URGENT Q: friend with cold coming over - should she?

[BPrincess]

Hi there

I'm nearly 39 weeks and a friend was coming over for lunch. She's just called and said that although she feels fine, she has a stinking cold and is worried about giving it to me. She started getting symptoms on Weds. Do you think she's still in contagious stage? Would my immune system cope?

What do people advise?
Thanks!

Go for it and have some fun with her.

it's just a cold.

Absolutely no reason for her not to come over - anyone you come into contact with could have a cold - enjoy a nice, long relaxing lunch with your friend!

I'm normally pretty much of the opinion that colds happen - but at 39 weeks I'd be worried about sniffing and sneezing my way through labour. So as your friend has raised the cold issue with you, I'd cancel - because I know that I'd just be obsessing about the cold, so I wouldn't enjoy the lunch anyway.

And I think your friend sounds very thoughtful.

I would second what jeee said. I caught a 'cold' from MIL earlier in my pg, and it was more than just a cold. My DH got it after too and he felt very ill indeed, so was prob flu! I couldn't take any time off as I had a deadline so I have no idea how I got through it, but took 3 weeks at least to get over it. I don't think it's worth you coming down with it when you need your strength. My MIL, like your friend, did kindly tell me she had a cold but I went with the view of could get one anywhere, it'll be fine etc etc. Wish I hadn't.

If you can avoid it then i would.

I wouldn't worry too much about a cold.

I would cancel.

I caught a cold from DH's nephew the week before I was due and had a horrible cough. I had a unplanned cs and was terrified that I would burst my stitches because I was coughing so much.

Earlier in pregnancy, I would say, risk it. But not at 39 weeks.

I wouldn't worry about a cold doing any harm but having one would certainly add to the discomfort you already feel at 39 weeks, and during/after labour. There's enough keeping you awake at night already without blocked sinuses or a chesty cough.

If it was a good friend who I wasn't likely to see again for ages I'd probably risk it though.

Thanks so much for all the replies. Such a tricky decision, but what we've decided is to very much keep our distance, lots of hand washing, hand gel etc, and to enjoy our lunch, outside in the garden.

Thanks again. And keep fingers crossed for me that it's not a foolish decision!

Enjoy & hope you stay well. :) x