Pregnancy teacher 3rd trimester

[Edisnori]

Hello everyone ,

I'm 24+5 and am a primary school teacher. I met with my midwife today to collect my matb form and she asked me if I was working from home in my third trimester. I was non plussed as I have had my risk assessment meeting with my head and they asked me when I want to go onto maternity leave. I said three weeks before due date. My midwife said I should be working from in 3rd trimester. I've checked out government recommendations/advice and it's very open ended. Women are recommended to work from home if their workplace can't keep them safe. I am so confused! Help !

What do you want to do?

Ah, there was a thread with some of this info recently. If you search the past few days you'll find it.

The risk assessment you had should've thrown up a major issue with Covid-19. Of course they can't keep you totally safe from it! What did they say in the risk assessment?

Your job can't easily be performed from home (unless they would permit you to teach your class remotely, which has major implications for the school/kids/parents presumably). This means that if the risk identified cannot be avoided, they should either find alternative risk-free work at the same pay, or suspend you with full pay.

You don't need to be forced to take mat leave early to solve this problem, either. It's your employer's responsibility to either remove the risk (impossible, in the case of a primary school and Covid, I should say, not to mention if you're using public transport to commute there) or to support you in removing yourself from the risk - i.e. allowing you to work from home, change the role you perform, or if none of that is possible, suspending you on full pay until such time as necessary.

And, you don't actually need to be in the third trimester for any of the above to count. You can ask for a risk assessment in your first trimester. I found the Pregnant then Screwed hub really helpful on this: pregnantthenscrewed.com/covid-19/

Speak to / look at your union advice. My union is still recommending wfh in third trimester and will be supporting me with this after Xmas to start at Feb 1/2 term. I will be doing long term planning, assessment help, writing my summer term reports so the Mat cover doesn’t find it difficult after not knowing them long, doing echp annual reviews. As any teacher knows, there’s plenty that can be done at home even if the physical teaching can’t be :)

I recently had a baby. I started the term by going into school, I felt fairly safe was double jabbed, but then there was an explosion of cases and the head emailed me one weekend and told me to wfh until maternity leave started. It was probably very sensible.

I'm 30 weeks and still trying to get my risk assessment done. I will be pushing for it on Monday as it is absolutely rife In school and I feel they have done nothing to minimise my risk. The adults that work with me are in contact with the entire key stage and the parents don't have to show proof of their children's PCR tests (half the time we send them home and they are back the next day). I feel like I can't complain as I only started in Sept, but I'm a high risk pregnancy, asthmatic and feel like I've just got to pray I don't catch it x

It really just depends where you live and what the union with push for on your behalf. The guidance is deliberately wishy washy.

Wfh was not an option given to me and my local rep wasn’t that helpful when I emailed her about union support in requesting it.

However I know others who have asked and been successful.

The guidance changed the week I hit the third trimester! Which now states it's up to your employer whether you work from home. I worked from home until I got the jab, then went back into school and worked up until 2 weeks before my due date. I could ask for whatever I needed, so I said a box around me, masks on in my classroom and that I could pretty much sit down the whole time. With primary age it might be a little trickier to get distance, but you should be able with support to work in school in your third trimester.

@Cartref30

Speak to / look at your union advice. My union is still recommending wfh in third trimester and will be supporting me with this after Xmas to start at Feb 1/2 term. I will be doing long term planning, assessment help, writing my summer term reports so the Mat cover doesn’t find it difficult after not knowing them long, doing echp annual reviews. As any teacher knows, there’s plenty that can be done at home even if the physical teaching can’t be :)

Thank you for the response! Your school sound very supportive. I don't think mine will let me work from home, knowing the headmaster's attitude towards staff absences... but I'm not sure how they can make it safer as I'm in the room with my class and the kids can't help getting close to me.

[quote deliwoman1]Ah, there was a thread with some of this info recently. If you search the past few days you'll find it.

The risk assessment you had should've thrown up a major issue with Covid-19. Of course they can't keep you totally safe from it! What did they say in the risk assessment?

Your job can't easily be performed from home (unless they would permit you to teach your class remotely, which has major implications for the school/kids/parents presumably). This means that if the risk identified cannot be avoided, they should either find alternative risk-free work at the same pay, or suspend you with full pay.

You don't need to be forced to take mat leave early to solve this problem, either. It's your employer's responsibility to either remove the risk (impossible, in the case of a primary school and Covid, I should say, not to mention if you're using public transport to commute there) or to support you in removing yourself from the risk - i.e. allowing you to work from home, change the role you perform, or if none of that is possible, suspending you on full pay until such time as necessary.

And, you don't actually need to be in the third trimester for any of the above to count. You can ask for a risk assessment in your first trimester. I found the Pregnant then Screwed hub really helpful on this: pregnantthenscrewed.com/covid-19/[/quote]
Covid wasn't mentioned... very much breezed over. Small pox and scarlet fever came up though hmm

@SweetBabyCheeses99

What do you want to do?

I love my class but my midwife seemed not to approve of me working in school in 3rd trimester. I don't think the fact that I have a cough right now helped. That's why I think she brought up wfh in 3rd trimester. Like I said, I love my class and I want to do right by them but I also felt scared as soon as she said Covid could cause premature labour. So I'm feeling very confused about what I want. I love my job but also don't want to put my baby at risk.

@Afreshstart2021

I recently had a baby. I started the term by going into school, I felt fairly safe was double jabbed, but then there was an explosion of cases and the head emailed me one weekend and told me to wfh until maternity leave started. It was probably very sensible.

