FPP helps protect expectant mothers Published Oct. 29, 2014 By Peggy de Bruyn and Lt. Col. Giuseppe De Abate 94th Bioenvironmental Engineering and 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- If you are pregnant or are a supervisor of a pregnant worker, you need to be aware of the Air Force Reserve Command Instruction 41-104, Pregnancy of Air Force Reserve Personnel which outlines the AF Fetal Protection Program. The purpose of the FPP is to maintain mission resource capabilities by retaining pregnant Reserve personnel until the 34th week of pregnancy, while ensuring a safe work environment by minimizing the risk factors that might adversely affect you and your developing baby. The program is necessary because mothers and their developing babies are at an increased risk to physical, chemical and biological hazards in the work environment. The FPP protects you and your future child by establishing procedures to provide a safe work environment through workplace surveillance programs, early detection, reporting, education, medical assessments, workplace pregnancy evaluations, establishment of physical restrictions, monitoring and required medical clearance of the member prior to returning to duty. It is important that you report your pregnancy to your supervisor as soon as you learn about your condition. The first three months of pregnancy are the most critical in the development of a fetus which can be adversely affected by harmful workplace environments. It is also vital to notify the 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron. Bring documentation of the pregnancy indicating your current health and any physical restrictions from your civilian health care provider to the 94th ASTS clinic. You will be notified to report to the 94th Mission Support Group military public health and bioenvironmental engineering services to start her workplace pregnancy evaluation. A profile serial report and pregnancy notification letter will be sent to your supervisor. After a MPH/BEES representative completes the workplace pregnancy evaluation, the findings are reported to the 94th ASTS clinic. A medical officer will make modification to your profile. As a pregnant service member, you are required to provide progress reports from your civilian provider every 60 days to the ASTS. At 34 weeks, your profile will be modified to a P-4 until 6 weeks post-partum. After having your baby, you are required to be medically cleared prior to returning to duty. You need to bring in documentation which indicates your current health and any physical restrictions from your civilian health care provider to ASTS. A medical officer will review your documentation and make any modifications to the member's profile. Though the FPP was created to protect, it will only be effective if all expectant mothers report their pregnancy to their supervisors and the ASTS. For more information, call Peggy de Bruyn at 678-655-5990 or Lt. Col. Giuseppe De Abate at 678-655-4995.
