Thread: I am a lecturer. I am also 5.5 months pregnant, 38, and asthmatic. Your immunity lowers when you’re pregnant (so body doesn’t attack baby) which means you’re more vulnerable to illness. In “normal” times I frequently get ill during term time 1/?

(which I generally work through): everyone who works on a campus knows they are viral hotspots. As your pregnancy continues, your lungs gradually get smooshed up as your womb expands, making you easily breathless. When pregnant with my 1st child, my asthma got a lot worse 2/?

Getting a bad respiratory tract infection terrifies me. Despite the fact I appreciate the outcomes for both me and my unborn baby would likely be ok even if I did get COVID, I am also nevertheless scared of dying and leaving my young son. 3/?

My own mum died when I was 7 and my little sister was 2. The impact that had on our wellbeing and mental health continues to this day. I do not want my son to have to experience that. 4/?

And yet everyday on twitter I have to read all this crap about how I am a selfish snowflake hysteric for not travelling 1 hour on public transport every day to give my students f2f (instead of the meticulously planned online course I spent all summer designing for them 5/?

which I’ve already had some lovely feedback on - thank you students you’ve all been awesome and it’s a pleasure to teach you!). Apparently I’m not giving them value for money; I don’t care about *their* mental health. 6/7

FYI some of the most recent responses to the president of my union @ucu talking on the news is the exact kind of crap I’m talking about

@blue_stocking I am so sorry, Lucy. This whole thing is a monumental clusterfuck. I hope you do manage to stay safe. Solidarity.

@elmyra Thanks lovely 💚. I am lucky that my department has been extremely supportive of all staff; no one is being compelled to deliver f2f if they have concerns, and we were told this in the summer giving us plenty of time (relatively speaking) to adapt our teaching to online

@blue_stocking Strength to you. I am getting extremely cranky with people not putting up a fight against f2f when they have support in law & secure jobs & when failing to do so puts pressure on (vulnerable) others to comply.

@blue_stocking It's really crappy. Xx

@blue_stocking Ugh! I know someone who was recently exposed to an infected student and the class is in quarantine. He asked if he should quarantine too and administration was like “if you feel like you need to.” (we will hold his against you). And the teacher is expected to come into school.

@blue_stocking It's so so so so so shit.

@blue_stocking Thankfully I've haven't read those types of tweets. I'm happy to work in a Uni that does not compel staff to teach f2f if they are not comfortable with it or at risk. I'm also happy they're offering on campus for students who need it. I hope you're well Lucy and congrats in baby

@blue_stocking You and your future child are more important than teaching f2f, any student who doesn't get that doesn't deserve an education.

@blue_stocking It definitely does not! You're an amazing lecturer. Not sure (this) HE deserves you, that's the issue. #solidarity