Just wondering what everyone thinks. I work at the YMCA as a camp counselor and one of the lifegaurds who works there watching our kids is pregnant. I mean very noticable pregnant like maybe 6 months or so?

I know its not right to judge who is right for a job or anything. But the other counselors and I were talking about how unsafe we thought it was. For her, her baby and anyone she is watching in the pool.

What is your take on this?

EDITED

I forgot, everyone is supposed to agree on everything here. :nutts

I would be nervous with a lifegaurd that far along and I do not think I would allow my kids to swim while she was the only one on duty. If there was another one along with her it would be different. Pregnant women just are not at the top of their game. Its hard to pull a body out of a pool and I cant imagine having to do it with a big ole belly.

EDITED

I forgot, everyone is supposed to agree on everything here. :nutts
What did you say??

Interesting debate...

I would fear for the safety of the lifeguard and I would watch my kids a bit more closely...

I would let them swim but I think I would be more careful with them in the water..

Are there regulations on this?

if I were there I would not mind but I was thinking about katie's situation and thought parents wouldnt be there because is a YMCA thing :puzz

I would think that for her own safty, such as something happening and her drowning, they wouldnt allow a woman that far along to be a lifeguard. I mean what happens if a kid accidently kicks her stomach really hard. Or she dives and hits the bottom of the pool.

I think thats far to dangerous. And I wouldnt allow my kids to swim while she was on duty.

EDITED

I forgot, everyone is supposed to agree on everything here. :nutts


Oh come on now, dont be a party pooper. 2 fights in 1 day would rock my boring world :teehee

I don't have children so this may be a silly question but is it safe for the baby if she had to jump into a 12ft. (or however deep) pool to save a child?

I don't have children so this may be a silly question but is it safe for the baby if she had to jump into a 12ft. (or however deep) pool to save a child?

My thoughts exactly. And I know from experience my best friend who is expecting, is much more tired, and fatigue sets in with her very early on in the day. I wouldnt think it would be smart for her the baby, or the children in the pool.

Its not a fight really.... but obviously the woman is IN SHAPE enough to be a life guard. Pregnancy is not a disease or an illness..... *its not catching, if it was Id be swimming on top of the woman at this point*

I think the way Katie and her coworkers are talking is ground for discrimination....

I was a gymnastics coach through my pregnancies with 2 of my kids. I just noted that now it makes me wonder if there were people out to take my job from me.... because evidentally pregnancy is now a handicap.

EDITED

I forgot, everyone is supposed to agree on everything here. :nutts


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v415/USNwife_April/01.jpg



:teehee

:rofl Thanks April.... now shoot some rainbows up my butt for good measure and I should be good to go!

I dont think its discrimination. But if enough people have concerns about it then It should be brought up to someones attention. To either one, clear the air that it is ok. Or secondly make the changes that need to be done.

I would guess as long as she was still able to do her job without risk to herself, baby, or patrons then it shouldn't matter...but in the past when my brother was a lifeguard for the city pools & beaches, they usually desked pregnant girls after a certain point in their pregnancy. So I find it odd that the YMCA still has her sitting up there!

It is discrimination...

The YMCA is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available person in every job. Association policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including genetic characteristics), ancestry or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful.

To comply with applicable laws ensuring equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability, the Association will make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who was an applicant or an employee unless undue hardship would result.

Any applicant or employee who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job should contact the vice president of human resources and request such an accommodation. The individual with a disability should specify what accommodations s/he needs to perform the job. The Association then will conduct an investigation to identify the barriers that make it difficult for the applicant or employee to have an equal opportunity to perform his or her job. The Association and the employee will identify possible accommodations, if any, that will help eliminate the limitation. If the accommodation is reasonable and will not impose an undue hardship, the Association will make the accommodation.

Where is ASH the ACLU would jump all over this one.

She's pregnant not handicapped. If she had to jump in the save a child there would be someone there waiting to help her pull the body out of the pool. Jumping into the water would not hurt the baby. You have skin, fat, and fluid to protect the baby. But these are my thoughts on the topic :dunno

I think the way Katie and her coworkers are talking is ground for discrimination....

I was a gymnastics coach through my pregnancies with 2 of my kids. I just noted that now it makes me wonder if there were people out to take my job from me.... because evidentally pregnancy is now a handicap.

It is grounds for discrimination! They can't fire her for her temporary condition or unrealistically knock her hours back, but they can bench her to the desk...but as long as she can do her job and her doctors say it is ok...guess it's no ones place to tell her to do different! I personally wouldn't take that risk though, I'd rather sit in the office or clean the pool area.

