Survey highlights safety fears of pregnant women

Over half of pregnant women working outside the home do not feel safe during Covid, according to a survey by Pregnant Then Screwed.

Its study of 7,556 mums and pregnant women shows that 56% of pregnant women working outside of the home do not feel safe. A further 66% of pregnant women working in public-facing roles say that it is impossible to keep a two-metre distance.

In December the Government released guidance on the safety of pregnant workers during Covid-19 more than nine months after pregnant women were first classed as clinically vulnerable and after repeated pleas from campaigners. The guidance reinforces existing provisions in law and states that all pregnant women must have an individual risk assessment conducted by their employer and that risk assessment must ensure a pregnant woman can adhere to active social distancing guidance. A pregnant woman must only continue working if the risk assessment advises that it is okay to do so; otherwise she must be suspended from work on paid leave.

The survey shows that more than a quarter of pregnant women working outside of the home have not had a risk assessment conducted.

Joeli Brearley, CEO and Founder Pregnant Then Screwed said: “We have been calling on the Government and employers to keep pregnant women safe for almost a year now, yet our research shows that we continue to stand by as thousands of pregnant women are working in environments where they feel unsafe and cannot socially distance. Study after study has revealed that pregnant women, particularly those in the later stages of pregnancy, are at greater risk of becoming severely unwell. There is also evidence that pre-term births are more likely, as is inflammation of the placenta. Surely as a society we want to do everything in our power to protect vulnerable new mums and their unborn child and ensure they feel safe? Why do we continue to turn a blind eye to this issue?”

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