I think my head would prefer me stay in and work. He's that kind of head. I've had 3 children in my class catch it so far. He hates staff absences. Budget is very tight this year too. I doubt he'd ever offer that :(

@Mamaux

I'm 30 weeks and still trying to get my risk assessment done. I will be pushing for it on Monday as it is absolutely rife In school and I feel they have done nothing to minimise my risk. The adults that work with me are in contact with the entire key stage and the parents don't have to show proof of their children's PCR tests (half the time we send them home and they are back the next day). I feel like I can't complain as I only started in Sept, but I'm a high risk pregnancy, asthmatic and feel like I've just got to pray I don't catch it x

I'm so sorry ! You're situation sounds even harder. If you push for it and they say they can't have you wfh or minimise risk, what will you do? I'm really sorry and totally get the feeling of not being able to complain or even broach subject.

Ask the school if they are happy to accept liability for any covid related complication for your health or your pregnancy, sure they might then change their tune.
If they can't keep you safe at school then they have an obligation to let you work from home in 3rd trimester.
Talk to your trade union and push for the home working option if that's what you want.
With the added uncertainty of this new variant, its a no brainer that it would be safer for you to work from home from 30ish weeks as your risk starts to climb.

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/babies-premature-mothers-covid-hospital-b1959359.html

@Littlepaws18

The guidance changed the week I hit the third trimester! Which now states it's up to your employer whether you work from home. I worked from home until I got the jab, then went back into school and worked up until 2 weeks before my due date. I could ask for whatever I needed, so I said a box around me, masks on in my classroom and that I could pretty much sit down the whole time. With primary age it might be a little trickier to get distance, but you should be able with support to work in school in your third trimester.

ahhhhh, well there you go then. Sounds like I have to keep working. We need the money anyway. It's just my midwife's concern that worried me a bit and I think the announcement of the new strain. It would be nice to know that if cases rise drastically again that it's an option but if it's up to my employer, I know what he'll say to me even suggesting it might not be safe anymore for me to be in such close contact with 30 children lol

You don’t need to work from home in your third trimester unless there’s extreme health complications but of course it’s your call.

@SouthwestSis

Ask the school if they are happy to accept liability for any covid related complication for your health or your pregnancy, sure they might then change their tune. If they can't keep you safe at school then they have an obligation to let you work from home in 3rd trimester. Talk to your trade union and push for the home working option if that's what you want. With the added uncertainty of this new variant, its a no brainer that it would be safer for you to work from home from 30ish weeks as your risk starts to climb.

I want to be at work definitely but not if it isn't safe if that makes sense? It's not about what you want when there's a baby that might be at risk. I love my job and don't want to leave earlier but if the midwife is concerned and thinks I'm putting my baby at risk then that sort of throws what I want out the window. Would I be taking a major risk in the pregnancy if I never brought up the government advice and worked until 36 wks which is the date my boss has suggested? Is it just about what I want? Sorry I'm so confused about the whole situation, that I don't even think I'm expressing myself very clesrly on this thread :(

It's not up to your employer entirely, it's depending on a risk assessment which should take account of your personal work environment (which is high risk being in a poorly ventilated room with 30 kids) and your personal health situation.
It sounds like your first risk assessment was inadequate but it's usual to do more than 1 during a pregnancy so I would tell school that you want another one in the next couple of weeks and seek advice and support from your trade union

@Newmum29

You don’t need to work from home in your third trimester unless there’s extreme health complications but of course it’s your call.

As long as I'm not putting my little baby at risk, I am fine about working. But when the midwife reacted shocked to me working in class in my 3rd trimester, I got worried I was putting my baby at risk.

@SouthwestSis

It's not up to your employer entirely, it's depending on a risk assessment which should take account of your personal work environment (which is high risk being in a poorly ventilated room with 30 kids) and your personal health situation. It sounds like your first risk assessment was inadequate but it's usual to do more than 1 during a pregnancy so I would tell school that you want another one in the next couple of weeks and seek advice and support from your trade union

We've had a second one but that was basically just a repeat of the first asking me if anything had changed. I think I will call my union just to see what they advise. But they might just say it's up to me and what I feel comfortable with. I feel comfortable working in class until my maternity leave starts unless it is putting the little mango sized baby in me at risk. My partner is also confused by the guidelines but keen for me to speak to my boss but my boss doesn't react well to staff being absent (not that I would be). But I will call union and see what they say. This just feels like such a grey area. Thanks for the advice everyone. Sorry I must seem so confused!

I thought the guidance changed and the government were no longer pushing the wfh from 28 weeks now that pregnant women are strongly advised to get vaccinated, it’s all based on a risk assessment by your own employer. Maybe your midwife isn’t aware of the recent change in guidance? Anyway, hope your school is pragmatic about it if you change your mind and want to wfh a bit earlier

Our school, you are forced to work from home in the third trimester. It’s a trust wide policy. They have a TA or a free teacher in the classroom to supervise them and the pregnant teacher teaches via zoom. It’s secondary not primary but we do have primaries in the trust too.

Following with interest as I will be seeking to wfh from 28 weeks (high risk pregnancy too). Rooms are poorly ventilated and students dropping like flies with covid.

It really isn't worth the risk. It is just a job.

Yes the advice is generic and so a bit grey but your workplace is a higher risk one so they should be taking precautions. In pregnancy a risk to your health is a risk to your babies health. If you got sick with covid and your baby needed to be delivered prematurely then your baby would clearly suffer, and the more pregnant you get, the greater the risk becomes.

@Minorissue

I thought the guidance changed and the government were no longer pushing the wfh from 28 weeks now that pregnant women are strongly advised to get vaccinated, it’s all based on a risk assessment by your own employer. Maybe your midwife isn’t aware of the recent change in guidance? Anyway, hope your school is pragmatic about it if you change your mind and want to wfh a bit earlier

Ok cool , well as long as it's safe and the govt are advising that. I am double vaccinated and I know my employer will just want me to work in class until my maternity leave starts in February for sure.