Pregnant Nurse with new guidance RE COVID 19

[TTC1993]

Whats your thoughts on the new advice about pregnant women in high risk category for covid 19? Are you guys still going in to work given we've been told so self isolate now?

Is this meant to be with immediate effect? Not that I can afford not to work, but health and life is more important at this stage so will ring tomorrow to see if they expect me to turn up.

It's still all very unclear. Would be helpful if clear as day guidelines came out telling us to self isolate. Hopefully there will be more clarity come the end of the week 🤞🏼

Just says pregnant women have to self isolate for 12 weeks given we are now in the high risk category... just feel as a nurse I should be stepping up as were all in the NHS together... but at what point do you put your unborn baby and yourself first as I feel like i'd never forgive myself if i put my baby at risk... but of course catch 22 as A nurse I dont want to let my patients down either.

Wish it was more clear like you say 🥴

Am following this thread as also a nurse and really unsure of what we are expected to do! Information is not clear at the moment!

Just to clarify it says to avoid unnecessary social contact - the guidance doesn’t actually say to self isolate - it’s very vague!

I’m a Gp and I’m expected to still go into work but telephone triage - so I guess it depends on what kind of nurse you are. Ward based then I’d say not, but if you can do admin I think you’ll be expected to still work

@MLP123 its such a tricky one! Are you going in tomorrow??

I'm a midwife, 25 weeks pregnant, not a clue what I'm supposed to be doing now but this from the times live coverage makes it sound like everyone should be following the advice about reducing social contact but particularly over 70s, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions. Self isolation for 12 weeks will only be for those who have serious conditions.

Still clear as mud as to whether reducing unnecessary contact means we shouldn't go to work but I think we're still ok to e.g shop for essentials

It’s social distancing that’s recommended, not self isolation.

“Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough;
Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour, when possible; 3.Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information;
Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs
Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media.
Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services.
Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is pragmatic.

For those who are over 70, have an underlying health condition or are pregnant, we strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can, and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible.“

@bobbypinseverywhere it is very vague isn't it... i'm sure it stated pregnant women are now high risk and to self isolate for the next 12 weeks?? Perhaps i picked that up wrong... but certain Borris said that and also came up in sub titles at the bottom of the TV screen 🥴

I'm community based, so outpatients with back to back patients every day so not an admin situation unfortunately🙁

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

It did say that pregnant women should self isolate, work from home and avoid social contact! It’s very unclear tho. I am going to go to work tomorrow and find out what I should be doing, I can always come home if I am told to.

@TTC1993 it did say pregnant women are in the same high risk group as 70+ etc - but they have said the need to adhere strictly to social distancing rather than social isolation. There’s a subtle difference.

See www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

as @MissDemelzaCarne has said above - the advice strictly says “work from home where possible”
Hopefully employers will be generous but I doubt the nhs will, it will want to keep as many people working as possible

@MooChops89 its hard trying to make the decision to go in or not eh, feels like were letting our workies and patients down big time.. don't want to seem like im being over dramatic etc but just feels scary not knowing how to respond...

Think as well i worry about the history I have, previously had a blood clot in my lung, collapsed lung, pneumonia and only got bloody pleurisy a few weeks ago and was admitted... deary me that sounds so wild when i write that down.. don't mean it too sound so dramatic and I know other people have it way worse just worry if i caught it shit would hit the fan with the lungs not being as strong as they once were deary me! The stress eh!

Luckily I've just started maternity leave decided to just take that early as boss has been to Italy and won't stay home.

But if I was you, I wouldn't be going if I hadn't started maternity. As you say high risk and you need to protect baby.

@MLP123 yeah i think im gonna do the same, go in and see what the crack is. Can imagine our employers would be supportive given its government advice.. fingers cx 😊

I think it will be unlikely that we will fall into the severely vulnerable list which will mean self isolation for 12 weeks as pregnancy is not part of the list on the NHS website.

However we are meant to reducing social contact - I work in a health role, but I expect that I will be resigned to more admin roles within the office until guidance becomes clearer, rather then booking in daily visits and assessments.

They may redeploy some of us who fall into the at risk category into other roles which is probably easier done within local authorities and health trusts.

@shittingmysel your totally right 😊 hope your maternity leave is chilled for you, as much as it could be given this situ ! Xx

It says "People in at-risk groups will be asked within days to stay home for 12 weeks".

The at risk groups are pregnant women, those over 70 and people with certain underlying health conditions.

It cant get much clearer than that.

Hi all,

I’m an intensive care nurse in a London NHS hospital, with many confirmed cases, so anxiety pretty high here. 17 weeks pregnant. Management are trying to move me to critical care areas which don’t have confirmed cases but the situation is changing by the hour.

My understanding is that being pregnant, we are in the ‘be extra vigilant’ group rather than the high risk group.

I’m going to work tomorrow and will be hoping for an update. Trying to take each day as it comes. I am definitely having conflicting emotions regarding duty of care and helping the NHS but wanting to protect myself and my first baby.

@UrsulaSings that was my thoughts too! X

Luckily dm a health visitor so she'll be close to hand. It's very scary actually - but it definitely feels safer at home where I know people understand infection control.
I understand your in outpatients and I doubt a lot of people will consider there nurse may be pregnant therefore high risk xx

@towerse that is very anxiety provoking 🥴🥴 Your right to take it day by day, there is a meeting at my work tomorrow to discuss it further so will see what they say x

@shittingmysel feels very unreal everyone is having to go through this shit, like a movie or something! Yeah i'm outpatients, i'm a mental health nurse but with full on clinical contact so it's scary stuff! X

I think it's just that people dont want to accept they might have to isolate for 12 weeks because it's such a shock and almost like it cant be real.

@UrsulaSings its mental trying to get your head round it eh wild! I'm due to give birth in 10 weeks... i'm like Mate I don't have 3 months.. bloody fear 😳 x