The number of women who work outside of the home during pregnancy in Anguilla has increased drastically in the last few years. Many women continue to work until close to delivery so that they can have more time with their newborn after delivery. Pregnancy is a normal event and, generally speaking, most jobs cause no increased hazard to the mother or baby.

Women and housework
Although the number of women working outside of the home has risen in recent years, women in Anguilla who become pregnant always continue to work in the home. Such work includes washing, cooking and cleaning, along with the loads imposed by other children, husband, and maybe parents. When a woman who is pregnant works at home she often has no rest or meal breaks. If she works outside the home as well, housework is often done in the evenings and at weekends. The vast majority of pregnant women in Anguilla do some form of house work and this usually continues up to the point of the onset of labour.

Specific hazards at work
The vast majority of pregnant women are aware of specific hazards in their workplace. These are most important in very early pregnancy; when an influence maybe teratogenic should the insult occur at a specific time in embryogenesis (formation of the embryo).
Chemical hazards-many chemicals are used in industry, but only a few have been proven to be teratogenic for humans while others have been shown to be teratogenic for animals. If a woman is worried about chemicals in her workplace she should consult her obstetrician. Any woman who thinks that she is working with a toxic hazard should discuss this well before pregnancy for it is often too late to start making arrangements in early pregnancy. Employers should make arrangements for such women to be transferred to another area so that the woman is not exposed to these hazards.
Physical hazards-at specific times in embryogenesis, physical hazards, can cause abnormalities. X-rays are a risk in early pregnancy, particularly if multiple exposures are done. Women who work in radiation departments, and are exposed to repeated radiation, should consult their obstetrician for further advice.
Ultrasound has been widely used for a number of years and there is no epidemiological evidence of ultrasound-associated abnormalities in humans.
Visual display units have been around for over 20 years and recent studies have not shown any risk due to the use of such units.

Non-specific hazards
Environmental factors at work that induce boredom and fatigue were found to have long term effects on pregnant women.

Maternity leave
Most working women in Anguilla are eligible for thirteen weeks maternity leave. The vast majority of pregnant women usually discuss with their doctor the time for taking maternity leave and a decision is made on the most appropriate time for them to stop work. In the vast majority of cases most employers accept the dates provided by the doctor and patient. Since returning to Anguilla, in 1991, the most discontented patients regarding maternity leave have been those employed by the Government of Anguilla. Many of these civil servants are extremely bitter regarding arrangements for their maternity leave. Maternity leave for civil servants is governed by General Orders which clearly states: “A woman officer will be eligible for the grant of thirteen weeks maternity leave with full salary of which up to six may be taken before the estimated date of confinement”. This does not mean that all officers must take six weeks before the estimated date of confinement. In the absence of medical or other legitimate reasons there are no obstetrical reasons to force all pregnant women to take six weeks maternity leave prior to the date of confinement. The vast majority of women would prefer to spend more time with their newborn when such things like breast feeding and bonding with the newborn can be developed.
In Anguilla many pregnant women are unsure of their last menstrual period just prior to becoming pregnant. If they do not have and an early ultrasound scan to estimate the date of confinement it is often very difficult for the obstetrician to accurately estimate the date of confinement for these women.

Sick leave
The vast majority of women can work for most of their pregnancy. Pregnant women in jobs with no toxic risk need not be deterred from working. In a few pregnancies complications do develop and these women do require sick leave. These high risk patients should be under the care of an obstetrician and the employer should be informed about the sick leave request by the patient and her obstetrician.

Conclusion
More and more women in Anguilla are working during pregnancy and want to continue to work for as long as possible. A woman should be warned that if any complications arise she may be required to stop work. If there is flexibility and the job is not one entailing a high risk from toxic agents most women can continue working for as long as they wish during pregnancy.

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