The virus - pregnant women-

[FirstTime28]

Hello ladies ,

What is everyone doing in regards to the latest announcement of pregnant ladies being in the high risk category?

We've been told to self isolate for 12 weeks

I've been sent home to work from home (for as long as there is work) back story I work for a small kitchen bathroom company and with it being small it probably won't survive this whole thing, we weren't getting anyone through the door so have no work. There's only so much work my boss can give me and pay me before there's nothing left. So my anxiety is through the roof with money worries as it is !

My partner is a bus driver, he can't work from home. His only option is to carry on working to pay the bills , if he doesn't we have no money to live. Therefore I can't see him for 12 weeks either (he has contact with so many people day in day out so would be pointless me seeing him while we self isolate)
Another anxiety for the list! This is my first pregnancy and our little girl has just started kicking and I'm so upset he is going to miss it all.

What's everyone's views on this?
Why have we been put into the high risk category? Is it because there isn't enough evidence for what it does to pregnant women and their babies?

Ahhh this sounds like such a difficult situation

I read somewhere that there is a concern the virus could trigger early labour. I can't remember what the source was though so I don't know how factual this is - there's a lot of bad info out there.

I believe we are in the high risk category because they just don’t have enough information about how the virus affects pregnant women at this stage, so they are erring on the side of caution until they know more.

I’m sort of in the same position, am 7 weeks pregnant, have been sent home to work for at least 12 weeks. We are a retail company so no idea if we will come through the other side of this either. I was also relying on saving now to fund maternity leave next year so am stressing about not being able to do that as well.

My husband works as a night trunker, so works all evening and night and sleeps all day. I’m therefore pretty much going to spend the next 12 weeks completely alone and am currently feeling extremely upset and depressed about that prospect.

Am just trying to remember it is for our safety, and to reduce the strain on the NHS so very important to follow the advice as much as we can. It is very hard though.

I’m 30 weeks Pg. @FirstTime28 if you are unsure of anything, you just need to listen to the PM and Chris Whitty announcement from Monday 16th 5pm. That’s really the best thing to do. No point reading other Media’s ‘take’ on it.

If you haven’t listened then essentially it’s:

• Pregnant people are in vulnerable group as a precaution. as it’s all new and unknown.

• they will make an announcement following Monday’s, before the weekend, saying about when to take further steps concerning the Vulnerable Group.

So it’s not ‘complete isolation’ for pregnant people unless you have symptoms (then obviously it’s the same requirement for all)

I still have a 10 and 8 yr old going to school so inpossible for me to isolate myself from community. I am just avoiding going g out, no more shopping or gym. And working from home.

Hi,

Similar situation here. I'm 19 weeks pregnant and 'working from home' for the foreseeable future which I'm glad about but it's also not really managable. My partner is a supermarket delivery driver, so as you can imagine I'm worried about how many people he's coming into contact with at the moment. We've agreed that he has to not touch anything and have a shower asap when he gets home, then will spray door knobs etc again! I dont know if this will reduce the risk atall but seems better than nothing, but we are still sleeping in the same bed etc. I don't know if this is the right thing to do or not xx

We have not been told to self isolate for 12 weeks, we have been advised to social distance as a precaution, given that there is limited evidence. Check the government website for the difference between self isolation and social distancing.

Oh sorry i thought Boris Johnson had put pregnant ladies in the vulnerable category and people in the vulnerable category had to self isolate for 12 weeks I'm so confused by all of this. Even the gov website says we are in the vulnerable category.
Can you send me the link that says we shouldn't be please? Would be a great help x

Currently we are being strongly advised to socially distance. I suspect from the weekend it may well be mandatory to self isolate for 12 weeks, but they haven’t actually announced/decided that yet......

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

I was also under the impression that we are meant to self-isolate for 12 weeks, the same as those over 70. There seems to be lots of confusion about this. My impression is that the self-isolation is meant to start from this weekend, but there really hasn't been much guidance on it.

I to think they said to isolate for 12 weeks, they just said it will be from the weekend but I don’t plan on going to work this week and will see what my work says, they haven’t said I can’t come in but I want to know what’s going on first. I’m quite concerned as I do not get sick pay! Xx

You don’t need to be separated from your partner!! He needs to be vigilant with cleaning

This is what’s been said.. definitely says the words self isolate!

My partner is still working as we need the money. He will bath as soon as he gets in.

I'm fairly lucky in that I can work from home, but I'm 15 weeks so have a loooong way to go!

I have been naturally isolating for weeks because I felt bloody awful, so I'm a bit miffed now that I feel better I can't get out and about. I wanted to get back into swimming, which I know sounds petty but this is my first and probably only pregnancy.

I went to my mother in law's funeral today, only thing I touched was the casket and there was only 5 of us there (should have been over 50 people).

But I think that's me inside until my midwife appointment next week! Partner is self employed so basically f*cked for money but at least he's not at risk of catching it at work or anyty. And fortunately I can afford to pay his share for a bit.

I'm on a fixed term contract so a bit worried about what will happen after that ends. If we're still in lockdown I won't be able to find a new job.

Feeling really sad that the bulk of my pregnancy is going to be overshadowed by this. I had a miscarriage last year and my due date should have been the end of this month so I just feel surrounded by death and gloom right now.

It doesn't help that the weather is shocking today. So grey and drizzly and cold!

Text from my midwife:

“Just a little update for you. The advice re COVID-19 is changing by the day!! This is the official advice from Public Health England that we are following. 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
Social distancing (rather than self isolation) is being recommended, so it is all about how you can do that at work/home etc, and being sensible and rational.I will still be continuing your care as normal unless the advice changes drastically so please don’t worry. Obviously if you have any symptoms please let me know or call triage on ### and we can advise you as to the next steps. Hope that all makes sense!”

@YummyInMyTummy that’s all well and good but what about people that work with the general public closely, I can’t work from home but my job is in a cafe, I spend my whole day surrounded by people and on the tills! I’m still planning on staying in this week until the government has released any more news plus my daughter school will be closed from Friday so couldn’t of gone to work anyway! Xx

@Sunflower2019 Totally agree - you (and others) have specific circumstances that will need to be dealt with on a case by case basis. This is such a worrying time and I hope you/you work are able to sort something out. Good luck! Xx
I was just clarifying that - generally - it’s social distancing and not 12 week self isolation for the majority of pregnant women. (At the moment anyway!)