Pregnant teachers - when did you tell work?

[Flibbyjibby]

If you are a teacher, have you told work earlier about your pregnancy due to COVID and the risks attached?

My first pregnancy was during the first lockdown and I did tell work as soon as I found out as at the time, little was known about how it can affect pregnant women and I was on a rota to look after the pupils in school.

Now COVID has been found to especially affect pregnant women, I don’t know if I should tell school earlier again so that a proper risk assessment can be made as early as possible. I have got the booster though.

What are you doing?

Immediately- but I had a complicated miscarriage which caused me to have a half term off a few months before so I felt the relationship was pretty open about pregnancy stuff. I also have a violent pupil in my class who throws furniture so I wanted to be covered completely with a secure RA (he attacked me the day I found out I was pregnant).

So I’m a pretty extreme case. But I think it’s good to tell work early if you are in a school in case of slapped cheek going around, and to explain why you are constantly nipping out of class to be sick.

HoD and HT at 6 weeks when I found out, rest of department guessed about a week after that! It became general knowledge after the summer holidays when I was 17 weeks

Not till after the 20 week scan, but I'd had three previous miscarriages (which they knew about) and didn't want to tempt fate.

The covid related risks to pregnancy don't really begin to rise until late 2nd trimester so there's no rush, but you should have a risk assessment when you feel comfortable regardless of covid.
My teacher friend told her school around 12 weeks as she had needed a couple of days off in that term for sickness.

I wasn’t under the impression that Covid especially affects pregnant women? Only those pregnant women who are unvaccinated? And I got Covid at 27 weeks.

I told work at 14 weeks as my 12 week scan was during the summer holidays and before that I’d had no symptoms so I was convinced that something was wrong. I’ve been out of class since coming back after Xmas as part of the 28 week guidance, although I did stay in class until 31 weeks. I believe the 28 week guidance isn’t guidance anymore and on the union websites it just states extra precautions to keep you safe. Lots of schools, certainly in my area, are sticking to the 28 week guidance though but not sure how long that will last.

I told my school at 12 weeks. I am now 30 weeks and still in the classroom. There was some talk of me stopping at 28 weeks but thank God the midwife said I could carry on. Planning to work till 38 weeks

Should add I am fully vaccinated and boosted. I am 30 so not an older mum and have a healthy BMI.

Told them unofficially at 8 weeks due to covid risk assessment and sickness. Wouldn't have done it in old school as they were bastards.

I told my HT and LSA as soon as I found out, as I had early symptoms and knew it would make my life easier if I wasn’t having to come up with excuses from them. I’m grateful I did, as I’ve just been signed off work by the doctor for 2 weeks due to recurrent migraines, which they believe is linked to the pregnancy. One way or the other, the doctor wasn’t sure whether drugs would be a good idea, so time off is the first port of call. Because my HT knows I’m pregnant, she isn’t super supportive of me having time off (even though I’m not keen!)

I’m not a teacher but a TA. I’m planning on waiting until after my 12 week scan to tell school. However, there are 4 positive cases in my class, all tested positive yesterday and 2 went home with fevers today. I’m 8+2 weeks and may tell them if we go over the 5 cases, as the head mentioned today he’d try to keep our class open but separated from the rest of the school. I thought after 5 cases the class closed 🤷🏼‍♀️

I am only just gone 5 weeks but I think I’m going to let the HT know very soon as I don’t want to have to make excuses if I feel unwell. I would also be glad she knew if something went wrong,
as I think she’d be supportive & it’s not like she will be able to tell anyone else.

I told them at 5 weeks because of sickness - I had to leave lessons because of it. I also taught sitting down a lot and didn’t want them to think I wasn’t teaching my normal way!
I miscarried in July and needed to tell HOD because of time off etc. So figure if it went wrong this time I’d tell her anyway.
For what it’s worth though the risk assessment really didn’t seem to do much at my school! Only identified workload as a risk 🤷‍♀️

I told my HT at 6 weeks, mainly due to Covid as soon as they know they need to make extra consideration for your safety. Did a risk assessment my first week back.

I teach in alternative provision and plan to tell them next week when I am 5 weeks! It's very early, but we often deal with quite physical behaviour so I will need people to know that I won't be able to get as involved as usual.

If you work in secondary, they already know. There will be a girl in Year 9 who has clocked something pregnant about you and told the entire school, inc the staff room. This is true even if you only found out yourself today.

I told my headteacher at 6 weeks as I had to take a couple of days off due to sickness. I was CEV before pregnancy, so covid is also a concern, even though I'm jabbed and boosted.

I'm now 10 weeks and haven't heard anything about a risk assessment. My school seems to be pretending that covid doesn't exist now though and pregnant teachers have been expected to be at work even after 28 weeks.

Lol @HelloDulling. My Y12s knew last term before I'd told anyone or (thought I) was showing!

@Welliboots you should ask your manager for a risk assessment (ideally this should be refreshed every 8-10 weeks during your pregnancy as the issues you might experience are dynamic).
Get your trade union involved if your school are not facilitating this in a timely manner.
Thank goodness you are jabbed and boosted!

Thanks for starting this thread OP. I've often wondered this myself. I got pregnant and miscarried in summer hols and nobody needed to know at school as it was early miscarriage. I dread to think how difficult it could be during term time.

I told early. Maybe 7 weeks? I didn’t plan on but we had a large delivery of outdoor furniture I was expected to move and I didn’t feel comfortable with it so told colleague. Then we had a suspected case of slapped cheek so told TA so could stay away but also decided to tell HT in case any other illnesses etc. Glad I did because we then had Scarlet Fever, chicken pox and Covid outbreak! She kept it to herself at my request but I’m glad I told her as she was more understanding. It also explained why I was sick a lot!

I'm six weeks abs haven't said yet. I'm thinking after feb half term if all ok.

Thanks for your replies everyone. I decided to tell a couple of close colleagues who I trust to keep it confidential. I will be telling the headteacher and my department team officially after my 12 week scan provided all goes well.

I told mine last week at 5 weeks. I want them to do a prompt risk assessment as I work in an area with one of the covid rates in the country.

Still waiting for them to rush assess.

Told work at 14w. Worked until 31w in class, now I'm working until 36w at home before mat leave starts

@TotoAnnihiliation

I told mine last week at 5 weeks. I want them to do a prompt risk assessment as I work in an area with one of the covid rates in the country.

Still waiting for them to rush assess.

Risk assess! 🤦🏼‍♀️