Coronavirus and pregnancy

[RainMinusBow]

I'm concerned as I'm an older mum-to-be, almost 29 weeks pregnant and hoping there won't be a midwife shortage when I'm due. Also a ft primary teacher having to work until at least 38 weeks.

Planning on a home birth...

@Nelbert19

In the same boat as you! 5 months pregnant and working in obstetrics. Have been told I can’t be fitted for PPE masks due to pregnancy but also can’t alter job plans to minimise risk!

No PPE for me either @Millar18!

Have you seen the new RCOG guidance for pregnant healthcare staff? All pregnant staff to talk to Occy Health before clinical work. I’ve got my fingers crossed I’ll be in an office doing discharge summaries instead of the front line on Monday!

I’m 30 weeks tomorrow and also very concerned for the same reasons as you. I’m 42, so consultant led. If I was 10 years younger, I’d have him at home but it’s not an option.
I worry about there being a lack of sonographers for my growth scans too, but mainly for when I give birth. What if my husband can’t be there? 😞

I am 36w + 5 and work as a primary school teacher and take the train an hour each way to and from work each day. I am due to go on maternity leave in 2 weeks but I am beginning to feel very anxious and worried, especially after the news of the mother and newborn who tested positive, so considering finishing early. I am frustrated because I am perfectly physically capable of still doing my job well but the anxiety of becoming ill is now something I’m battling with. I understand pregnant women are not more at risk but we are still at risk, the same as everyone else and I just can’t imagine the experience of giving birth and being in hospital would be “something to remember” if I become sick beforehand. Can anyone offer any advice on what they would do in my position given that my due date is so close?

@LKMM personally I'd finish early.

@LKMM
If I were you I would finish early 100%

Yep I’d be finishing early too @LKMM. Use your energy batch cooking or nesting!

We must be very close in due date as I’m going on 37 weeks as well... I wasn’t so nervous before but now I’m stressed about how things will play out for delivery considering schools here have officially started shutting down for weeks at a time. There were cases being verified in surrounding towns with the past few weeks and yesterday was the first confirmed case in my county, but still not my town. I know this really doesn’t change anything because I’m sure even when it was not confirmed so closely, there were likely people walking around with it unknowingly. I have had 3 other children and all 3 were after due date and never went in early delivery or on time for that matter. For some reason and maybe I’m wrong I just don’t think this ones planned to make the due date. Or maybe I’m just sore and over it and can’t see how I can make one more day like this and it’s in my head hah...What’s truly starting to get me anxious is this is the peak where decisions are being made... maybe some mistakes and they will have to change arrangements. But ideally what seems to be the best scenario? Go into labor now when the entire hospital staff has not yet been effected or possibly in a shortage of staff in hopes that I can get home quickly and stay there to continue social distancing ? Or does it seem more safe to pray I go into labor as late as possible and by that time things will have panned out or changed as far as what we do now and how to handle ?? Sorry I have no advice towards your post and only more questions - - curious to where u may be at in the world I’m in usa 🇺🇸 NY state . Also where did u hear about the baby and mother being confirmed? And lastly I have read several articles that always mention during pregnancy mother cannot pass virus to baby... but I haven’t read anything in regards to if the mother had a confirmed case does it make the baby immune to be infected after birth? Or does breastfeeding make baby immune ? I’m assuming they just don’t know which is why there’s no info about it .... hope your doing ok!!! Stay safe and congrats on the baby I wish the best for you and your family

I do not envy you @Nelbert19 and @Millar18..must be really tough to be in hospital every day..Strangely I would feel very re-assures if I went for my appointment, scan and my consultant, midwife etc would be pregnant...I think seeing you ladies in hospital must be helping lots of other preg ladies who are worried (I’m sure that doesn’t help, reassure you thought )
I also think it’s scary what we don’t know about the virus..they/government etc are only guessing about the virus as there is not enough data, today they can say one thing and in 5m they might say we were wrong..sorry. Has it been tested that once you get virus you can’t catch it again? Would you really become immune?

The mother and newborn were confirmed in London, UK.

I'm currently 29 weeks but financially have no choice but to work until 38 weeks. I'm a ft SEN HLTA in a very large primary school.

I am very keen on a home birth after awful experiences in hospital with both of my boys but not sure if I'm going to be able to have one now with all of this going on?

I'm 39.

Im meant to be having elected c section in june. Very worried they will cancel it.. i think midwives will be ok as no one else needing them.. unless lots have to isolate at home. On the plus side it doesnt seem to be more dangerous for pregnant women if we get it.. still i'd rather not!!

