Advice for pregnant women working in public-facing jobs

New information has just been released from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, outlining clinical and government advice for pregnant women in public-facing roles.

For many people, working through a pandemic, whether it be from your home or on the frontlines, has been a struggle — not to mention the added worries and anxiety which come along with being pregnant during this time. With so much information and advice out there, it can be hard to figure out how it applies to you and your work-life, especially if you’re in a public-facing role.

The UK Government has maintained the precautionary measure of classing pregnant women as clinically vulnerable or at moderate risk. This means that pregnant women should continue to work from home if possible. However, their updated advice outlined that if you can’t work from home, pregnant women can work in public-facing roles, as long as appropriate modifications are made to minimise your exposure to the public. 

An individual risk assessment will have to be made between you, your employer and your occupational health team, examining your workspace and individual situation. If it’s decided that it’s safe for you to return to work, then you must be extra vigilant about social distancing and hand hygiene, especially if you are 28 weeks pregnant or beyond.

This is due to a study which examined the outcomes of 427 pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus. The study showed that while most of the women only needed ward treatment and were discharged home, 1 in 10 cases needed intensive care, and sadly five of the women with coronavirus died. Of those who did become critically ill, the majority were in their third trimester, emphasising the importance of wearing face coverings, social distancing and regular hand washing from 28 weeks of pregnancy.