Pregnant women on public transport

[acupofteamakeseverythingbetter]

Does anyone that commutes into London (or commutes anywhere for that matter) see many pregnant women on public transport?

I only ask as I'm increasingly concerned about travelling on public transport especially with this new covid variant and wondering whether I seem to be the only pregnant person commuting?

Have all the other women agreed with their employers to work from home?

Do I need to suggest this to my employer and take the risk of catching it whilst pregnant more seriously? Obviously I understand how serious it is and do everything in my power to stay safe ie have had my vaccines and wear masks etc but do you think I need to push back with my employer to see if I can work from home? I am only commuting in 3 days a week at the moment but am so worried about getting it especially whilst being pregnant.

Where are all my pregnant commuters? Xx

Here! Can't wfh so just got to suck it up sadly and hope everyone else around me is also jabbed

How far along are you? I'm 30 weeks plus and still travelling on the tube to work, so are most of my pregnant friends and antenatal group. I've agreed with work I'll WFH from 34 weeks so I don't catch anything before the birth

I’m very, very early into my pregnancy (just 4 weeks today) and been travelling into work 2 or 3 days a week as we’re now ‘hybrid’ working.

As I’m so early on, I don’t want to tell my work just yet but it did cross my mind that maybe I should be WFH every day.

You need to ask them to do a risk assessment, including covid risks. I’ve asked my work to do one (just waiting to hear back)

All pregnant woman are to be treated equally with covid risk assessments, not just those in the third trimester. Pregnant woman are more at risk so they should take this seriously. They should absolutely include your commute as part of the assessment.

pregnantthenscrewed.com/covid-19/

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees

I live in London and use public transport most days, although not commuting so not travelling at the busiest times. I think there's probably the same proportion of pregnant women travelling (although less in numbers because overall it's still less busy than pre-pandemic). I'm only 17 weeks so not showing much.

I don't think there's any harm in asking your employer, but I don't think the risk is particularly high, especially if you're vaccinated. I'll continue to use public transport as I don't really have a choice, most of us in London don't drive and can't wfh. I've used public transport throughout the pandemic and never caught Covid so I think if you're sensible and take precautions I don't think it's particularly risky.

More light reading…

www.google.com/amp/s/www.unison.org.uk/about/what-we-do/fairness-equality/women/key-issues/pregnant-workers-covid-19/%3famp

I’d be interested to hear what other peoples risk assessments have said. If the employer cannot get rid of the risk of covid (for example). Then they need to either offer wfh or make changes in their commute/duties etc

Thanks everyone, I have been travelling into the office since the start of my pregnancy, I'm 14 weeks. But the news about the new variant is making me anxious about continuing to travel in. I can do my job from home as I had done previously for the past 18 months but I think I'll keep and eye on the cases and will speak to my manager if I feel the cases are rapidly rising.

I ordered a baby on board badge last week and it suddenly occurred to me that I haven't really seen any pregnant women commuting so just wanted to see what other were doing.

My sister is also been pregnant and has been told by her company that she should continue to wfh full time which is great x

If they won't allow me to wfh full time I wonder if they would at least allow me to change my hours to 8am -4pm for example to avoid busier times 🤔 will wait and see what this new variant does before I make any decisions x

I would just ask for a risk assessment, why wait?

I’m still travelling. From my NCT classes, most companies did allow WFH after 32 weeks last year, but most are expecting pregnant people to vaccinate themselves and travel in now… we’re all around 37 weeks and all still commuting.

I think less people are asking for seats now - I don’t, I’ve been making do standing as I try to touch as little as possible! So I don’t wear a baby badge, as I don’t want people to move for me.

Yes that's true @Fet2021duejuly2022 I emailed HR at the beginning of week and am waiting to hear back from them about a risk assessment so will ask them then about the possibility of wfh

@TakeYourFinalPosition that's a bit rubbish their expecting you to travel in, do they know Covid hasn't gone away! Lol

I'm the opposite, I want a seat so I don't have to hold onto the bars when standing up. I also hope that by having the badge that people might be more considerate and maybe wear a mask near me but I doubt it!!

