5 things you need to know about...time off for antenatal care

1. Employees have the right to reasonable paid time off work for ante natal appointments, including time spent travelling to an appointment & waiting. 

2. You can’t be refused time off for your first appointment, but for subsequent appointments your employer can ask for written proof of the appointment and a certificate or note from your doctor or midwife, stating that you are pregnant. If you don’t provide these, your employer can refuse the time off.

3. You can’t be asked to make appointments in your own time, or make up the time later.

4. An ante natal appointment is any appointment you make on the advice of your doctor, midwife or health visitor. This includes antenatal and relaxation classes.

5. These rights don’t apply to your partner too.  For more information, visit workingfamilies.org.uk

Did you know?

If you’re going for a job interview while you’re pregnant and are worried you might be discriminated against (which is illegal), it’s worth remembering you’re under no obligation to tell your employer, or potential employer, that you are pregnant until the 15th week before your baby is due. You may need a very big briefcase to cover your bump though…

Childcare online

If you’ve already started to think about childcare options, check out sharingcare.co.uk, which helps you find nannies available for sharing with other families in your local area.

£200 is the amount by which pregnant women will be better off after April 2009, when child benefit will be paid from the 29th week of pregnancy, as opposed to after the baby’s birth, as is currently the case.

Working with a bump

Toni Herschel, is pregnant and works as a set dresser


How did work react when you told them you were pregnant?

Well, I’m freelance, but my bosses on the property dressing job I was working on were worried about me carrying on, as I have to lift heavy things. I carried on for four months before it all got too much.

It’s hard when you’re freelance, as you don’t have as much back-up as when you’re permanently employed. I think I tried to over-compensate a bit too much, to prove I could still do my job well.


Any embarrassing moments?

A contractor tried to pick me up! After climbing up four flights of stairs, he told me ‘You’re in really good shape.’ When I told him I was six months pregnant (my bump was hidden under a big fleece), he was very embarrassed. I was quite chuffed though!


Are you planning to take any maternity leave?

I’ll take at least three months leave, then I’d like to go back to freelancing a couple of times a week. I do get some Statutory Maternity Pay, but luckily my husband can support us.


Have you thought about childcare?

I’m from South Africa, so I don’t have any family here to help me out. I’ll try and have the baby with me at work sometimes but otherwise, we’ll probably have to use a nursery, although they seem very expensive.


Have you bought much for the baby yet?

I started at five months, as the pregnancy didn’t seem real until the baby started kicking. Now, every time I go to the shops, I come home with something, little clothes and things.


Are you worried about how much the baby will cost?

I used to be quite a worrier, but now Craig’s taken over! I think we’ll be alright – we might just have to cut back a bit, but we’ve both already given up smoking, which has had a huge effect on our bank balance.


Which celebrity mum do you admire?

Liv Tyler. She seems quite nautral and relaxed – not too primped and preened – and she didn’t spring back into shape immediately after birth.