Freedom Day (heavily pregnant or with newborn) Anxiety

[wingingit987]

Freedom day is the 19th July. No masks no social distancing nothing. I am due the 15th July and am starting to feel abit concerned/anxious about having no restrictions.

Im concerned of what is the best thing to do with visitors should be? How many visitors do you allow? What's the best way to keep a new born safe and also myself I chose not to have the vaccine while pregnant when the vaccine first came out we were advised against it and I kind of stuck by that. Quite happy to have it once I'm finished breast feeding but not at the moment.

I don't really feel like I can say to someone if you've not had 2 doses of the vaccine you can't come in or hold my baby.

Any advice is welcome. Im ready to pop so may just be feeling a tad emotional.

Firstly, congratulations and chill out

It’s totally up to you as to what visitors you do and don’t have. You might not feel up to loads when the baby is here due to delivery, or you might want to show the baby off to everyone who will listen.

I’d just take it as it comes, and if you’re not comfortable with other people who haven’t been vaccinated then that’s fine too. Totally your choice

It's your baby; you can say to anyone that they can't come or hold baby, you don't need any other reason than that you're not happy about it/ready.

So important to recognise that you are in control of your boundaries around baby (taking any partner into account of course).
Congratulations - hope it goes well OP.

@wingingit987 I am due this week and am yet to go for my vaccine. Completely understand the concern about visitors coming. We are planning on only letting close family come the first 1-2 weeks, all of whom have had both doses of the vaccine apart from nieces/nephews. My DH is due his 2nd dose in August so I feel we couldn't say only visitors with both doses when we haven't had them if that makes sense? I'm hoping to get my 1st dose once baby arrives. Extended family and friends we haven't really thought much about as thats likely to be 2-4 weeks down the line and by then, I may feel strongly either way about them holding the baby etc!

I don't really feel like I can say to someone if you've not had 2 doses of the vaccine you can't come in or hold my baby.

^
This is what I have said. And I have asked visitors to take a LFT just to come to the house as my newborn is prem and only just got her well! I'm more concerned about protecting my baby than upsetting anyone and non of my close family have had a problem with not being able to cuddle baby yet

I haven't managed to have my second dose due to baby being prem either so it's for everyone's benefit.

lft are a good idea. I have a few left about from when I was working. Most of my family work in health care so are doing them already.

Thanks for the replies maybe I need to chill abit. Xx

You can have the vaccine while you are breastfeeding, I did, talk to your midwife, it does make a difference to anxiety around it all once you're vaccinated.

when the vaccine first came out we were advised against it

No, that’s not true. We were never advised against it; it was simply said there wasn’t enough data yet.

There now is, and it’s certified for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

@emilyfrost it is true when the vaccine first came out I was first in the que due to where I worked I was advised against the Pfizer vaccine at that time due to lack of evidence. They did not think it would cause any problems and that. I was not the only member of staff advised against it by a medical professional those trying to conceive was advised against it I actually have paperwork stating that you should wait 12 weeks after your second vaccination before trying to conceive.

You are perfectly free to say only people with two doses! When your baby comes you may well not feel like having her or him risk illness. It’s not great for the baby to be unwell and it’s exhausting to be an ill mother to a young baby and still have to slog on.

Hope all goes well. You'd be reasonable to only have the baby's dad for a first few days if that was your choice.

Do not worry about offending people. I have no baby and am still.planning on sticking with outdoor meetings and social distancing. It just seems sensible given cases are going to rise and rise. I'm certainly not going to start hugging people just on Boris's advice. Do what you feel comfortable with.

You can say whatever you like to people regardless of Covid-specific circumstances. I said no visitors at all for three weeks after the birth of DS, because I didn’t want anyone. No one died because of thwarted baby-cuddling urges.