Covid and new baby

[Vie8126]

My 12 year old and myself woke up yesterday feeling shocking we did lft tests and mine was negative hers positive (all 4 of them) I had sore throat, headache, body aches so we went for pcr test and currently waiting for results. I have just tested positive on a lft so expect to be positive on pcr too. I've developed a cough, had a high temp, aches pains, headache but is so far manageable with paracetamol. I am unvaccinated. My worry is I have a 6 week old baby. How can I protect him?

My daughter can stay in her room but I can't avoid contact with him. My DP is double jabbed and has to still go work as is working notice and has the busiest two weeks ahead. I am bottle not breast feeding. I've worn a mask around the house. Has anyone else had covid with a new baby what did you do to mitigate the baby's risk of becoming poorly. As I am unvaccinated am I destined to be extremely poorly myself?

The baby will probably catch it and be unsymptomatic. It barely affects them. I wouldn't worry.

Why are you unvaccinated??

I'm not sure there is much you can do to mitigate the risk but as Beecham says it should be fine. As for how badly you'll be affected that's a how long is a piece of string question really, no one can tell you that.

Vaccinations protect newborns too, protection passes through the placenta and in breast milk, just in case anyone is reading and wondering about vaccination in pregnancy or how to help protect both themselves and their newborn.

@Beecham We're not anti vaccine I was due to have my first vaccine this week. Personally I didn't want it whilst pregnant and then have been getting to grips with a new baby and two teenagers as my partner hasn't been able to take any paternity leave.

Very, very silly not to get the vaccine when pregnant. You put your baby at unnecessary risk. The majority of pregnant mums who are ending up in hospital with covid are unvaccinated and some are ending up with premature births. This alone has its risks. The vaccine would face also given baby some protection.

@kateg27 maybe so but there are a number of reasons as to why I didn't and that's my personal choice. I am not the only pregnant woman to not have had the vaccine. In fact it wasn't even widely and routinely offered tk pregnant woman until I had given birth. That is my personal choice. I am asking for how to mitigate the risk to my newborn son. As to why I haven't yet had the vaccine, my good friends who are double vaccinated have just spent a good 15 days in bed extremely poorly with Covid so jabbed or not I would still be trying to mitigate the risk from a newborn. I am not anti vaccine so cna we try to not turn this into a debate about the vaccine.

I guess the usual ventilation, wear a mask even.

Unfortunately, if you get too ill to look after the baby your partner may have to not work.

Pregnant women have been faced with difficult decisions I’m glad I haven’t been faced with such dilemma. Easy for anyone to say how silly you’ve been.

Mask, frequent hand washing, good ventilation is all you can do. Unless you are vulnerable no reason for you to inevitably become extremely poorly. More likely to have been extremely poorly if you were still pregnant. Try and get as much rest as possible, easy said then done with new baby, regular paracetamol and plenty of fluid. Contact nhs111 if you become concerned about yourself or baby, don’t hesitate. Day 7/8 seems to be the bumpy time. Oh and any other household members should get a pcr and do daily LFTs. Hope all settles soon.

I was told by two midwives not to have the vaccine when I was in early pregnancy. I’m now 33 weeks and double vaccinated. I didn’t listen but it was a hell of a decision. I can see why lots were put off.

Op, I’d wear your mask at all times, wash hands constantly and rest as soon as your dp gets home.

Can you sleep in a different room to get sleep? Definitely keep dd separate.

Xx

A good friend of mine caught covid and he baby was 6 weeks old at the time. The whole family tested and were positive, but her baby had no symptoms at all. I also had a baby in lockdown and was told by the consultant (baby was prem) that if I were to catch it in the first few months baby would be asymptomatic. I have no idea why that is.
I’m sure your baby will also be fine and have zero symptoms. Try not to worry.

Thank you! Yes I'm wearing a mask and keeping windows open. Dd is keeping to her room and only in main parts of house to get a drink etc and is wearing a mask when in communal areas. My ds is 16 and keeps himself to himself his room is via a seperate entrance so will only be using kitchen and bathroom communal areas and will make sure he is testing daily and general hygiene/hand washing. DP although double jabbed will test daily with lfts and is so far negative.

Dp slept in our bedroom with baby last night so we intend to keep doing that.

@2boysand1princess thank you that is very reassuring to know!!

@Daisydoor12 thank you will keep in mind re day 7/8. Keeping on top of paracetamol and lots of fluids and thankfully have a sleepy newborn so can rest during the day rather than a toddler xx

@Vie8126 it has been offered to pregnant women since not long after I gave birth at the beginning of April so don't come with that crap. I would have given anything to have that jab when I was pregnant, working all the way through for the NHS. A lady I was pregnant with almost died of covid and so would her baby, so no I have no sympathy for you and think you are ridiculously silly.

Calm down @kateg27 - the OP isn’t asking for your vaccine tirade. She’s explained she chose not too, she can hardly change her decision now can she. I’m extremely pro-vaccine but would have been hesitant while pregnant. It’s a tough decision as they aren’t trialled on pregnant people.

