Pregnancy & Coronavirus

[Niffler1988]

Hi ladies,

Anyone else concerned about getting the coronavirus whilst pregnant?! I'm 11 weeks and so paranoid about getting it. There is barely any advice for pregnant mothers and I work in a college so I'm exposed to germs all the time! I just feel like the NHS aren't giving us any proper advice for expecting mothers and it has me so worried. Our immune systems are lowered and I'm so terrified of catching it, however as there's no advice, I can't just stop coming to work.

Please tell me I'm not the only one worrying about this? I've taken to carrying around my hand sanitiser everywhere I go...obviously using soap and water where possible.

Hi. Im 32 weeks and worried. Concerned about catching it whilst pregnant but also about giving birth in may when they say it will be the peak. Worried what the nhs will be like then and the risk of catching it whilst in there.
Also about protecting her once shes born. I doubt i will want visitors but also have a 7 and a 4 year old who are in school and could bring it home x

11 weeks and feeling this!

The government guidance in PHE Action Plan saying there are no particular risks for pregnant women is INCORRECT. It is relevant only to the later stages of pregnancy (based on a study of 9 women in their third trimester).

Early pregnancy and risks caused by fever are being totally overlooked and it’s making me furious - I had a miscarriage caused by high fever in November.

PHE are supposedly about to release detailed guidance for pregnant women in conjunction with royal college Ob-gyn: www.rcog.org.uk/coronavirus-pregnancy

Guidance has also recently been issued to councils by Unison, Unite and GMB that it would be beneficial for pregnant women to work remotely.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-councils-should-consider-remote-working-for-pregnant-women-unions-say-11951737

I'm surprised Chris Witty said other coronaviruses don't appear to have an adverse effect on pregnant women and their babies? That's not my understanding from the info about SARS and MERS.

I know the sample is small but I don't find this particularly reassuring:

[[http://tp.amegroups.com/article/view/35919/28274 ]]

Also feel very neglected. I feel like it's my responsibility to make the right choices for my unborn baby while it has no say in the matter and it's my duty to keep it safe and give it the best chance of developing correctly and having a healthy, happy life. It feels really wrong to carry on as normal while working in a risky profession and I don't know I'm doing right by my family.

20 weeks and getting more worried by the day. Really worried about giving birth and how stretched the NHS will be by then.
There really isn't much out there to reassure us. Thankfully I am now staying home and not having to worry about being in crowded places but just wish there was more info.

I am really nervous too but is anyone else hopeful or encouraged by the current published research and reassurance form Chris Whitty? I’m trying to rationalise that caution is always exercised but they are advising pregnant women not to worry too much... surely they would be very open if they thought the risks were increased as it’s so important?

Just to add I’m very early in my pregnancy at 5 weeks and it’s my second following an ectopic so very anxious about everything. Wish so much this virus just wasn’t happening.

Hi all,

I veer between being reassured with the research and thinking I’m overreacting and all will be ok to then worrying they don’t actually really know yet the risks and panicking there is no gov advice that protects us as pregnant ladies. I worry in a job like teaching being exposed to so much germs. I hate the idea of letting down the kids and school and overreacting but also sometimes feel quite vulnerable in a very public facing job.

@mouse1234567
I work in a school too - it feels almost inevitable as there are so many interactions and no option to work from home. I also veer from one thing to another feeling reassured then absolutely terrified. I so wish I could enjoy and be excited about my pregnancy but it feels like such a scary time. I suppose the human race has been through similar and worse , just wish I could channel some of that blitz spirit rather than feeling like a big jelly!!!

@MadameDePompadour good to have someone who feels the stress of working with kids. So hard as you say there is no option to work from home so you feel like you are letting everyone down. All the kids get sent in with so many colds etc! I guess we just have to watch the situation and hopefully if it gets worst more will be put in place. But I’m with you-I need to be more positive as it’s not good for me or baby this stressing! Need to channel my worry into more positive things!

www.rcog.org.uk/coronavirus-pregnancy

Hi All,

Not sure if this has been posted. But RCOG are planning on releasing guidance on Covid-19 and pregnancy in the coming days.

You can sign up for an email update when its released.

