Reasonable to decline work travel and evening events at 31 weeks pregnant?

[HettyMeg]

Work travel during pregnancy

I work remotely most of the time and need a fairly long train journey to get to London for meetings and events. I'm usually expected to attend an annual dinner and this year I'll be 31 weeks pregnant.

I'm only in the 2nd trimester now but thinking I won't feel up to the dinner with the hours of travel and then a late night having to look after clients while sober!

Is it reasonable to decline work events at this stage of pregnancy given the travel required and tiredness etc?

It's just a dinner. No-one cares nor remembers whether you were there in a few months' time. I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Sign up to go then nearer the time if you can't, don't go.

This. I had straightforward pregnancies but know others who had SPD. Plus corporate drones are far more boring when they are all drunk and you are completely sober. If I could get out of it I would.

Well I did it once before. I have a husband who looked after baby when I came back from mat leave and doing work things. By then I wasn't carrying a ton weight on my person and feeling so physically exhausted!

I’m 31 weeks now and have cracked a rib coughing from having pregnancy rhinitis. Not deemed a complicated or high risk pregnancy but there’s no way I could make a trip like this. You could accept now and then decline closer to the time once you know how you’re coping. No one can say anything either way so do what’s best for you.

It's over 4h each way.

I would tegister now with my employer that I might not be able to attend due to my pregnancy, but make a final judgement on it nearer the time. How do you know how you will feel? You might be absolutely awful and have pelvic girdle pain and barely be able to walk, you might eb absolutely fine. One pregnancy i was doing totally normal stuff up until I went into labour including driving myself hours away, the other pregnancy I was in a lot of pain towards the end and really couldn't do much at all. I would show willing by leaving it to nearer the time to make a final decision but warn your employer now. If they need a decision now (eg because they need to get someone else to go yo cover) I'd err on not going. Either way I don't think it is unreasonable.

Easier to go at 31 weeks pg than with a 9mo
baby. You could bag some goodwill for next year. Or, just call off sick nearer the time

Do it. Do it. Do it.

Do all of the things.

So much harder in a year or 2 years' time, especially if this is your second child. Your life is about to get SO busy, enjoy these opportunities.

How will you make the travel? Could they arrange overnight accommodation?

I don't think it's unreasonable at 31 weeks to travel or be out past 6 pm, we had a girls trip at 32 weeks so flying and days out.

However, you need to properly assess your risk with work. Who would go if you don't? Who is covering you for mat leave - if it's inhosue, would they want to go? Is this seen as a work perk usually so it will be easy to replace y o u? Do you hold all the specialist knowledge?

Sounds reasonable if you’re not up to it but I’d see how you feel. I went to a wedding on my due date and felt perfectly fine- the baby was born almost two weeks after that!