Late July Due Date #2

[amysara24]

Hi everyone, I thought we were close to filling our first thread so have made another one for when we need it! 💗

I've been told to work from home for the foreseeable. I feel bad because I can't completely do the job from home so my colleagues will be picking up my slack ☹️ but as I work in a risky nhs area I know it's for the best. Hope everyone is managing to keep sane!!!

@LucyLucyT sounds like we're in very similar positions x

I WFH unless at meetings but I have been told no f2f meetings for the foreseeable future, so I am at home full time now.

My dad is a teacher and they sent home all their pregnant staff today.

Thanks everyone, a lot of us are facing similar challenges it seems. I came home from Tuesday PM.
I found yesterday exhausting as I think at work my time is broken up better with office time and clinic/time on wards, plus you have colleagues and conversation.
I am going to miss everyone and think that is unlikely I'll get back before maternity leave now. @squirrelnutkins1 I also feel guilty that I've had to leave them, averagely I would've been very involved in something like this but suspect I would have had to live separately to isolate from my partner which I would've found very very hard.
I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm helping them be free to help those in the hospital while me and a couple of others man the phones for our patients who are unwell and want advice.

I need to make sure I get out the house for short walks a couple of times a day I think (socially distancing of course) to help with the mental health.

Has everyone been told to go to their antenatal appointments and scans on their own from now on? That's what is being done down here.

I just got my letter through for my birth expectations class but I feel this is likely to be cancelled.

I know lots of people say they are pointless and you don't need them but I am feeling really sad about it. I am really worried that if the peak of the curve is in summer then all of our care will be disrupted by this as the NHS is going to be under such intense pressure.

I am frightened.

@LucyLucyT that’s absolutely the right way to think about it 💗 you’re doing the right thing for you, your partner and your baby by being at home and like you said it allows your colleagues to continue their front line care while supporting the patients you can from home 😊
Our midwife called to say she would phone on Monday morning (we have an appointment Monday) to check we were both well and showing no symptoms before the appointment but no mention of having to go alone.
@hairspraybabe it is a worrying time for everyone and especially, I feel, to be pregnant. Knowing we might be bringing a little one into the world with so much uncertainty is tough! I’m remaining hopeful that if we follow a similar pattern and timescale as China or Italy, we may be starting to see improvements before summer and the peak will have passed 🤞🏽
I think we can all be reassured that our NHS is amazing and even if our due dates do coincide with the peak, we will still get the best care available to us to ensure us and our babies are healthy and safe 💗

Thank you @amysara24
I've been quite emotional today with the new announcements about Shielding for the very high risk people, my partner falls into this category. Although they are saying for 12 weeks at the moment I suspect it may be longer, I'm worried it may mean he won't be able to be with me for the birth and it's really upset me. In theory we have to keep quite separate at home as well which is going to be very hard.
I am trying to give myself a positive spin (not sure if it's working!) because if it wasn't for this pregnancy I'd have to go in to work with the patients directly and I'd have to move out to reduce the risk for him.
I'm just going to keep going that by the time the baby arrives he'll be able to come, perhaps with a mask on 🤞

How is everyone else feeling? On a nice note, I'm enjoying watching the kicks from the outside of my belly now!

going to keep hoping

Sorry I'm terrible for autocorrect errors!

@LucyLucyT the signs up at our hospital say no visitors save for on birth partner and pediatrics

I think the most stressful part of this whole situation is the not knowing what is going to happen next, we can't afford DH to not work but his asthma is awful... I don't know what to do as if he self isolates we can't afford our bills by a massive amount

@HairsprayBabe it must be such a stressful time for you. What is going on is concerning enough for everyone but add financial worries and it can be so difficult to know what to do for the best for your family. I hope that he is at least able to distance from others somewhat at work.

Hope everyone is doing well, things are weird round here, it feels a bit like limbo.

Thanks @LucyLucyT we found out yesterday that they are working on getting people set up as WFH as fast as possible and they are hoping for end of next week.

That would make a huge difference because at the minute he could be picking up the virus at any point during the day.

Pleased to hear that @HairsprayBabe hope they get it sorted soon.

I've just seen our maternity services have confirmed you have to attend all appointments alone. The only time you can have your birthing partner with you will be when you are in active labour out going to theatre if having a caesarean. I understand why they are doing it but can see it's going to cause a lot of anxiety to mums.

Is everyone else finding the same? I'm vaguely hoping some of this will be better by July but also trying to be realistic!

@LucyLucyT our trust is the same - no partners to scans.
Fingers crossed things will be much better in July.

@lucylucyT - the thought of going to scans and spending time in labour before the baby is here all alone absolutely terrifies me! I hope things improve by July for us all!

Does anyone have any more information based on people they know in the NHS? I know a midwife who said they're considering not letting birthing partners in at all for the birth which would be devastating for both mother and father!

It's been a real struggle listening to people complain they can't buy a load of bread at the supermarket when we're having to go through all this. Anyone else feel the same?

