I’d just qualified as a social worker when I found out I was pregnant. My manager was not very supportive at all. I began suffering from extreme pregnancy related anxiety, so I informed my manager, but nothing was done. They only conducted a risk assessment after I submitted a formal grievance, but it was appalling, and they refused to follow it. I was being pressured to work around 10 hours a day with no breaks, all the other social workers did this, and more, in order to (barely) keep on top of their caseloads, so it was expected that I would as well. My midwife wrote a letter outlining that I should not be working more hours than my contract. No one cared or did anything. I complained to my manager, my supervisor, the supervisor of newly qualified social workers, the principle social worker (I actually had a breakdown on him), the area manager and HR; still nothing. Except a meeting with the area manager which was used to bully me and ask me why I wasn’t able to do my job in the time allocated. My GP signed me off sick for a week but all that meant was I had double the work to do when I came back. I then had reduced movements and measurements indicated my baby was not growing so I had to go for extra scans. By this time, I had another new manager who was very difficult about me attending growth scans, shouting at me in the office that I had child protection visits to complete and it was my responsibility to do them. I was desperately asking colleagues to cover my visits so I could attend my scan that afternoon (I had only been given the appointment that morning). At the growth scan the consultant signed me off for another week when I explained the situation. My baby was born early, had low birth weight and had to spend time in special care. I fully blame the way I was treated by my workplace and the stress and anxiety they caused me for this. They ruined my pregnancy, and my confidence and it took me months to get back to feeling myself.