Anybody else due to give birth amongst this chaos? :(

[happymrsc]

Wasn't sure where to put this but don't want to annoy anyone who's trying to mute coronavirus threads.

I'm almost 35 weeks pregnant and honestly cannot believe what we're waking up to everyday, it feels like the world has gone crazy or is about to end or something! I know this is partly hormones but I just don't know how to feel. I know all the stats, I don't need anyone directing me to the RCOG guidelines etc, I just feel gutted that this poor baby is coming into this, and also incredibly worried about our parents. I genuinely don't feel excited, I just feel dread.

Anybody else? How are you coping?

Same here, 35 weeks. I’ve been glued to the news all week and worrying. In the last day 3yr old DD has developed a cough and fever (very rare for her) and I’m now panicking even more :(

@catscrat sorry to hear your DD isn't well. It's hard not to get obsessed with the news isn't it? I'm reassured by the findings about it having little effect on infants and children but it's very hard to feel any sort of excitement when this is going on. My DH is frontline nhs as well so I feel like we're pretty high risk to come into contact with it, which is concerning for the birth too.

@happymrsc Thank you. She’s normally very healthy and bounces back quickly from illnesses so fingers crossed, particularly as children seem to get it mildly. I’m more worried for myself and DH, no way to self-isolate a toddler so we will probably get it...I suppose better now than in a few weeks closer to the birth. That must be worrying for your DH :( Fingers crossed for you both to avoid it! There’s just so much out of our control at this point.

@Catscrat yes you can hardly leave her in the spare room to get on with it can you!! Here's hoping she's better ASAP. Thank you, yes it is all very worrying. Finding myself worrying about what hospital staffing will be like by the time it comes around as well. Was planning on going to birth centre originally but wouldn't surprise me if the service is suspended so just trying to be prepared for all eventualities... like birth isn't uncertain enough!

@happymrsc That’s been on my mind too. I had good care during birth last time (had some complications) but it was clear they were stretched on the post natal ward, goodness knows what it’ll be like in a month :( I’m hoping they will prioritise maternity care and take extra measures re staffing. If you are due to go to the birth centre presumably you are low-risk so fingers crossed for a straightforward delivery and that you can avoid a long hospital stay.

DiL is 39+2 today. I'm staying to help around the house and be her second birth partner (amazing privilege to be asked). Worries about the virus are threatening to overshadow what should be an exciting and wonderful time. Everyone is well but secretly hypervigilant about every little cough and ache, all of us trying to be calm and sensible. It all feels a bit 'frontline' right now! My concern is the extra pressure the hospital team will be under and whether that will impact on the care she receives.

Yes, I am 36 weeks. I am less concerned about personally contracting the virus (though obviously don’t want me or my husband, son and baby to be ill, nor do I want to be unknowingly spreading things around) than I am about there being staff shortages if lots of midwives are off sick or needing to care for their children who might be ill or off school due to closures. All completely beyond my control of course

I actually have a home birth planned, and obviously there are never any guarantees about whether that will be the right thing when I do go into labour, but I could see them needing women to travel to them if they are very short staffed. It could go either way

@nearlygranny congrats on the nearly grandchild! I actually think being that bit further along will serve your DIL well, I don't think staffing in maternity units will take a hit for at least another couple of weeks so fingers crossed for an arrival soon 🤞🏻🤞🏻doesn't mean your anxiety isn't understandable though

@ivinghoebeacon we were/are also planning a HB but taking the birth centre option more seriously now as feel staffing is marginally more likely to be better. Really really hoping to avoid the hospital anyway but given the current situation even more so.
I could have written your post, I am also less concerned about the virus effects on myself/husband. In laws already keeping away from us so don't have that worry, my parents still in the stage of thinking it's all overhyped but we're trying to delay any visits from them too. The uncertainty and the changing situation daily is really playing with my MH if I'm honest.

Similar here not helped by several other factors!

I'm 29 weeks with third baby (first for fiancé) and have suffered with significant health anxiety following trauma for many years.

Last week my OH was rushed into hospital to have emergency spinal surgery. Turns out he has a rare syndrome (1-3 in 100,000) and we are unsure as to whether his bladder function will return. He's currently cartherised and mobility is poor.

I'm working ft as a teacher (class of 32, no TA) and barely sleeping so absolutely besides myself with exhaustion as also looking after two boys and OH. I have to keep working until at least 38 weeks as no choice financially.

I'm hoping for a home birth but this really depends on how midwife numbers are going to be affected with the coronavirus.

@NearlyGranny That is lovely you will be her birth partner, how special :) Being so close to due date she is probably in a better position before we see the peak of the virus affecting hospital staff, it is a worry though.
@IvinghoeBeacon Fingers crossed for you! I am quite worried about getting it now as DD is showing symptoms, what will be will be though 😓

@rainminusbow oh my, what an awful time for you. So sorry to hear about your partner, how long is he expected to be in hospital? That's an awful lot of stress to be dealing with, I hope you have some family support too?
I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you that by the time it's getting to your EDD that it'll have started to calm down a bit. It's so hard to predict though. Hopefully at the very least by then they'll have some back up procedures as such in place; all the guidance at the moment just seems to be about if someone is admitted in labour with it or needs extra antenatal care etc, very little about what is in place if staffing takes a dive (which I really can't see how it couldn't)

I’m 29 weeks n crapping myself if I’m honest. I’m hoping for a home birth, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed everything goes 2 plan

This doesn’t really give any more information, but does at least seem to give some consideration to the likelihood of staff shortages www.birthrights.org.uk/2020/03/12/coronovirus-how-will-it-affect-my-rights-to-maternity-care/

@RainMinusBow that sounds so stressful, I’m sorry
I’m a teacher too but only part-time and was finding that exhausting enough before I left! Could you take sick leave before your maternity leave starts? If you are suffering anxiety you could ask to be signed off from work.

@IvinghoeBeacon thanks for the link, that is helpful.

@Catscrat I'd love to, but don't really feel I can risk it as only on temporary contract and desperately hoping for a job to return to after baby. OH only earns around £17k pa working ft so things are very tight indeed and of course we don't know when he'll be able to return to work.

I'm starting to feel angry at myself for getting pregnant which sounds ridiculous I know, but everything all seems a bit overwhelming right now. Just one thing after another.

@RainMinusBow That sounds so tough. Not ridiculous at all, it’s an overwhelming time as it is and no one could have predicted we’d be in the throes of a pandemic! Try to be kind to yourself, you’re carrying so much. Hopefully you’ll get a break soon with the holidays coming up x

@ivinghoebeacon oh yes! I agree it doesn't talk about how to deal with it but hopefully it will at least prompt those discussions in maternity units?

That’s a good way to put it - it might give a starting point for discussions of various scenarios between women and HCPs as the situation changes quickly

Just for some reassurance. I gave birth yesterday in a large hospital. I had been nervous too, but it was totally fine.( Actually much quiter than last time when I gave birth in early October which is their really busy period.) There was enough staff and ward wasn't full. There was lots of hand sanitiser etc and everything seemed clean.

Very pleased to hear it Walikingdeadfan and congratulations. I hope it’s still the case in 4-5 weeks’ time when I’m due to give birth. The situation is changing so rapidly

(And later of course, for those due after me!)

Yep I’m due in 3 weeks first baby. I’ll be honest I’m a little worried.