Posted By fats van den raad Hope somebody can help. One of our Reps has reported that she is with child. We have already covered the generic issues such as manual handling, contact with potentially hazardous substances, etc with regards to this RA. I am after some guidance regarding the one thing that reps do most of, i.e. driving. Any ideas as to special consideration that should be given to the driving habits of pregnant sales reps? Thanks in advance for any help

Posted By Karen Todd Also, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy, some ladies find they need the loo more often. Don't know how many calls/day your ladies do but hopefully the toilet facilities at those premises will be sufficient. Some difficulties might be experienced with the type of vehicle itself, but the only one I had difficulties with was my brother's car which was lowered way, way down. Some people find people carriers & jeeps easier to get in & out of (and they are also easier to put baby in and out of the car seat in), but I doubt you'd be able to change their cars due to contractual arrangements with the car providers (assuming they have company cars), and in any instance they may like the cars they are in. I know that when I was preggers I changed my car to an "oldie but goodie" & got myself a diesel Audi quattro A4 estate, which I love. I wanted something with good safety features that if the worst happened, I hoped I had a chance of coming out of. I also find driving an estate really practical for all the baby stuff, and I like being 4-wheel drive as we live in the middle of nowhere and there has been some really c**p weather this year. Hubby has a Renault Laguna estate, which has much more room for our daughter between the back of the front seat and her feet, but I find his car really bouncy and rumbly - I always feel ill when I'm a passenger in it (maybe it's more to do with his driving than the car)!!! Also, don't know what range your ladies cover, but would suggest they keep their maternity notes with them in the car, and that you discuss an "emergency plan". I worked until I was 39 wks pregnant and was fine, even if I had of gone into labour at work I'd still have been able to drive myself home OK as things went really slowly and not particularly painfully at the start, but this is not the same for everyone!!! Don't know what your lone worker policies are, maybe they are already sufficient, e.g. sales reps ring in when they arrive at every destination? Regards, KT

Posted By Merv Newman Two responses from mothers, now one from a dad (but the baby is nearly 44 years old and a safety consultant. All those hopes ....) There is no RA for expectant mothers. There ARE RAs for them. Pregnancy is a dynamic ongoing situation. In the first trimester the lady may not even know she is pregnant. (yeah a bit of vomiting, a bit of tension, (women !) T2 is the worrying and the gladsome hoping time. Less vomiting, more tears. RAs 1 to 3. Tendency to want pickled vanilla ice cream. At 3am. Expect tears. You as well as her. Not ever having been there myself (can't, sorry) I feel that T3 is the most important time for careful RA, and TLC. Again a time of great hope and of great worry (for me at least) RAs 4 to 99 ie daily. Should husband also be an employee then a separate RA will be required for the day of birth. Risk of nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, over-wetting of head, too many cigars. And stress, of course. Best regards for everyone directly involved. Merv

Posted By fats van den raad Thank you one and all for the responses. I can certainly take several points away from each of them that I have not considered before!! (even from Merv's response!! :) ) Thank you once again for your help!!