Should pregnant women be wearing masks still?

[LittleLottieChaos]

Around 8 months pregnant here, should I be wearing a mask at all in your opinion? I’d genuinely like to know what your think, especially if you aren’t wearing a mask.

(I’m wearing a mask on the train into London, then the tube and not all the time at work as I’m able to stay upstairs away from clients)

@Aqua55 that’s just it isn’t it. I feel like I’m wearing it but not receiving any benefit whilst ‘protecting’ others… it’s just a bit off.

Happily I am vaccinated and will be working from home from November. However I truly hope my hospital is in a fit state in December… it’s not a highly rated hospital in the first place.

I can't believe the number of people who don't wear masks! I'm not pregnant and I wear a mask indoors in shops etc.

I would wear an FFP2 if pregnant. But I'm on the cautious side I know. Im in Ireland so still have to wear masks in public.

I wear ffp2 masks normally as it protects me
I wear ffp3 at work as I’m patient facing

If it makes you feel better, wear one.

I wouldn’t, but that is my choice.

I think people in general should, to protect others.

I think if you’re heavily pregnant you may struggle to cope with a mask, because my experience was that I was quite breathless in the last month or so. So don’t feel bad if you can’t wear one.

Absolutely. As should everyone. Simple measure to stop more strict measures. Even if it reduces your personal risk by 10% that is worth it.

I have been, but only to augment the fact that I'm vaccinated, not as an alternative. I caught norovirus from one trip to the local shop even with good hand hygiene (with a mask on too as it happens but obviously a different mode of transmission anyway) and was hospitalised with it at 8 months pregnant so if I wasn't feeling cautious before I certainly was after that.

But the mask is because it doesn't bother me wearing one and I can see the benefit. But it's not as obvious a benefit as being vaccinated so as long as I was, if I struggled with a mask I'd have probably ditched it. I'm only talking for public outings indoors though, and to be honest I've tried to limit them to essentials. Luckily lots of outdoors stay and plays and parks and things round us, DD is out of nursery and DP has been WFH.

This is mainly as we've been on the edge of an induction for the last five weeks and it one of us had tested positive it would have really caused problems with the logistics of me giving birth so we were keen to avoid it from that perspective as well as the obvious health one.

Everyone should be wearing masks.

I’m pregnant and wear mine where required except for if I think I’m going to be sick (threw up in my mask once and that was horrific) or if I think I’m going to faint (low blood pressure) - both are pretty rare but in those circumstances I think the trade off is the right one.

I have got myself a Baby On Board badge from TFL though. Didn’t wear one until late last time as I didn’t need it, but until my bump becomes more obvious I don’t think it’s a bad thing to signal why I might want more space/why I might not be wearing my mask at a particular moment.

Why wouldn't you wear a mask?

Genuinely don't understand this batshittery going on at the moment.

I have a five month old. Wore a mask all through pregnancy and continue to wear one now to protect myself and others. I have to confess it baffles me a bit as to why you wouldn't, especially given all the evidence about how covid is more dangerous to women and babies in later pregnancy. Surely a bit of discomfort is better than potentially catching or spreading covid?

Yes, if you catch covid you can pass it to your baby and I also would hate to have to isolate for 10 days with a newborn (although for some families that actually would be a blessing).

Everyone should be wearing masks still.

Yes. I think everyone should be wearing them at the moment with cases rocketing again

There's a highly transmittable airborne disease going about and, assuming you're in the Britain, it's rampant and incredibly dangerous if you're pregnant. Yes. You're not the only person who should be wearing a mask but protect you and your baby as much as you can.

@BonnesVacances I’m totally with you. If me wearing a mask gives some protection from covid and flu, but also makes others less anxious then why wouldn’t I wear one. I don’t get the drama around mask wearing at all (but I work in a hospital so maybe I see things differently).

To be fair though as much as I'm very happy wearing masks and in all honesty will most likely carry on doing so well into next Spring, just because as many have said if you can why wouldn't you, there have been a few times in pregnancy where I've had to stop and take mine away from my face for a minute or two due to feeling dreadful so I can see why other pregnant women might find a mask problematic. It's easy to forget how minor things can make you feel crap in pregnancy when you're not in the thick of it yourself, I had forgotten with only a two year gap!

And yes I completely understand getting covid in pregnancy will make you feel far worse than a mask ever could, pregnant or not!

I'm in Scotland and pregnant. I've stopped wearing mine due to morning sickness and the mask makes me feel worse. I dont think they do much anyway.

39 weeks here. I wear them on public transport and for medical appointments. Plus anywhere that feels too crowded.

I've been lucky to be able to wfh until maternity leave though. Now I'm off i just try to do any shopping at quiet times. I'm out of breath enough now without adding a mask.

Yes they should. I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant, working from home because of how vulnerable pregnant women are.

But like a few people have said, I'm not sure how much good it would do if no-one else is. Luckily I'm in Scotland where most people are still wearing one!