26 weeks pregnant and panicking what maternity services will be like in the weeks to come.

[Groundhog86]

Is anyone else just so stressed with worry? I'm so scared there will be no medical professionals to help me give birth. I don't want to give birth alone at home 😩.

I was happy to get pregnant through ivf now this is turning into a nightmare.
Just hoping there will be a miracle in the Next few months and everything calms down.

20 weeks and a bit worried here too:) I cant offer much advice really but I think we will be ok x

22weeks and also worried.
I am also concerned that partners may be banned from labour wards. I absolutely do not want to give birth alone.

I suppose all we can do is take it week by week. I'm just hoping I can make it to my next scan on 30/3, to check baby.
Luckily work sent me home on Tuesday so just trying to social distance but dh still has to go into work and can't work from home.
I would not want to give birth alone either but as long as there was a midwife there would be able to cope without dh.

I’m 32 weeks and due to have a c section 4 weeks today. You won’t have to give birth without a medical professional but I think there is a chance they will ban birth partners. I’ve heard from a few people that they are allowed a birth partner but they then have to leave straight after the birth. I am dreading this as with a c section and twins it would be much easier for DH to help me than constantly relying on midwives who are going to be v short staffed. (But of course I understand the need to cut the risk of infection)

Good luck Robs! Twins I always wanted twins!

I have given birth alone and it is ok as you arent left alone unless like me you asked to be:) I enjoyed the peace after coming from a busy house:) I think they will allow one birth partner as the partner will able to stay with you so midwives can probably deal with more ladies. I am slightly worried about if I need an epidural, had one with the last 2. I am going to really try and do this without one, maybe just get in their bath if their is one and I may look up soe hypno birthing methods?

I'm also stressed and worried. IVF pregnancy also. It's taken such a long time to get here and it's really not how I imagined it would be. I'm just trying to remember how lucky I am and taking everyday as it comes.

I’m due in summer v v high risk pregnancy so much so I was advised to terminate at 12 weeks and refused
Fully expecting I may have to have my c section alone and if I do then so be it. It’s a terrible situation atm and all any of us can hope for is for our babies to be born safely and healthy we can manage if we have to on our own x

I am slightly worried about this too. Hospital an hour away and who am going to get to come and sit with DD1 if we are on lockdown?!

It's nice to not feel alone in my anxiety. I'm sure we can all get through this to everyone.

Scary time. I have c section in 8 weeks and I'm trying to prepare myself that I may have to do it alone.

It’s pretty daunting isn’t it -imagining giving birth alone. I also would just feel so sorry for partners to miss out on that amazing moment -it would be crushing for them. My DH was gutted he isn’t allowed to the next scan yesterday so imagine if they weren’t allowed to the birth.

That being said, its perhaps not a bad idea to have it in the back of our minds that it could happen so we can slightly mentally prepare. But really, I’m hoping it won’t happen. And also just remembering as long as all our babies get here safely and healthily then that’s the most important thing.

Also I will say having had multiple c section deliveries the staff are always so so lovely they will hold your hand and be so kind it will be ok

Hi ladies,

I’m 23 weeks and I also have the benefit of working very closely with lots of senior doctors across many different specialities!

So pregnant women are actually in a slightly better Position as your obstetrics and gynaecology consultants/doctors and your midwives are all ‘specialist’ health professionals! That means they work exclusively with labouring mothers/pregnant women/women post birth - as well as women who have other gynaecology needs...

Unlike doctors who work in A&E, respiratory medicine, intensive care medicine GPa etc, pregnant women (except for those who coincidentally fall into the “at risk category” due to health reasons other being pregnant) are not being an extra “drain” on resources due to the corona virus!

The doctors/midwives who look after you during Pregnancy and birth can actually be shipped out to other departments and the skills and experience required is totally different!

That’s not to say that they won’t be stressed and tired as the NHS is being pushed to breaking point but it honestly your medical professionals during birth won’t be going anywhere!

Sorry if this doesn’t make sense, it’s a little hard to explain xx

Can’t actually be shipped out*

I'm 24 weeks and also so worried about this . It's my first child and I wanted my partner with me so badly .