There is not always someone to help pull the body out, it happens too quick sometimes.

Many jobs require pregnant women to take a different position after a certain point and it is not discrimination.

I think if this lady is in shape and fatigue hasn't gotten the best of her then she should be ok. She should also be aware of the risks she is on herself (i.e. child possibly kicking her). She might have already talked with superiors on how long she may work in that position or whatever. Basically, if she is still able to do her duties as well as she did before pregnancy then that should be fine. I don't think it is ideal for coworkers to discuss among themselves if she should still be doing her job or not...if you have concern just talk to her directly (for whoever on the job may be discussing it)

I guess that's what I was trying to say too...I don't think she should get fired or anything for still lifeguarding...if she can do it at 6 months then more power to her! I just think that personally I wouldn't want to take that risk of over-exerting myself or in my case, lol, falling down those life guard things cause I'm not exactly what you would call 'coordinated' :teehee

I just think that personally I wouldn't want to take that risk of over-exerting myself or in my case, lol, falling down those life guard things cause I'm not exactly what you would call 'coordinated' :teehee


Did your mother call you Grace too :blush :giggle

I would be fine with it. :shrug As it was said, pregnancy is not a disabilty and it is discrimination to not let her do her job.

If pregnancy is a disabilty than someone owes me disabilty pay from when I worked in a group home while pregnant with my ds and when I was employed while pregnant with my dd.

MW5M ...

I see where you are coming from...

Obviously her doctor must know and okay it..

But you being a gymastics coach... being pregnant..were you ever put in a situation where you had to jump in the water to save someone... the hazards of that...

How much could you sit on the sidelines??

Be easy on me it has been a rough day!!:teehee

:yes

Group home worker here too.... with biting kicking screaming children... worse than a daycare center :giggle

It isnt a "disability" but you may need to change the conditions of your job!

:yes

Group home worker here too.... with biting kicking screaming children... worse than a daycare center :giggle

Yes it is! A group home for mentally retarded adults. One of which was almost 300lbs and liked to beat on the staff. Had to restrain her often!

MW5M ...

I see where you are coming from...

Obviously her doctor must know and okay it..

But you being a gymastics coach... being pregnant..were you ever put in a situation where you had to jump in the water to save someone... the hazards of that...

How much could you sit on the sidelines??

Be easy on me it has been a rough day!!:teehee

My face took the brunt of the legs and wayward butts..... and gymnastics coaching is 100% HANDS ON.... diving over a beam to catch a falling child is about the same, maybe a little rougher if you ask me... the water would be a cushion compared to a 4 inch wide padded board... I was in the wrong profession :shock

My face took the brunt of the legs and wayward butts..... and gymnastics coaching is 100% HANDS ON.... diving over a beam to catch a falling child is about the same, maybe a little rougher if you ask me... the water would be a cushion compared to a 4 inch wide padded board... I was in the wrong profession :shock
Wow.. you did well....

I would say you were a crazy woman!!

:teehee

When I get knocked up again, Ill look for a lifeguard position ;)

Oh wait my post should read..

This chic is crazy if she thinks she can do the job of a non pregnant woman!! What is she thinking!:teehee

I think if this lady is in shape and fatigue hasn't gotten the best of her then she should be ok. She should also be aware of the risks she is on herself (i.e. child possibly kicking her). She might have already talked with superiors on how long she may work in that position or whatever. Basically, if she is still able to do her duties as well as she did before pregnancy then that should be fine. I don't think it is ideal for coworkers to discuss among themselves if she should still be doing her job or not...if you have concern just talk to her directly (for whoever on the job may be discussing it)
I agree. My only concern would be the chemicals...I'm not sure how the YMCA works, if the lifeguards are responsible for treating the pool when necessary. Either way, if I were her coworker, I'd give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she knows what is and isn't safe for her and her baby.

First of all I want to appologize. I didn't mean to give the impression that I thought being pregnant was a "disability" or illness. And I know all jobs should have equal opportunity. And its not like we sit around talking about her all the time. Just a convo that just came up once while we were sitting in the pool area.

I'm sure that her doctor has okayed it and that the director of the lifegaurds is ok with it as well..or else she would be working different shifts or a different position. I didn't know how much that the depth of the water would effect the child as well as the possibility of being kicked...etc. I didn't even think about how/if the chemicals would effect the baby. I guess I just didn't realise that it was safe for pregnant women who were so far along to have jobs like this.. or gymnastics. :)

I won't pick on you too much kt, you obviously haven't been pregnant before, how are you going to know what is safe and what isn't?

