should i travel for work at 30 weeks pregnant

fantafan

I think you have to get a "Fit to fly" certificate from your doctor at that late stage don't you?

ginvzt

paul2louise wrote: »

Having spoken to HR today they have said that I am NOT to travel at 30 weeks. I wonder if it should have been my responsibility to ask all these questions in the first place. I think because my manager is based in the Netherlands then things like this get overlooked. I am grateful for everyones response and i hope if any other women in a similar position can take some advice here too.

No, it is not your responsibility. Did you inform HR about your pregnancy? Then as far as I understand they should have done risk assessment for your work. Including the 25 week trip. Please, make sure that the travel insurance is adequate and the insurance company is informed that you are pregnant. (Even though it is only in europe and the Netherlands are not far, better be safe than sorry)

Best of luck!

donteatthat

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I never made it to 30 weeks pregnant :rotfl:

Me neither. I went into premature labour at 28+5, after a very uneventful pregnancy. If it had been 10 days earlier i would have been in Spain. Personally, if I have another I'm not leaving the country after 20 weeks. You just never know what might happen. Louise - I'm pleased for you that you aren't doing this trip

lilian1977

I was supposed to go to a 5 day Conference in America at about 15 weeks - I told them I wasn't going mainly because if anything happened I would be at least 12 hours away from my OH what with the changing planes and trains etc. I would never have risked it. As it happened I was exhausted at 15 weeks so really glad I didn't.

I can only echo what everyone else has said - please ensure your travel insurance is correct for the Netherlands trip and that the risk assessment has been carried out.

clairehi

paul2louise wrote: »

Having spoken to HR today they have said that I am NOT to travel at 30 weeks. I wonder if it should have been my responsibility to ask all these questions in the first place.

well it is your legal responsibility to notify your employer that you are pregnant by the time you are 25 weeks latest, and obviously if there is a risk to your health from work then you should let them know asap.

of course it is a bit ambiguous what "your employer" means but if you tell your line manager, that should be enough - they should ensure that you have all the correct information and guidance, which would include risk assessments. they should refer you on to HR if they are not themselves 100% clear on anything. if your line manager doesnt make sure of this then i would think that if anything happened to you then they would be at fault.

i would have thought that in the Netherlands the employment law and good practice would be at least as stringent as it is here with respect to maternity policies.

clairehi

ps having said that I am 27 weeks pregnant and I quite fancy a little jolly to the netherlands if you want to send me instead, dont know anything about IT though :rotfl:

paul2louise

Thanks again everyone. i informed my line manager and HR at around 16 weeks so they have had plenty of notification. I also had a bit of problem 2 weeks ago with pelvic girdle pain which i told them about and had some physio to help. i think the lack of communciation is what has gone wrong from my boss and HR not perhaps not covering everything as they should. But having said that i did say that i was happy to do the 25 weeks trip as i have been feeling ok so i am not going hold it against them for that. i am glad i did think to mention to HR about the suggested 30 week trip, they may have well decided this nearer the time without my mentioning it but i wanted the reassurance and not to worry about a trip which i am now not going on.
I feel good today and not as tired as in in the last few weeks and so will give the trip tommorrow my best shot and hoefully enjoy my trip on the high seas.
i will post again when i am back safe next week

thanks

londoner1998

paul2louise wrote: »

I want to know the reasons for concern of travelling at 30 weeks pregnancy.
I have been asked to travel to Europe(mode of travel is still negotiable) for work at 30 weeks pregnancy. I am 37 years of age and this is my first and maybe only child I am planning. I want to get an idea of the risks and concerns involved. I know you need doctors consent when you into the later stages of pregnancy. I want to show enthusiasm for my job but worry about the stress on me or my baby, is it worth it. Am justified to be hesitant in agreeing with my employer about this work request.
My husband isn’t very happy about it, both regarding the travel and the days spent away from home late into my pregnancy

thanks

Uhmmmm... I wouldn't be too keen myslef- I haven' had children, but flying/travelling is tough on the system s as it is and you are very close to giving birth... I know you are keen, but I don't think it i s worth the risk- can you suggest video/tlephone conferencing? I often am asked to travel for meetings within London and if they are in the middle of the day (when I would have to spend another 45mins travelling there and back) I have declined and joined by telephone conference... it is either that or they have to pay me expenses... :-)

Put yourself and your baby first- if they don't like it, tough, there are ways you can still contribute to your job...

In the meantime enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!

paul2louise

i am in netherlands now and feeling better after a good nights sleep. The option for this trip via video conferencing wasnt practical. My technical team are all based here so i need to have some face to face time to work through solutions and problems that i encounter being on my own in uk.
I am not going at 30 weeks for the tech meeting so as log as i take it steady over the next couple of days i will be fine.
Baby and i are eating well so not worried too much.

thank you

paul2louise

I got back from the netherlands this morning after quite a choppy sail but am glad i wont need to travel again.
thanks for all the replies