Xx

Thanks for sharing. Quite a few OBGYN governing bodies have produced guidelines. Unfortunately they don’t provide much detail as evidence is limited esp in early pregnancy. I suppose not much can be done about until more is known about the virus, hence the anxiety! if nothing else this as taught me a lot about myself and my control and anxiety issues!!!!

I think the key is controlling fever as much as possible in early pregnancy, not that there is enough data on pregnancy at any stage with this one.

I'm 30 weeks with an IVF pregnancy and still freaking out a bit. No one at any stage wants to find out the hard way :(

Hi Ladies,

I’m 5+4 weeks and like others work in a public facing role with lots of appointments in the community. I’ve also recently started working with children alongside this and based in a GP surgery. I’ve yet to speak to my manager about my concerns but I’m just so worried about this and the unknown risks too. Has anyone spoke about WFH due to these concerns and reached a successful outcome with their employer? Don’t want them to think I’m being OTT.

Thinking of all you pregnant ladies whilst we get to the bottom of all this x

@LJxo I don’t know much myself about wfh as teacher so not poss but I know a pregnant friend of mine who works for a bank has been told to wfh -she has a job that can easily be done at home however. I feel she is rather lucky!

@santoslhalperrr I feel ya -26 weeks with a fellow ivf preg. I feel I only have just started to enjoy and relax since the 20 week scan/feeling the baby move and now this has happened! Nonstop worrying!

The commentary here from a Uni East Anglia Prof is concerning about UK Gov advice is concerning, no? Especially when we consider how repressed the immune system is during the 1st trimester.....
www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-51774777

@mouse1234567 I know. I got all this way staying bloody calm. If it was completely safe I would panic buying gin. Mama needs a drink.

The US CDC website seems to have more info on this than the UK NHS one...

Hi guys, so I'm 6 weeks pregnant and due to go on a cruise in 5 weeks time. They have offered us to reschedule our cruise but it has to be used within the next year, which I'm obviously not going to be able to do! It's cost us such a lot of money, but to me also seems very risky given the current situation in the world and the cruise industry. My husband still really wants to go and thinks I'm being ridiculous. Any advice please ladies?? What do you all think?? Xxx

Kendrick I really wouldn't go, for all sorts of reasons and not just the risk of contracting the virus. What about being quarantined on a ship? Or not allowed back into the UK? You'll be just out of the 1st trimester by then so past the point at which your immune system is the most suppressed but even so.... It is not worth the risk to me.

So glad I found this post ive been going out of my mind x

@Kendrick12 I agree, I would personally prefer a holiday where you aren't in such close quarters with others, and the risk of quarantine seems to be much higher with cruise ships. They're still letting planes in from Italy as an example.

I couldn't imagine what a fresh hell being stuck on a boat would be like. But then again I'm not the cruising type.

Hi everyone - 👋🏻 I’m 17 weeks tomorrow and asked my employer (a local authority) if I could wfh for at least the next fortnight until we know more about the situation for expectant mothers. My manager was unsympathetic and initially said it’s business as usual and we will be guided by PHE until they decide to do otherwise. I was eventually given permission to work from home, but not after being advised to seek counselling for my anxiety(!) I am not anxious - I am trying to be realistic and protect myself, my baby and my toddler who is in hospital each time he catches a cold. Looking forward to reading the guidance from RCOG and have made the decision to start Mat leave as soon as I can, so the end of May.

@mamasiz that makes me so angry, your anxiety is working fine because you are making your health and your babies your priority. i get so angry when someone puts all of my worries down to 'anxiety', 'have you looked after your anxiety', 'you'd better see someone for your anxiety'...when most of it is down to being first time mum / in in the middle of pregnancy. every time a pregnant woman expresses fear that in many ways is completely rational why does she have to be sent to a bloody mental health expert.

That is so out of order from your employer @mamasiz!

There is zero advice for pregnant women at the mo, my GP and midwife don't know what the situation would be if I were to catch it, and being pregnant doesn't factor in the online assessment. It's so confusing!

Thankyou @FeelingBeautiful ! was actually speechless when I got the reply. This is from another woman with children of her own - so I was expecting at least a smidge of compassion, but no. Fast forward to today and another email has been sent to my entire team from this manager advising us not to watch the news! Bloody ridiculous. I’m not going back after mat leave.