@TakeYourFinalPosition it’s not about what the companies expect it’s about health and safely law and rights in pregnancy. Pregnant woman of any gestation are at risk with covid and companies have a duty to protect their employees. Honestly if this was pregnant men they’d all be at home! Why do women put up with this crap.

I would be asking my employer to be wfh. I think we are all going to be asked to do that soon.

@Skinnytailedsquirrel I secretly hope that will be the case! 🙊

@acupofteamakeseverythingbetter

If they won't allow me to wfh full time I wonder if they would at least allow me to change my hours to 8am -4pm for example to avoid busier times 🤔 will wait and see what this new variant does before I make any decisions x

Oh actually my work do allow this, for everyone and not just pregnant women. So as long as you're in between 10am and 4pm, you can decide to commute at quieter times. So I am actually travelling in slightly off peak. I don't wear a baby on board badge, and am equally happy standing or sitting, but as I'm larger now people are giving me seats.

My work risk assessment has allowed me to avoid larger client meetings with a large number of attendees in third trimester, and I'm obviously not going to any of the client Christmas drinks etc as I'm due in Jan. There's no policy of WFH after 28 weeks in my company now that people are vaccinated. Im higher risk now (injecting insulin for GD) so will be taking them up on WFH from 33/34 weeks. Also I do think we will get another lockdown soon!

I commute a few days a week into London and have agreed with HR that I can wfh from 32 weeks. There was previously some guidance (pre vaccine I think) that after 28 weeks pregnant women should be allowed to wfh if possible and I just asked for a risk assessment and referred them to that and they were a bit nervous about me anyway as the woman I sit next to at work had Covid a couple weeks ago. When you have your risk assessment make sure to discuss how you get to work, new variants etc.

I’m too early to show but commuting 3-4 days and I can’t see this changing (boss isn’t keen on wfh 🙄). I did sit next to a heavily pregnant woman on the tube this week but I haven’t seen any others for ages. I hadn’t really noticed until I did! I’m double jabbed and not overly worried, I would rather have it now than in 3rd tri.

I commuted recently up to 38 weeks, double jabbed so wasn’t worried. No option to WFH so it was commute into work or don’t work.

I’m into third trimester now so have asked to wfh and my line manager was totally relaxed about it. I did see a few other pregnant women in the office when I was in.

If you can do your job from home I don’t understand why employers should ask you to take unnecessary risks later in pregnancy. Anecdotally I’ve heard that even with cases of mild Covid there’s reports of stillbirths / premature births (though I don’t think they can confirm that Covid is the cause).

Currently 22 weeks, double jabbed, commuting into the London office 3 days a week and I have to say this hadn't even crossed my mind! I do get a train not the tube though. There is definitely a risk, of course, so I'd hope your work would take that seriously.

Personally, unless the external situation changes, I have no intention of isolating myself out of work, plus DH will be commuting 4 days a week and DS going to nursery whatever I do, so all told I don't think the commute adds much additional risk (plus it does make my management job easier being able to see people face to face). I might try and WFH a bit more in the last few weeks, just because I'll be enormous by then.

I'm in London and commute in, but thankfully not that much. I'm increasingly uncomfortable with it too, and with being in the office.

@Fet2021duejuly2022 thanks for sharing the guidance. I've had a read and it seems (deliberately?) confusing. I work in an open plan office within a huge college. There aren't many students about at the moment thankfully, but there will be come January. I have a feeling my employer is going to say it's safe for me to come in because there is no social distancing requirement in place. I can WFH without any issue at all, but they've made it clear they want staff back in the building.

I know what you mean but your work is legally compelled to conduct a risk assessment. basically if they see a risk and can’t take away that risk, then they need to offer you alternatives such as wfh or if that’s not an option then work based changes. You can call the helpline on pregnant and screwed and ask them for clarification if you are unsure

Hi! I commute from Guildford to London, through Waterloo and then I take the tube to reach my place of work. I have a baby on board badge but now I'm quite big so people just offer me their sit usually which is quite nice! I always wear a facemask even if nobody else is, and carry on with my hand gel at all stops. I managed to negotiate me going on remote work in two weeks time (when I'll be 28 weeks) so I can avoid major covid risks in the third trimester with such a long, busy commute.