AIBU to have lied to get a test?

[IggyFigs]

For no other reason than my peace of mind?

I don't have any symptoms, none that are even not considered Covid symptoms i.e. cold etc...

But I am pregnant and getting very close to my due date and I'm terrified that I'll turn up at the hospital and be surprised by a positive test and DH will have to leave.

I have lied that I have symptoms and ordered a home test kit purely so, on the off chance it's positive, I am prepared rather than sprung upon.

[amylou8]

YANBU, they're handing tests out like sweets at the moment, you're not taking it from someone else that needs it. They had a big NHS ' roll up, roll up, get your test here' gazebo in my local street last week, with queues longer than Primark after lockdown 1.0.

[IggyFigs]

@Doublechins

I am a student midwife in the North West. You would be swabbed for covid when you go in to deliver but even if it came back positive your husband would be able to stay. You would just be moved to a side room if you needed to go to the postnatal ward and kept apart from the covid neg women. This is true for the hospital I work in anyway.

I am in the north west but my midwife has said completely different that if I test positive, he will have to leave

I don't even have any reason to suspect that I will but I just get so worried and catastrophise in my head.

I admit that me ordering the test was a sort of 'oh shit I just need to do something' reaction after getting myself into a mess thinking about it.

[emotionalpuddle]

@WiseUpJanetWeiss basically yes, and you're putting more people at risk inc midwives, hence why in our trust you can't deliver near clear mothers. I wouldn't want to deliver in the infection control unit alone/without a partner but that's the stance our trust has taken.

[IggyFigs]

It is confusing though as lots of online guidance seems to suggest you should be given the opportunity to have an alternative birth partner not from your household who would then need to self isolate afterwards. So if I tested positive, DH would have to leave as he's from the same household, but mum could come as she doesn't live with me providing she isolates afterward.

But my midwife has suggested they aren't doing this at my hospital as it hasn't been mentioned, just that I would need to be on my own if I tested positive.

[Icequeen01]

Well I lied recently to get a PCR test as both my headteacher and I had tested negative in the morning using the lateral flow tests. Head teacher started to cough in the afternoon so she did a PCR test that evening and was positive.

As I had been in close contact with her I had to do another lateral flow test the next morning at school which was again negative. Didn't trust the test so lied to get a PCR test and I came back positive too.

[IggyFigs]

@WineInTheWillows

Also, FWIW, the COVID test I took in labour didn't come back until 24 hours later, by which point if had the baby and DH had had to go home anyway. If you've got a confirmed positive going in then your DH definitely won't be in at any point- if anything you're increasing your odds of having to give birth without your DH by testing beforehand.

When was this? I had assumed they'd use rapid response tests for women actually in labour (although I know they don't when you're being induced).

[LittleRa]

I’m 33 weeks pregnant and I get a Covid test at my midwife at 38 weeks, and then again on admission to hospital in labour.

[relaxtakeiteasyeatcheese]

Yes yabvvvvvvu . Shamefully un tbh.

[Catty1720]

I was tested in labour and I’d had the baby by the time my test came back so DP was with me until I went to the ward

[IggyFigs]

@Catty1720

I was tested in labour and I’d had the baby by the time my test came back so DP was with me until I went to the ward

Thank you, when was this if you don't mind me asking?

[Ellieboolou33]

I don't think you are at all.

I tested my daughter who had NO symptoms at all as part of a medical research program as she tested positive. On that basis I ordered myself one and it as also positive although I had NO symptoms either.

Good luck with the birth

[BabyYodaYada]

Do it OP.

I took a test because everyone else in my family was having one. Everyone else had symptoms at the time, I didn't. I didn't really think I needed one, thought if the kids have it, I have it too.

Everyone's test was negative and mine was positive!

[idontlikealdi]

Just book a private one, as many times as you like.

[PrivateHall]

I am a midwife. We don't use the rapid tests as they are crap, totally unreliable. I don't know what this infection control unit is that is previously mentioned, I have never heard of such a thing and find it hard to believe that this could be true. Labouring women need to be in a birthing area and covid positive women should be offered continuous fetal monitoring, which should only be used on a labour ward where blood gas machine and theatres are available.