Hi everyone. I haven’t heard anything yet about my hospital not letting partners attend scans etc but I have two growth scans at 28 and 32 weeks so I am hoping to hear soon.

@LittleMrsMama that would be devastating if partners were not allowed to attend births, I am not even thinking about yet as it will give me so much anxiety but actually it probably could unfortunately become our reality. Fingers crossed for July.

How is everyone keeping anyway? We have started to order a few bits now as concerned we might not have anything if baby arrives early.

@missdrifter keep checking the trust maternity services webpage - we weren’t told anything either but they’ve put a notice up there 😢 I’ve got a growth scan at 32 weeks too but it doesn’t look like he’ll be allowed in. Though I’m trying to be grateful - someone I know in a more northern part of Scotland isn’t even allowed a birth partner for active labour!
I’ve warned DH if that’s the case in July, he’ll be getting the tarpaulin out in the living room and FaceTiming a close friend of mine who is a paediatric consultant and doing it himself 😂
Trying to use all of this time “working” at home to sort the house out - full nesting mode has begun I think!
I hope everyone else is managing ok through all of this, it’s a very strange time!

The Royal college of Midwives and Royal college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have put out a joint statement to say that having a birth partner for active labour is vital and are discouraging Trusts from saying no birth partner at all. Only thing is we may a want to consider a back up birth partner in case our first choice has any COVID-19 symptoms.

I think the general guidance is for all other antenatal appointments to be attended by the mother alone.

I wasn't meant to have midwife appt on Friday, turned up at the GP surgery where I see him and a receptionist came out to tell me they were all cancelled that day, no one had told me :-(
I was frustrated because I've basically been shielding as my partner has Cystic fibrosis so was worked up having to go out anyway. I also need my matb1 ASAP as realised I have to get that in by the end of this week. I rang the triage line, they said they are making every other appointment telephone now. She was nice and was organising my matb1 to be posted to me. Turns out my midwife is off sick self isolating at the moment as well. As I'm consultant led my next midwife appt isn't needed as going for growth scan and review on 20th April at 28 weeks. Not looking forward to going to the hospital but my colleagues say it's really quiet there at the moment anyway.

It's not making a difference to my plan but our local midwifery led unit is closed from today and they've stopped home births. The ambulance service have said they would possibly not be able to get women across to the main maternity unit in good time as they are likely to be so busy.

It's all a bit worrying but at the same time lots of people have to have babies in much worse conditions, we'll be okay!

@amysara24 my hospital trust was the same, no comms but it has all this information on their website.

All routine scans have been cancelled at my trust, including some additional specialist scans we were due to have for our baby because of a skin oedema. They're going to do this over the phone... I'm not sure how! I get that it's a tough time but really feel like our babies lives are being treated as not important and I'm feeling so anxious and through all of this. The thought of saying goodbye to DH as soon as the baby is here and having to cope after without him terrifies me, even worse if he can't attend at all. It's my first baby and we've had complications already.

Thanks for the additional info @lucylucyT - there are going to be a lot of mums with pre and post natal depression and also dads who don't feel connected with their baby after all of this. I understand that we and the baby need to be protected but just wish there was a way they could test our birth partners and then allow them to attend as normal if they're all clear.

I feel for the women due now and thinking of them. I really hope things improve for us by July.

@LucyLucyT that sounds really frustrating with your appointment, especially when you've put yourself and your DH at risk by going to the GP to attend your appointment which was cancelled.

Thanks for the reminder with the MatB1 - I had my appointment cancelled and they haven't sent it or said anything about it

I’m at the midwife Thursday - as of last week they were going ahead as normal so I’m hoping that’s still the case.
I’m then at the hospital in 4 weeks for my GTT and growth scan. Dh wasn’t planning on coming with me anyway and now with schools closed he will deffo have to stop at home with the kids.
I’m more worried about the scans being cancelled - I don’t think my anxiety would cope - than dh not being at the birth.

@ethallsmum I'm so pleased your scans and appointments seem to be going ahead! I'm keeping everything crossed for you. I'm based in London (not sure where you are) so could be why mine and surrounding hospitals have cancelled all non critical scans and appointments. We've also had a few Coronavirus related deaths at my hospital. Hopefully you'll be okay!

As far as I know my 28 week growth scan (also having GTT on the same day) are going ahead on 20th April.

Got my matb1 in the post today which I was relieved about!

I need to ring for my matb1 - completely forgot at my appointment. Didn’t see my normal midwife either but I know that can’t be helped at the minute.
I’m due back at my mw at 31 weeks but she did warn me it may be just a telephone conversation.

I just had my letter through for my growth scan on the 22nd. It says I can bring one person with me. Will double check though next week with my midwife.
If you have an anterior placenta how often are you feeling movement now? Mine is still muffled and not consistent. X

Anyone else just feeling really fed up?

Work are fussing over me - I WFH home anyway so nothing has changed. I miss my parents, who only live a 30min walk away, DH is still not set up to WFH...

I have had such a shit pregnancy overall from day one and everyday I am expecting to be told a new bit of information that is going to steal another speck of joy from life.