I cannot fathom this bitterness & frankly rude, unkind behaviour toward someone simply asking the best thing to do in the given circumstances. Would you go on such a nasty rant to a parent in the playground or someone on the street? I can more understand it if you are a non pregnant person, I think you should get vaccinated. Even then, it’s a personal choice. But pregnant woman faced a difficult choice. The OP is 6 weeks post partum & probably feeling pretty exhausted & emotional without the added covid. Don’t be a dick.

OP. It’ll be OK. Children get it very mildly. Chances are you will too. Just keep a close eye on your baba & don’t hesitate to get medical advice if you are worried. Sending love, not easy being ill & a newborn. I caught a stinker of a cold & then norovirus from my elder DD when DD2 was 8 weeks. God, it was horrific but we got through it! DD2 got the cold but thankfully not noro! 😱

Also notice you work for the NHS. I hope you are kinder to your patients than people online. Epitome of a keyboard warrior.

@kateg27 good for you!! Very helpful. You were lucky though as we were still being careful at that point and numbers were low!!

I was told by my midwife not to have it in feb as hadn’t been tested. Then in April told to weigh up the risk and the consultant wouldn’t get involved in a deciosion and was told to google!!
In June I had my first as I had no choice as the government were clearly going for a don’t give a darn approach after July! I cried the whole day worrying about my baby! Very easy for people who were more protected in their pregnancy. If we had the numbers we had now before we would of been in lockdown. Instead pregnant women were expected to jab up. It doesn’t stop you catching it either! I know 2 people double jabbbed no health issues who ended up in icu.
Yes I decided to get double jabbed but I don’t feel lucky I had no choice. I wouldn’t push it on to anyone!

@kateg27 pregnant women from 28 weeks were adviced to shield and work Fromm home!! So I’m very shocked!

@kateg27
I agree that you should back off now. The OP asked for advice as to what she can do now.

@Vie8126
I hope you all feel better soon. My two primary school aged DC and I are also going through it right now. All adults in our household have been double jabbed. It is what it is.

Very, very silly not to get the vaccine when pregnant.

Very, very silly comment.

Not for you to judge the decisions of a pregnant woman when very mixed messages have been given.

@Kateg27 you wanted the jab good for you that's your choice you don't see me giving you abuse for your choice so why you feel the need to do the same to me I have no clue. I don't have to justify mine and my dps decision to you as you don't yours. I am not alone in it I know of many pregnant woman that did not have the vaccine. You wasn't present at my antenatal appointment nor do you know what discussions I had - however it wasn't even mentioned until I was 32 weeks which was the end of June so don't tell me I'm speaking crap. I was asking for advice as I am sure many people have had covid with a new/young baby in the house. As you work for the NHS I assume you are aware that you are not immune and could still get covid it's not a magic vaccine so I really hope if that happens and you ask for advice you don't meet someone on such a high horse as yourself.

@Bobholll thank you for the reassurance it's just that panic of omg and the horror stories flood to your mind. It is exhausting anyway and have the usual post partum hormones surging!

@HadEnoughofOtherThreads I wish you all well. We knew we would eventually have it catch up with us I guess.

@kateg27 You are just being damn right nasty now!

OP done what she thought was right for her and her unborn baby.
You have no right to judge her!

Back the hell off!

In fact it wasn't even widely and routinely offered tk pregnant woman until I had given birth

Not true at all. I’m currently 30 weeks pregnant and double vaccinated. It’s been widely and routinely offered to pregnant women since before I was offered my first vaccine back in April.

OP your baby is extraordinarily unlikely to get sick from covid- the disease barely affects infants, I wouldn’t worry at all.

I hope you feel better soon! Looking after a newborn when sick is no fun at all.

@Bizawit that statement was based on my experience of antenatal care where I live it wasn't offered to me it wasn't even mentioned that I could possibly have it until I was 32 weeks. I can assure everyone it was not offered to me or routinely offered during my antenatal care. However, thank you for your reassurance it is no fun!

Tbf I think it was probably your responsibility to work out if you were eligible for a vaccine or not. It’s not necessarily something that would be foremost on the minds of midwives at antenatal appointments. I was offered the vaccine by my GP (along with all others in my age group) and it was me who brought it up with my obstetrician, not the other way around.

You are right that a lot of pregnant women have refused the vaccine- unfortunately I think there are widespread misconceptions / misunderstandings about the risks versus the benefits for preg women.

In any case what’s done is done, and as I say it’s highly unlikely to be any problem for your little baby ❤️. You will hopefully have a mild case too- most likely as long as you don’t have any underlying conditions. Wishing you all well soon!

I had covid back in November before jabs were offered for my age group. I was co sleeping with my 9 month old. My husband was deployed with the military and it was illegal for me to see my family. DS was absolutely fine. He never had any issues. I was knackered but survived. Please try not to worry too much. Hope you’re not too poorly. It’s hard enough with a newborn!