Anybody had covid late in pregnancy? I'm terrified

[EightMonthsScared]

I'm eight months pregnant and I've been exposed to Covid this weekend and now I'm absolutely petrified.

Basically, my SS stayed over and he wasn't feeling great but he's had issues with something else so we assumed it was that. Symptoms didn't match Covid symptoms, plus he'd had a lateral flow before arriving that was negative.

His mum has phoned this morning to say it's covid.

I don't know how me and my partner could've avoided contracting it. We've spent all weekend looking after SS. I'm just terrified now.

I googled 'eight months pregnant covid' and it's just a litany of nightmarish stories. Death, comas, stillborns.

I've done a lateral flow but apparently, you won't get a positive result until days after exposure. So I'm going to spend all week paranoid and freaking out.

If I wasn't pregnant, I'd be unconcerned. I'm young and healthy. But given the risk factor, it's a nightmare scenario.

Has anybody had covid late in pregnancy and been okay?

DH and I are both fully vaccinated if that makes a difference. Sorry to sound so dramatic, I'm just in panic mode.

I'm 8 months pregnant and constantly exposed to covid through my husband's work as he treats covid patients. It honestly doesn't bother me in the slightest. You've probably been exposed to it many, many times in the supermarket or whatever. Please try not to worry especially as you've had your jabs.

Thank you @firsttimemamma This is what I need to hear.

I'm worst case scenario-ing like mad. We've just finished the nursery and I couldn't face going in there this morning, it's too upsetting.

I’m 29 weeks and it’s going round Ds’ school and doesn’t worry me. Remember google is only going to tell you nightmare stories because everyone who’s fine just quietly carries on!
One constructive thing you could do if haven’t already is take vitamin D which I believe is helpful regardless? And being vaccinated is excellent, when I had my booster the nurse said they are seeing babies being born with immunity to covid thanks to the vaccine.

My sister had it in September 2020 in her third trimester, this was before vaccines were available. My nephew was born in October 2020 and he’s a perfectly wonderful toddler. I had a baby in November and I worried about Covid too so like you, I vaccinated myself and really that’s all we can do isn’t it.

Chance are, you’ll be just fine. You’ve taken all the sensible precautions you can :-)

@Wildrobin

Thats great advice. I was thinking that if I could do something to actively protect myself at this point, that would help put my mind at ease. So vitamin D sounds like a good idea.

My sister in law did. She had it over Christmas, and she had her baby a week ago now. She was horrendously run down, spent several days in bed etc but ultimately was okay. Her baby is happy and healthy and was a very good weight.

And remember the internet gives you all the worst case scenarios it can think of and it’s really scary to see them. It doesn’t report on the the majority of absolutely fine women and babies!

It's also not a given that you'll have caught it. My daughter's just had it and neither me, husband or our toddler have caught it off her. And our house is small so she's not really been able to isolate away from us for the last ten days. We've just got on with daily life and all done daily lateral flows.

I tested positive at 36w5d and was I'll for days 1 and 2, I continued to test positive until day 8/9 however symptomless. I contacted my midwife and was checked on via phone daily, offered appointments at hospital when I was concerned about movements.

I am fully vaccinated and boosted and the stats are actually very good for this situation, including the ability to share antibodies both pre birth and via breast milk after birth from COVID late in pregnancy.

On the other hand I caught it from my son and my DH didn't isolate from wither of us and didn't catch it at all so it isn't inevitable.

Hope you stay well and try not to panic, but I would continue to test each day for over the 7 day recommended

At the risk of sounding blunt, it’s the unvaccinated mothers with Covid who end up in ITU. You are vaccinated which massively reduces any risk, so you’ve done absolutely the right thing to protect yourself and your little one.

I’d do daily or every other day LFTs and inform your community midwife and GP ASAP if you test positive. Keeping my fingers crossed for you, but as Omicron is inherently more mild the chances are you and baby will be absolutely fine whatever the outcome.

I know two people who got it in the 3rd trimester. Both were exhausted for 1 day and then both fine (both double but not triple vaccinated)

I second a PP - it’s unvaccinated pregnant people that are getting very poorly in 99.9% of cases. Understandably, many pregnant woman have been cautious about getting vaccinated but unfortunately, you really need to be to protect yourself & your baby.

You are, so chances are you’ll be a’ok! Stressing this much is probably just as bad for you & baby as covid. Just chill & get on with the week. Nothing you can do now. If you catch it, you deal with it. No point wasting time & energy on a what if scenario!

Thank you everybody - literally every response has helped to calm me down.

I have been avoiding the news tbh so hadn't read the detail on the terrible stories - I just saw the headlines and that was enough. It's reassuring to know that if you are vaccinated, your chances of being OK are far higher.

Really appreciate you all taking a minute to respond, youve helped me come down from my doom spiralling!

If you look at ICNARC data for ICU admissions with a positive test for pregnant women almost none are vaccinated do I wouldn't worry OP.

The reason there's been so much noise encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated is that being jabbed turns getting covid in late pregnancy from very serious, to mostly fine.

I'm going to suggest you give your midwife a ring, both because they know your individual health picture but, more importantly, because they're best placed to reassure you. But you've very much put yourself and your baby in a very good and very safe position because you decided to get the jabs.

My unvaccinated overweight friend pregnant with twins caught it two weeks before full term. She and babies were fine.

I got it at 36 weeks. Was really poorly for 2 weeks (I have underlying health issues) I still struggle with my breathing but baby was born absolutely healthy 12 weeks ago and is thriving!

My colleague caught it at 32 weeks with twins also, this was 5 months ago when delta was rife, she was unvaccinated and was not poorly aside from feeling tired. She had her elected c-section on time, everything went well and now babies are flourishing.

Millions of unvaccinated women have caught it around the world while pregnant and do just fine. Like you said, You are vaccinated, therefore you should be all good. It is normal to have bit of a panic I would say. Take it easy and perhaps speak to your midwife for advice on any extra vitamins you can take safely at this stage!