London, pregnancy, Covid, NHS advice pointless, WWYD?

[AliceAbsolum]

19 weeks pregnant, don't think I've had Covid yet. Fully vaccinated but not had a booster since Nov 2021.

Due to get the train and tube into London for a busy conference next week. The NHS advice page just made me really anxious about the risks to self and baby. It says you should follow the advice to avoid infection by "washing your hands"...nothing about social distancing, etc. Its confusing.

I really want to go, but it says you double your risk of stillbirth if you get Covid...So what to do?
If you are pregnant how careful are you being?

Hmm, I'm 35 weeks and have been trying to avoid catching it (not had it yet either to my knowledge) I've never heard that it doubles the risk of still birth, are you absolutely sure? I've also known a lot of people to get Covid whilst pregnant and everything has been fine with the baby once born.

The NHS from what I've read says you're at most of risk of complications from Cvoid in the 3rd trimester so I'd say you're better off getting it now and out the way anyway whilst you're still in your second.

In your 2nd trimester, i think you are in the least risky part of your pregnancy re catching covid but covid is everywhere in London. Hardly anyone is wearing a mask on the tube etc and no social distancing as it is no longer required. Me, DH and our 1yr old have all just had it.

I have a pregnant colleague and she hasn't come into the office since falling pregnant. She came and met our team for a social event and caught covid (along with 3 others in the team) a couple of weeks ago. I was pregnant in 2020-2021 and didn't go into the office at all / really restricted tube journeys and did manage to avoid it.

Is it a really critical conference? I hate them at the best of times and so I personally wouldn't risk it at the minute but it is a bit of a personal choice.

I dont know because cant it just reinfect you? So i may well get it again in 3-4 months time.

Link:
www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-news-blogs/large-uk-study-finds-covid-19-may-increase-risk-stillbirth-and

It can definitely reinfect you. I know a few people who’ve had it twice. I wouldn’t risk it personally if your employer will understand you not going. If you do go I’d wear at least an FFP2 mask on the tube etc. and try to keep your distance from anyone else.

Worth bearing in mind that the women in the study were presumably unvaccinated given the timing. Vaccination will have hopefully reduced the complications from covid but not eliminated them.

I’m 36 weeks and a bit worried too. I have to commute into the office tomorrow and thurs in central London and have a scan on friday. I have a horrible feeling I’m going to catch covid now after avoiding it for 2.5 years….

I'm in my 3rd trimester and have just had covid, last week. I told my midwife service straight away and they sent me a pack with pulse oximeter, thermometer and clexane injections. Had regular calls monitoring how I was. I was fine, felt a bit ill but nothing major. Felt very looked after. After my first follow up call with them when it was established that I could breathe well, didn't have clot symptoms etc, they weren't worried at all.

Covid isn't ideal but you really could catch it anywhere, any time. I got it from my local area. Wear a mask in crowded places, wash your hands loads and sanitise but no point avoiding life as you could catch it at your local supermarket too.

I'm being more careful now but I'm 35 weeks so at the worst point to potentially get it. I did have it at 19 weeks and all was fine, I think most people I know who have been pregnant at the same time as me have also had it, also fine!

And as @hgaj said, almost everyone in that study will have been unvaccinated given the timing so it's not representative of the risk now with vaccine protection.

Still something to ideally avoid, but not as scary as it was earlier in the pandemic.

You can probably mitigate your risk. Train - get one out of peak hours and choose emptier carriage. Get a taxi/walk rather than get on the tube. Conference - hang around til everyone has gone in and then sit at the back (or where it’s quieter). Wear FFP mask.

or have a chat to your employer and ask them.

It's so hard to know isn't it. I think well what's the point of avoiding it when I could catch it tomorrow from a friend.

You are 19 weeks. This study doesn’t affect you.

”study suggests having coronavirus at birth may increase the chance of stillbirths and premature births, although this risk remains low”

Ah! OK. Jesus I need to learn to read