Due May 2020 (thread 6)

[sao81]

6th thread already 😬😬😬 not long now

For anyone in the U.K. that actually needs to go shopping, Asda are allowing the most vulnerable to shop in all their stores tomorrow morning until 09:00. This includes pregnant women. I’m going to brave it because we actually need stuff, and will get some nappies and formula hopefully.
It’s amazing how more sensitive you feel when you’re pregnant, being a nurse for years I’ve lived through lots of scary times ie swine flu etc and normally I wouldn’t worry. But this is definitely a different situation and I actually just sat down and cried yesterday. All my friends are nurses who I can’t see anymore as they will be in contact with the virus. My family aren’t near me. So I’m pretty much on my own for the next 10 weeks with my 4 year old trying to keep him entertained. Just feels like I’m living in some kind of film.

Sorry, having a down day x

@november90 I'm glad to here he's stopped being such a prick! Even if it is for the time being. We have pulled our little girl from nursery, and will only be seeing people if necessary. Luckily we don't get many visitors, it's usually us going to them, so we are able keep an eye on who she is exposed to as much as we can. I'd say try and do the same, people need to understand that its too risky for us!

@Emmacb82 thanks for the Asda update i will try there tomorrow! Its not good for us at all, I've been in for 2 days now and I already feel like I'm cracking up trying to entertain my 2 year old! Wish there was more advice on it for us

@sunshine8888 thankyou for sharing! I have followed the PBC for a long time and have been reading the positive birth stories on the blog for a few weeks but couldn't justify the cost of the actual course, but I have just bought it with the offer. Looking forward to watching the videos whilst I am at home and getting in the zone.

I am 34 weeks next week, how are people getting on with packing their hospital bag? I am hoping I will be able to get everything I am missing over the next few weeks, but having a look online lots of places are out of stock of size 1 nappies etc so might just have to brave the shops and go to multiple places and get it all done in one go.

Hope everyone is coping ok

@Sunshine8888 I've just bought the digital pack at £12. Hoping it gives me a little comfort in place of ante natal being cancelled x

For anyone needing essentials for the hospital bag and soon after, apparently you can either click and collect from boots, or many pharmacies also allowing you to go in and do a direct order and then go back to collect once it has arrived.
Otherwise amazon are now prioritizing 'medical and health' supplies, and clamping down on third party sellers inflating prices, so you should be able to order a basic supply of all essentials from there.

I’ve been on both the boots and Superdrug websites yesterday and today, several times and neither have any stock in store to click and collect - no nappies, no formula, no nappy sacks, no hand soap, the list goes on. I haven’t tried independent shops or chemists so might get more joy there. Amazon do have stock, but the message about inflating prices clearly isn’t getting through as they want ridiculous amounts for all of the things I’ve listed above. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for Asda tomorrow.
The thing that makes me laugh is that they want people to self isolate, but you can’t get food deliveries or click and collect at any of the supermarkets for the next 3 weeks. So you have no choice but to go out and try and get stuff yourself. I wish people would just stop being selfish and leave food for everyone. My husband had to go to Sainsbury’s as he’s a community worker with disabled adults, they do cooking on a Thursday. He went to buy some veg and said it was like a war zone, all the shelves were empty 🤷🏼‍♀️

@emmacb83 likewise, I started checking at the beginning of the week but no luck yet for nappies or formula on delivery or click and collect from either. I also have a Tesco shop delivered and that's a no go too. Let us know how you get on at Asda!

The PBC link wasn't working for me.

@raindancer411 wasn't working at all when you clicked the link or was showing the full price of £39? If you search for the positive birth company digital pack you need to enter the discount code 2TODAY at the check out for it to be £12

@Lu1u It was still saying £39. I shall do some more googling

It sounds like the situation is absolutely crazy in the UK! Here in the Czech Republic the shops are still stocked. No one is clearing the shelves of toilet paper, even though we have more intensive quarantine measures.

Bad news though. From today fathers are no longer allowed to attend the birth and no visitors are allowed I just can't imagine handling it all on my own and really hope that things have improved by May.

@AlmostAlwyn - I am afraid of this happening here, as being in a foreign country, with a foreign language is already a huge hurdle, without DH not being able to be with me.

For anyone on the hunt for baby formula, try the Kendamilk company. They are a small british based company who do formula, and when I just looked they were one of the only ones available on amazon still at a normal price. think 900g boxes were £12 each, but also 4 for £39 (£9 each) was available. I think you can also buy direct from the company. www.kendamil.com/
I think because its not stocked in all supermarkets or boots people don't know what it is online so it hasn't sold out yet.Maybe its useful to some of you, or people you know

I ordered some emergency formula and nappies from Asda for home delivery. I'm getting more anxious they might substitute them for something ridiculous having read a lot of that online recently 😩 I've never done and online food shop before!

