Third Trimester Key Workers?

33 replies

ImmyMc · 19/09/2021 09:45

How are all the key workers coping in the third trimester? I keep reading all these posts about people isolating to prevent Covid, but teaching, nursing, shop workers etc., we can't always do that. I'm a teacher and I'm around crowds all day, and none of them are even wearing masks. I also can't afford to take maternity leave early as my husband has a chronic illness and doesn't work. We are really going to struggle as it is on the reduced maternity pay that I will get, and I want time with the baby before having to go back to work after just a few weeks.

I just feel like this whole thing is a total nightmare and pregnant women have been left behind. I'm vaxxed, but it was seven months ago now and I keep wondering whether it will even really work now. You read all these things in the news about waning immunity after 3 months...

OP posts:

Whatshouldicallme · 19/09/2021 20:13

Sorry, just seen you are also high risk. That makes it's this even more ridiculous and should probably warrant not only a risk assessment with your manager but a referral to occupational health for more in depth assessment. Personally I would probably write a more strongly worded letter to manager/occupational health and if that doesn't yield any results escalate it further. Its uncomfortable obviously but they are definitely in the wrong here. If you look at the website and Instagram for Pregnant Then Screwed they have sample wording you can use when addressing your employer.

Sarahloo88 · 19/09/2021 20:42

@Whatshouldicallme thanks so much for the advice I am on that website now, it’s so informative!!

AliceS1994 · 19/09/2021 21:11

I'm NHS and my trust has changed the policy to say that pregnant women (without additional risk factors) will be expected to perform full duties including working with covid patients provided they are full vaccinated. Only 14 weeks but terrified as my third trimester is slap bang in the middle of winter pressures. I also commute an hour each way on packed trains into work so exposure there as well...

bubblepond · 19/09/2021 21:23

@AliceS1994

This is really scary. I'd be pointing them towards the RCOG guidelines - you should still have a level of choice. I'm in a similar situation to you, NHS and will be 28 weeks at the beginning of January. Also fully vaccinated but don't fancy taking any chances and don't think it's worth the risk!

AliceS1994 · 19/09/2021 21:29

I'm going to try and see how the situation goes and see how happy I felt to still go in- if it feels safe I will continue to work but if it doesn't feel safe I will probably have so much anxiety that I won't be for to work anyway and would need medical leave. Frankly though, I can't see a situation where this winter won't be hideous the way things were going (pre-covid winters were tough enough!) and I know I'd feel guilty leaving my colleagues a man down...

thingymaboob · 19/09/2021 21:30

@AliceS1994

This is absolutely crazy. How awful. In the words of my obstetrician "the level of immunosuppression in pregnant women can never be underestimated" Not ideal at all but think I'd feel forced to go off sick before mat leave. They've given you no choice! You cannot work directly with covid patients in your last trimester. That's absolute madness.

bubblepond · 19/09/2021 21:37

@AliceS1994 I hope you manage to find a solution that works for you Do your work know yet? At least if you are able to tell them early then they have time to plan. It already feels like winter now where I work (and has done since June!) so I can't imagine what this winter is going to be like

AliceS1994 · 19/09/2021 21:43

I don't currently work with covid patients, I work in daycase so the patients I see have come in from the community and we don't know either way. So thankfully I'm not in a vulnerable position but trust is already talking about redeploying staff again (have already been redeployed 3 times). It's my commute that also really worries me as it's packed trains

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