If you are pregnant, have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, your employer must make sure that the kind of work you do and your working conditions will not put your own health or your baby's health at risk. There are specific laws which require your employer to protect you at work while you are pregnant as well as when you return to work as a new mum, including the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. To get the full benefit of this protection you must notify your employer in writing that you are pregnant or have recently given birth or are breastfeeding. Your employer may ask for a certificate from your GP or midwife, confirming you are pregnant.

Your employer should carry out a risk assessment of your working conditions and if any working conditions are found to be a risk to your health or your baby your employer must remove or reduce that risk. If the risks remain they must temporarily alter your working conditions or hours of work to remove the risk. If this is not possible your employer must offer you a suitable alternative job. If they can't offer you a suitable alternative job, your employer should suspend you on full pay for as long as is necessary to avoid the risks.

You also have the right to reasonable time off work for antenatal care and you have the right to be paid for this time off. The term 'Antenatal Care' can include time off for parent craft or relaxation classes as long as they are taken on the advice of your midwife or doctor.

For more information, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/index.htm, call the Adviceline on 0800 019 2211 or email your query for professional advice and support.