There are plenty of women out there who are very paranoid when pregnant and don't think they can do anything (or other pregnant women). There are women out there who have no problem going on doing what they have been doing since before they were pregnant.

I was in karate when I got pregnant with Madison. My doctor said it was just fine to continue. I'm sure some people found it unsafe and thought I was stupid for putting myself and baby at risk but I never felt at risk. If I would have felt at risk I would have stopped. And of course I did stop eventually. I'm sure when she feels like she can't fulfill her duties as life guard anymore she'll take maternity leave or ask for something less physical.

I agree though, pregnancy isn't an illness or disease and pregnant women aren't as fragile as some make them out to be (unless of course they are high risk, which is the exception).

Yeah, my mom played softball while she was pregnant too.

I can't and won't speak for the safety of her pregnancy, because I don't know anything about pregnancy, not having experienced it myself. HOWEVER, I will say that you should not be walking off and leaving your kids at the pool. Lifeguards aren't babysitters. You are responsible for your kids; if something happens, you should be there to help, too.

HOWEVER, I will say that you should not be walking off and leaving your kids at the pool. Lifeguards aren't babysitters. You are responsible for your kids; if something happens, you should be there to help, too.

We don't leave our kids at the pool, nor do we expect the lifegaurds to babysit. At least one counselor is in the pool area at all times.Usually all of us are (about 8 of us)(and sometimes we even swim too..I swim pretty much every day with the kids) . However, I think only 1, maybe 2 of the counselors have been lifegaurd trained..in the past anyway, I don't know if they are up to date. We are not required to have lifegaurd qualifications, though we do have basic CPR training.We are there to do our job and they are there to do theirs.

(sorry if this comes off as rude or anything..its not meant to be that way)

I wasn't speaking to you, just in general terms....

katie I dont think you explained that its YMCA camp/daycamp......and its not parents leaving their kids for lifegaurds to babysit.


I still would not like a pregnant lifegaurd to be the only one on duty at a pool full of kids. It is hard work when a child is in distress and no matter how good a swimmer I am, and certified lifeguard, I would not trust that I could do all that was necessary to save a life. Nor would I trust another pregnant woman to either. This isnt a debate on if she is smart enough, but her physical self, the one that is used to perform this job, is compromised.

also there is a difference in being trusted to save a childs life and teaching them how to cartwheel.

Also, there is nothing wrong with her or the pregnancy or swimming.....

it is about her being able to save another childs life.

im a lifeguard... at a ymca.. thats NOT allowed..... its not safe at all for any party... the mom, the baby, or the children shes watching over... someone needs to speak up... in a nice manor though... its not supp to happen like that though

im a lifeguard... at a ymca.. thats NOT allowed..... its not safe at all for any party... the mom, the baby, or the children shes watching over... someone needs to speak up... in a nice manor though... its not supp to happen like that though


What's not allowed, for the lifeguard to continue her duties while expecting? How do they handle situations like that?

While I have never been pregnant....I can say I have seen the spectrum of several pregnancies....from on bedrest almost immediately to running in a 10K at 7 months pregnant.

I feel that this lifeguard is doing what SHE thinks is safe for her baby....and I am sure her Doctor and job are aware she is good health to continue to do the job.

~~~

If she were to be reassigned to a desk position.....she could sue for grounds of discrimination.....and as it has been stated before the ACLU would be ALL over it.

~~~

As the summer progresses.....she may need to volunteerly resign or her Doctor may limimt her physical activities.

Hmmm, maybe her employer missed the fact that she's pregnant :wink

You can't judge how far along someone is by how big or how little they are and you can't judge her ability to do her job or not do her job based on the fact that she is pregnant.

I was out breaking blacktop with a pick ax at 7.5 months pregnant. Being pregnant doesn't make you weak and unable to do things.
I worked the day one of my kids was born. Fatigue didn't get to me at the end of the pregnancy like it does some people.

My oldest daughter used to tease me that Taniyah was going to be Hurcules when she was born because of all the things I did while preggo with her:giggle

very good points and views, I have no side on the subject. Apryl--Gymnastic WOW--I watch non pregnant coach teach and I can't imagine a cute little belly for the little ones to KICK :giggle

Did your mother call you Grace too


:yes :teehee