will just have to see if my employer understands as there isn't the ability to socially distance myself there.

I think those who are unvaccinated should get a risk assessment from their employer, especially if you're working close to other people or using public transport beyond 28 weeks of pregnancy.
The risk for each individual will not have decreased because we've reached some arbitrary date, it's just that enough at risk people have had both jabs, but clearly not all pregnant people will have yet

Like the pp has said each employer should do a risk assessment. Fortunately my work are very supportive and have openly said that as unvaccinated pregnant woman they will do whatever to protect me and the baby as it’s not worth the risk for me or for the business if they refuse my WFH request. I am half working from home now (currently 20 weeks) but from 28 weeks I will be at home until baby is here.

I'm wondering about this. I work in a dentist's office and currently we all wear masks all day and obviously all our patients wear masks. Not sure how comfortable I am with them all suddenly being unmasked. I think I will feel vulnerable.

@Lemonpop3

Like the pp has said each employer should do a risk assessment. Fortunately my work are very supportive and have openly said that as unvaccinated pregnant woman they will do whatever to protect me and the baby as it’s not worth the risk for me or for the business if they refuse my WFH request. I am half working from home now (currently 20 weeks) but from 28 weeks I will be at home until baby is here.

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately my employer isn't quite so co-operative. I'm currently wfh with a doctors note saying I have to due to anxiety about catching it at work, but I know they'll hate me if I continue the sick note until the end of my pregnancy. They just won't let me WFH anymore, and haven't given a valid reason as to why. Do you think I should just ask the doc to continue my note saying fit for work but has to be from home? As I don't feel ok with getting the vaccine whilst pregnant.

Depending on the size of your company, they might not expect everyone back straight off.
Our company is only just starting to run trials of having people back in the office over the coming weeks. They are running at half capacity (at the most) and asking people to volunteer to go back, if they are comfortable.
Back at the beginning of the pandemic, they ranked all workers from 1-3. 1 was needs to be in the workplace regardless - laboratory technicians, warehouse workers etc. 2 was the next preference to go in - telesales type staff and those that work on phone lines/where the office infrastructure is fairly important. And then 3, anyone else. 3 weren’t expected to be going back until there is minimal risk… but they are only just trialling group 2, so I’m not too concerned.
I feel confident they will protect me - I go on maternity leave in august anyway, so I think there would be little point in them expecting me to return.

@SillyBry

Depending on the size of your company, they might not expect everyone back straight off. Our company is only just starting to run trials of having people back in the office over the coming weeks. They are running at half capacity (at the most) and asking people to volunteer to go back, if they are comfortable. Back at the beginning of the pandemic, they ranked all workers from 1-3. 1 was needs to be in the workplace regardless - laboratory technicians, warehouse workers etc. 2 was the next preference to go in - telesales type staff and those that work on phone lines/where the office infrastructure is fairly important. And then 3, anyone else. 3 weren’t expected to be going back until there is minimal risk… but they are only just trialling group 2, so I’m not too concerned. I feel confident they will protect me - I go on maternity leave in august anyway, so I think there would be little point in them expecting me to return.

That's good your workplace is being so flexible, I think the ranking system would have been a useful system for my employer to use. However they do want us all back, they did weeks ago! But I've had a doctors note saying I need to WFH for a month as the lack of social distancing was concerning me. Just not sure what to do when it runs out as I'll still have another 3 months before mat leave x

I’m so sorry that your employer isn’t being cooperative and allowing you to work from home. In my opinion the risks are high being pregnant and unvaccinated and your employer should be looking to protect you both. In your situation I would definitely go back to your doctor to get a new note, your employer has to follow the advice from a doctor :)

Thank you @Lemonpop3 . They've been terrible throughout to be honest, so I may just get the note extended and keep doing so until mat leave as they don't care about my or my baby boys health. Thank you for your advice x

I’d also be asking for another Dr note or asking your employer to do another risk assessment.

I’m 28 weeks today, unvaccinated and I won’t be going back to work now until after the baby is here (working from home until I finish work at 39 weeks). I appreciate my employer is very good, but part of the risk assessment I had today mentioned covid and you should insist yours does too!

Hope you get on okay, keep us posted

I suspect my in laws are now going to insist on seeing us over the summer despite me already saying I’m uncomfortable mixing as they have school ages kids and have openly said they don’t care about covid anymore as they’ve had the vaccine. I fully intend on sticking to my guns to keep myself and the baby safe x

@Bellyrumble thank you for your reply. When I was in the office a few weeks ago I finally was given my risk assessment that I kept asking for, and no mention of covid whatsoever!!!!! So I wrote at the bottom about my concerns due to lack of social distancing so atleast it's on record. They won't do another risk assessment for me unless I harass them. Again seeing as they've been so unhelpful and unsupportive it does just make me think the best option is to keep extending the sick note and not go back there!