I'm also scared as my midwifes appointments have been cancelled for 5 weeks and I'm high risk. I feel a little bit lost at the moment

Afternoon all, Im worried to death too, i am carrying MCDA and its considered as a high risk pregnancy and I had been told my babies are at high risk of ttts, ive been having cramps and lower abdominal pain and one side of my lump is slighly bigger than the other side, hospital does absolutely nothing and all they advise is to take paracetamol, they said contact us if you have bleeding.... isnt it abit toooo late then?
They cancelled all my appointment until end of March, Im worried if something happens to the babies and it goes unseen until its too late. :(((((((((

Almost 29 weeks and starting to worry a bit now. My first csection was an emergency and I don't remember half of it as I was so distressed/out of it. Was hoping that this time it would be a calmer, more enjoyable experience but worried DH won't be allowed in. As it stands, the hospital are still allowing 'birthing partners' but don't actually know if that means they're allowed in theatre? Also that they might cut down visiting hours so will get less help. Plus side will be hopefully it guarantees I can go home within 24hrs as I hated being in for so long last time.

Am 35 weeks and have spoken this week to midwife and hospital who have said its appointment as normal but cant brjng kids all scans will go ahead as normal as to risky to not and also the only change for birthing is that you can have only 1 birthing partner, visitors are 1hr a day only and no one that has a cold etc can visit and again no children can visit at all

The only thing really that effects me is I was having my mum and husband with me at the birth but now it will be just my husband and if I have to stay in I woukdnt be allowed my 4yr old to come and see me but other than that it's ok so am hoping for a good birth to be home same day xx

I'm 37 weeks and this worry about not having a birth partner is sending my anxiety through the roof. This is my second baby and could not have gotten through the birth of my first without the support of dh. I understand that if he is showing symptoms they won't allow him in.
I don't know how it will work if women are labouring without birth partners as last time the midwives were hardly ever in the room.
So does that mean I will be left in a room to labour alone?
Spent my whole pregnancy preparing myself and feeling calm about it and now I'm a nervous wreck 🙁

That's quite reassuring MrsRose2018

This is definitely a worry and I think would depend on whether things get really bad... and what the risk is of just ONE person who has the virus entering the labour and post natal ward.

I've been following the rcobgyn and rcom advice closely, including the guidance they have published and the Twitter q and a they did yesterday (#covidmaternity). I've not seen any indication yet that they would prevent women from having a birth partner present at all.

However, as pp said they have said (understandably) that if a birth partner was showing any symptoms they could not attend. My dh is therefore trying to isolate with me as much as possible. Understand this won't be possible for everyone but something to think about.

i was literally having a Skype meeting with 2 obs and gyne consultants today (this was purely coincidental) and they said that in their respective Trusts they are NOT BANNING BIRTH PARTNERS!!

Birth partners have been reduced to 1 but, unless your birth partner is showing symptoms, they WILL NOT be banned from your c-sections and births!

Now whilst I appreciate this is now and some mothers, including myself, are a good few months away from delivering, it would have to take something DRASTIC for them to ban birth partners completely!

One of the main causes of birth complications is a stressed out mother! And what’s a sure fire way to stress out a mother? Prevent her from having her birthing partner!

I know these are scary and uncertain times! I know scan guidelines are being changed. Appointments are rearranged and medical staff are stressed and stretched but please please try not to worry!

Listen to RCOC and the college of midwives! Your birthing partners aren’t going anywhere yet!!

xx

Thanks MrsRose:) If we could all keep this thread updated as we go along that would be great. I have a scan, 20 week, on Tuesday so will phone in and see if our hospital has switched to 1 person only.

This is a bit spooky. I'm 26 weeks too and my next scan is on the 30th!

I'm due for a c section so panicking a bit. The part that worries me most is going to the hospital. I had an appointment there last week and it was very tense. 2 people died of cv there yesterday so it's already started. I'm less worried about my partner not being allowed in than having to stay there overnight. I just want to get in and get out as fast as we safely can.