Also due to have an elective c section in June. I hope they don’t start cancelling them

Hey ladies,

Im going to jump on the worry train! Im due this coming tuesday and feel like I've got a thousand things more to worry about! I've already been told that due to staff sickness i may not be able to have a home birth and will have to go to hospital, I had my first child in hospital which was a really good experience but feel like with the virus its going to be a completely different atmosphere! Just hoping this baby comes before the virus spreads to much and starts to affect my town!

Will they cancel elective csections if they lock everything down. Despite being done due to the potential for it to become an emergency and under advice from consultant?

They won’t cancel elective c-sections - maybe delay for a few days if there’s a staffing crisis. Pregnancy is time sensitive, they can’t delay for 6 months like an elective gall bladder op!

@1Pinkfluffyelephant I'd like to say not..I have to have a c section (although not until October) for medical reasons. I'm assuming if it's for medical reasons ie an emergency then it should go ahead. I'm going to speak to my maternity unit tomorrow about the worries surrounding this whole thing tomorrow, it's really hard

Have you heard the latest? It's very likely in the next few days pregnant women will be asked to stay off for up to 12 weeks! I'm 17 weeks atm and have asthma so I have definitely been a bit concerned about it all.

Just wanted to ask @Nelbert19 why can’t you wear the face mask , PPE mask in pregnancy? Just thinking about getting some for traveling to work...or is it not a good idea? Thanks.

@fool11

The FFP3 masks are hot and claustrophobic and uncomfortable - we’re already at higher risk of dizziness and fainting without that! You have to be trained in donning and doffing for them to be of any use anyway, so ordering them online won’t be very helpful.

Also, the new guidelines for medical staff is that FFP3 masks aren’t any more effective than normal surgical masks unless you’re doing invasive respiratory procedures (like intubating or performing CPR - stuff you won’t be doing on your commute!)

This is because it’s transferred via droplets, which are large enough to be stopped by normal masks. You’re perfectly safe using normal surgical masks

I'm a teacher and my midwife has advised I don't go into work from tomorrow.

Tbh I worry most about the impact on my MH having to self-isolate for 12 weeks and with all of this going on.

I've stopped eating, can't sleep and if I'm being totally honest wish I wasn't pregnant.

Thank you @Nelbert19, that’s very helpful. Will you be staying at home now for 12w? What are your hospital guidelines?
I’ve been home since Friday with a cold and a cough and feel extremely tired but not sure I could do 12w. At least I have a garden so can go out but really not looking forward to this. Also worried about my appointments .

Well as much as some people wont admit I'm terrified about getting it. 33 weeks and at the end of April have a planned c sec due to only having a c section mast year so been advised its safer. I'm so scared of going to scans at the hospital and dint know whether u should be wearing a mask ie not. Also scared of midwives coming to house after birth who are potentially infected and taking little one to all routine checks after birth. I will admit I'm paranoid I try and sanatise everything when I go out a d I'm ck instantly checking the news u know its not good to do that. But with PM advising oregnant wi on not to go a yehere for 12 weeks scares me in due in 6 and I feel sorry for the baby coming I to a world like this.

Sorry to bring up an old thread, it felt better than starting a new one!

A few weeks on, how is everyone feeling?

I'm absolutely petrified of giving birth and not having DH around after to support me or even be there for labour apart from active labour. People are trying to be positive and tell me how empowering it'll be and how I'll make great bonds with other mums and that their partner was useless anyway and will be more calm without them.

It's my first baby and DH is a brilliant support to me so all of these comments aren't helping at all. I know they are trying to help but just makes me more annoyed rather than people saying 'do you know what, it's sh#t and I feel for you and it's awful you have to go through this alone' etc etc. Not that I want sympathy but this overly positive attitude just makes me feel like they're not listening and don't understand.

I'm absolutely terrified of birth anyway, let alone the thought of having to face so many elements without DH. Luckily I'm not due until July so hopefully things will calm down by then but really feeling for the mums giving birth atm. It's horrible 😟

Not sure whether it's just me or the hormones... anyone else feeling the same?

I’m with you..really don’t care that women used to give birth on their own etc..I understand why they are doing it, it’s better to be safe than sorry but it just doesn’t change the fact it’s shit. My husband was very helpful during my first labor and I was very glad to have him there, especially when nurses were ignoring me when I was telling them I’m in awful pain and wouldn’t even give me the gas..they only came in when I was screaming that baby is coming out..went from 1 to 10cm in 2.5h, first baby, they kept saying it’s gonna take all day and ignored me for those 2.5h..whole experience was terrible and there was nothing empowering about it. Currently 24w so hoping things will change by July.