In my trust, you wouldn't even get your PCR result for 24 hours, and even if the result came back positive before your baby was born, you would still have the option to have an alternative birth partner. Your DH would be asked to go home and isolate, as per the covid guidelines.

I am sure you know deep down that doing a test now is completely pointless, you could be opening a can of worms - eg if positive now, you may miss antenatal appointments and your DH definitely wouldn't be able to accompany you in labour. Sometimes it is best to not go looking for things unless you actually have reasons to look for them. However if you believe it will offer you some peace of mind, then fair enough, crack on. Good luck op

[Dryshampooandcoffee]

@Mindymomo

Whether you are positive or not, you still have to give birth and your husband will still be able to be there for the actual birth.

I work in maternity and Covid positive women have had their partners with them at our hospital as long as they don’t have symptoms.

[Dollywilde]

OP I don’t know if this is an option for you but I had my DD in August and we basically isolated from 14 days to my due date (17 days til I actually had her). Went to the park when it was quiet v early or v late, and had stocked up the freezer anyway, DH was working from home and we didn’t see anyone. I was as certain as I could be that we didn’t have Covid when we rocked up. Like others I was swabbed when I came in but only got my result the next day when I was already on postnatal and DD was already born.

[cultkid]

Yanbu xxx

[Catty1720]

@IggyFigs 8 months ago however my friend gave birth last week and she said the same she was holding her bub as she got the results. It’s very worrying having a baby in a pandemic but as other posters have said can you isolate a little before hand? I did as did said friend

[WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants]

It must be awful to have anxiety 🙁but anxiety, almost at due date, during Covid - awful.

I think you getting a test was pretty pointless and you're not stupid so I'm not sure how it's going to give you peace of mind, but I certainly don't begrudge you doing one

Try to remember that women have been giving birth for a Very long time and having the man there is a relatively new concept.

You can do this with or without him (some prefer without anyway)

💐

[Notcoolmum]

You are not being at all unreasonable. Tests aren't limited and if it gives you leave of mind it's worth it. Both my partner's parents have had to rest before having hospital procedures.

[IggyFigs]

[quote Catty1720]@IggyFigs 8 months ago however my friend gave birth last week and she said the same she was holding her bub as she got the results. It’s very worrying having a baby in a pandemic but as other posters have said can you isolate a little before hand? I did as did said friend[/quote]
Thank you that really helps to know. I just have visions of going in and DH being escorted out mid labour and things going horribly wrong due to being higher risk and being alone.

I know it all sounds a bit illogical, it's just the way my brain goes into overdrive when I get anxious like this about something.

Regarding isolating as much as poss until then, we are doing this as much as we can now. DH is still having to work but fortunately he can go in in the evenings when no one else is there and I am at home already on maternity so no need to leave.

[WineInTheWillows]

@Notcoolmum

You are not being at all unreasonable. Tests aren't limited and if it gives you leave of mind it's worth it. Both my partner's parents have had to rest before having hospital procedures.

I just had to order a test yesterday and on the page where you can order tests for other symptomatic people in the house it specifically said do not order them for non-symptomatic people as it puts unnecessary pressure on the NHS. They aren't peak flow tests, they're the PCR ones and take a longer time and much more manpower. They are limited as to how many they can carry out.

[Catty1720]

A few of the comments here are midwives so they will know better regarding how it works.
My DP had to work too so just do what you can but don’t let it stress you too much ☺️

[smoothchange]

You are not being at all unreasonable. Tests aren't limited and if it gives you leave of mind it's worth it

Tests aren't limited? The mere fact that the NHS website still suggests we have 1 of 3 symptoms to get tested means tests are indeed limited. To those who have symptoms.

Im sorry OP but wanting time to deal with the fact that DH likely won't be there isn't a reason to get tested.

[Womencanlift]

If you were that concerned you should have paid for a private test rather than taking one away from the NHS