Question about support bubbles

[PumpkinSpicedLatte]

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to write, sorry if it’s the wrong section .

I am currently battling severe PND. My daughter is almost 10 weeks. My husband works long days. Up until now I’ve been in contact with two friends who help me a lot supporting me emotionally. We would go out and keep me occupied in a positive way and they’d be there should I need them when I felt very low. I know we can’t go out and do things socially now but I wondered what the rules are with regards to them coming in to my house . Would they be able to be in a bubble , I’m not sure where the rules stand with regards to certain needs . Sorry if that doesn’t make much sense. I’m very panicked about being alone and about feeling unsafe
I’m in England .

Thank you

Are any of your friends single adults?

@Glovesick no both are married . Which is what is worrying me as they don’t live alone

Im not sure if both of them would be allowed in your house but I believe 1 of them would be and they would need to be the same friend and not.
If you wanted them both then you can have 1 who can come in your house and you can go for a walk with the other one

It remains the case, as it has been since June, that a support bubble is a single person. A single person may bubble with a family and vice versa. You are a family household and can form just one bubble with one single person. You can mix or swap bubbles.

Technically no, has to be a single adult household (either you or them)
You can meet one other outside so walks would be fine and children under school age are not included.
You can also choose to prioritise your mental health and I would urge you to do so. PND can be devastating.

*can't mix or swap support bubbles

You can meet with one of them at a time, visit an outdoor space (and take your baby if you like) details: www.instagram.com/p/CHD_G-1AbEe/?igshid=1n6t2uw6xfgjw

Organised support/therapeutic groups are still allowed to run, provided they're fewer than 15 people. So if you can find a local new mum support group, that might help you too. www.instagram.com/p/CHBeQWvgmVm/?igshid=1ijf13or19al6

I think your PND would trump the fact that the support person wasn’t a single person but if the person did become your support bubble then their partner would also have to accept that this is their bubble and they can’t have anyone in addition

There may also be circumstances in which they could be deemed to be giving you support.

Stay calm and take this one day at a time. If you need support reach out for it, I'm sure it will be fine if you need it. x

Support bubbles are only for an adult living alone but the guidance does mention caring responsibilities, your health visitor might be able to advise if that covers it.

Thanks everyone for clearing it up. I got myself very confused by it all, probably because I can’t really think straight at the moment . Thanks for your kind words x

People are allowed to visit others to provide care, I'm not sure if this would count?

You can also form a childcare bubble, although this is meant to be so the parent can work.

Otherwise there are loads of organisations local to me that offer support for mums with PND, it will look a bit different during lockdown but they might still poster counselling and chats... have you looked into what's available to you locally?

You might not be able to form a 'bubble' as such, but I'm sure we have always been allowed to provide care for those who need it during lockdown.

PND is a valid health condition that requires support so I'm sure your friends are fine to continue offering this (and even if it wasn't allowed, your health is a good enough reason to bend the rules).

You could meet them outside fir a walk (individually) no problem. You can sit in a park bench with a flask each etc. It won't rain everyday and the fresh air/exercise will do you good.

Support bubble - one of you needs to be a single adult living alone.

BUT they have made it very clear that Mental Health is very important and an exception (as is informal childcare) so I would say to do what you Need to do. Not more, but not less either and do it as safely as you possibly can.

And MN 24/7 - always someone here for a chat about most anything. Years ago we all used to post photos of the kids which was nice, but these days people are understandably more cautious so it's all cars,digs & decor!!

Just checked, the guidance states:

to visit members of your support bubblee_ or provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer

So surely this means one friend can come if you need support at a specific time

Be kind to yourself and if you need the support of your friends now for me that would be more important than following the rules to the letter.
As PP said it might be better to choose one friend to visit you at home and the other only meet outside.

None of you can bubble up because none of you meet the requirements (Single adult household, with or without children under 18)

BUT If you need care and support, this is allowed.

The rules are quite clear. No.

Thank you everyone for your help and guidance

@nanbread Thank you, I’ve looked locally and there’s not anything during this time but I am on the list for Homestart as my HV has expressed her concerns .
@NetflixWatcher they may be, but I personally found them a bit confusing as my head is a whirlwind at the moment. Thank you though x

Support bubbles are for single people who love alone.

That would (in my case) include my widowed Mum and one of my adult kids (obviously mum and child do not live together.)

You cannot have a support bubble. You have a partner.

You can meet with ONE other adult outside in a PUBLIC place like a park or the countryside.

These do not need to be the same person BUT you cannot meet more than ONE person at a time.

BUT If you need care and support, this is allowed.

@HotToCold My understanding of this is that to be a carer, and providing support, you may need to be working as a paid for carer, OR listed with the person's GP as their main carer.

You cannot get round the support bubble rules by suddenly declaring you are a carer. That would make a nonsense of it all.

@Rainb0wDrops It's people like you who encourage others to bend the rules that are perhaps the reason for the 2nd wave.

FFS- there are millions of people who could bend the rules.

(I could- my mum is 95 , lives alone, and has 1 person in her support bubble- not me as I live too far away. I can't rock up and give her extra support or even go in her house.)

The OP is not allowed anyone in her house.

How dare you suggest she does?

I am really shocked at the number of posters here who are trying to encourage the OP to bend the rules.

You should be ashamed.

That's why we are fucked- everyone bending rules.

You can mix or swap bubbles.

@ShatnersWig You most certainly cannot swap bubbles.

Once someone is your bubble, that's it.

Swapping bubbles increases risk of infection as more people are mixing with more households.

I won’t bend the rules . I want to make that clear . I just want to clarify what the rules were . I won’t have anyone other than my husband in the house . He’s a nurse and has worked at the face of the pandemic since day one , so I know the severity and won’t risk anyone . I just wanted to make sure I was understanding correctly .

Thank you everyone . Stay safe