I don't want this to come across in the wrong way so I'll try and word this right but please don't take offence at my message I mean only kindness I promise.

But I have a friend who has just had a baby in the last two weeks, and I am deliberately not looking to buy nappies or formula etc right now as I know the likes of her actually really need it right now. She's so unbelievably stressed and upset about it all. She's just had a baby and is having to search everywhere for basic essentials for him.

I spoke to a store manager from Asda earlier in the week who advised that panic buying and stock buying is not the right thing to do. That the stores are constantly being replenished. That if a lock down comes into place the supermarkets will still be open as they have all been told they have to be to enable people to get provisions. And that the restrictions on multi buying are there to help everyone.

I know it's an incredibly stressful time for everyone but please just feel grateful that we have a bit of time on our side. Those ladies having their babies right now need those supplies right now. By the time we need them the stores will have been replenished plenty of times and we just have to buy what we need when we need it.

I really don't mean for this to come across rudely so I hope it doesn't. I fully appreciate it's an anxious time for us all and that we are worried about how it will be when our babies come along, I was also looking to stock up on nappies etc this week but speaking to my friend today who has just become a mum put it into perspective for me.

Sending love and support to you all I know it's w horrible time. Xxx

@AlmostAlwyn I can’t believe they’ve stopped fathers being at the birth! Surely they can’t do that?
I’ve discussed with my other half that if that happens, I’ll try and birth at home. I can’t do it alone. Feeling stupidly vulnerable and tearful at the minute!

@CharlieB93 yeah there's quite a few petitions against it already! Homebirth isn't allowed here, or I would definitely be doing that!

I don't think it's stupid to feel vulnerable. I cried when I found out yesterday, and whenever I thought about giving birth without my husband. I just have to hope that either they bow to pressure and change the rules, or things improve and restrictions are relaxed in general in a month or so.

@mrsf1204 I totally agree with you, even though I have tried to buy a couple of packs of nappies myself 🙁 it's such a crap situation to be in. I do constantly think about new mums who need those supplies NOW and so have decided that a good middle ground would be buying 1 pack (which I would have done without this whole situation) but definitely not panic buy more than that as tempting as it is.

@AlmostAlwyn I’m so sorry that’s happening to you! I can’t even imagine the extra stress that this is causing you... I’ve seen on the news they are developing a test that’s as ‘easy as a pregnancy test’ to see if you’ve got the virus, hopefully when they are introduced they will start letting fathers in who have tested negative!

@woollycat that's 100% the right thing to do! We all just need to be considerate :) as long as we have the 1 pack we need for going into hospital then I feel that's more than enough given the current situation and that we can get more when we need them.

@mrsf1204 I totally agree with you. I wasn’t looking to stockpile it, I just wanted one pack of nappies and one milk just to be prepared. I’m hoping to bf but it didn’t work last time so it just made my anxiety ease to know I had something indoors and ready. But that’s all I was going to get.

I braved Asda, got there about 7:45 and basically they were letting anyone in, not just the vulnerable groups. But despite not having any baby items, the food shelves weren’t actually too bad. There were lots of gaps but I managed to get most food for the next week which is a relief. The only thing they were really lacking in were fresh fruit veg and potatoes!

Dropped my little boy off a pre school for the last time this morning. Cried my eyes out as I don’t know if he will go back or not. The staff were almost crying too, he’s made a big impact there and they said there’ll never be another one like him. Sad times x

Just called my hospital to confirm that my 31w appointment was going ahead on Monday. It is, but they said that they are going to skip the 34w appointment and so the next one will be the 36w appointment - so a 5 week gap 🙁 I am so sad. Are other people's appointments going ahead? This is the Queen Charlotte hospital in London.

@woollycat - just called hospital also regarding my 36 week appointment in 10 days time. Apparently it will go ahead, and then at 38,39 etc but I have to go in alone here now, Dh will not be allowed in.

For now partners are allowed in for the birth, but afterwards will not be allowed to stay to be allowed back in (3-5 days stay here usually!). Any 'stuff' needed will have to be bought in one go, no sending dh out to car to get extras, as once entered maternity unit DH won't be able to return if he goes out for anything. Car seat or sling also to be bought in. I will have to leave ward with baby and bags alone as Dh cannot come back in to collect.... I have a feeling by the time baby is due the rules will be even more stringent and dh won't be allowed in for the birth either.

@woollycat I'm at Queen Charlottes too!
Thanks for letting me know as I'm also 31 weeks so will need to check my appointment.

5 weeks seems like a long time but I'm sure all will be ok.

@123Pandy yay! When is your 31w appointment? Maybe I'll see you there at some point 😀