How long to isolate for before childbirth?

[Fudgewhizz]

My mum is self isolating before I have my C section so she can look after our DD. We're also doing it to make sure that DH is symptom-free and can be with me.

I can't find any guidance on how long to do it for - only if there's someone in your household with symptoms, which none of us have. She thinks it's 14 days, I thought it was 7. Who is right?!

[Raindancer411]

I would do 14 days to err on side of caution

[TheGreatWave]

I would say 14 too as that is the (up to) incubation period.

[Layladylay234]

We're due a c section next week and have generally been self isolating since the end of March but have been particularly careful in the 14 days leading up to the birth.

[pinknsparkly]

14 days is the time period you have to self-isolate if a member of your household has symptoms, as that is the incubation period of the virus. 7 days is the length of time you have to self-isolate if you have the symptoms yourself.

Some areas of the NHS are requiring patients to self-isolate for 14 days prior to elective surgery/therapy to ensure they are virus free on the day of admission, so I would also go for 14 days

[Fudgewhizz]

Thanks everyone - 14 days it is! My daughter is SO excited about getting to hug her gran, bless her.

[PrivateD00r]

Definitely 14 days. I don't mean to be patronising, but that is extremely responsible op. Would you consider moving your mum in after the isolation person so she can help you out after? Good luck

[Gronky]

To expand on the reasoning, 7 days is considered the period of time between symptoms appearing and a person no longer being infectious (provided they have recovered). 14 days permits those in multiple occupancy households to be potentially infected by others and then reach a point where they are no longer considered at risk of being infectious (provided they don't develop symptoms).