Terrified to give birth with the current state of the workd

[Somewhereovertherainbow85]

Hi all,

I’m 8 months pregnant with dc2 & I’m struggling. Apart from finding the isolation so lonely & exhausting with my 4 year old, I’m absolutely petrified of giving birth.

I had to go to the hospital for a check up recently & the atmosphere was so eery, strangely quiet, midwives in masks. It just felt so strange & alien compared to last time I was pregnant.

I worry rules might change & I’ll end up giving birth on my own without my husband, or if he gets ill what will happen. I’m so sad that people can’t come & see the baby after, it’s just such a difficult time to be pregnant & I worry about the mental toll as I had pnd after my first. I had a lot of support planned this time with family which has all gone out the window for now.

How is everyone else coping?

Hi Somewhereovertherainbow I'm 35 weeks today with my first, I'm also quite frightened, my antenatal classes have been cancelled too and I feel completely clueless, just crossing fingers my husband will be allowed to be my birthing partner my hospital also closed their maternity ward so I've been bounced to another hospital. Xxx

I had my baby 7 weeks ago and I’m so grateful it was before it got serious with C19 I really feel for you OP!

Hopefully we won’t be in lockdown after you have given birth so if you need anyone you will be able to have support. I’ve really needed my mum as I’m suffering from PND (and I don’t think I would have if there was no lockdown) and it’s so hard doing it alone!

I hope your partner can be there, but if he can’t you’ll do well and remember that midwives are (mostly) lovely and will do everything to support you in this strange time

Me too! Having a c section next week and dreading it :(

Thank you everyone, sorry for those struggling but reassuring to know I’m not alone. My baby is transverse currently so I may need an emergency section if baby doesn’t turn so that’s on my mind too. I have a scan in a couple of weeks which I have to go to alone. (Also dreading that)

Pnd is awful at the best of times, never mind now. I can’t help but think the impact on mental health from all of this is going to be so severe & the aftermath will take a long time to recover.

Even when “lockdown” ends I can’t see me instantly feeling safe to have lots of visitors & go lots of places. Thankfully I have a garden, I feel so sorry for people that don’t.

38 weeks here and have a 3yo, it’s tough. Will be induced alone if baby isn't here by due date so dreading that really. However, been for a scan last week for transverse lie (he has moved hurrah) and it was actually lovely, yes a bit weird and quiet but the staff were so so so lovely. I’m mostly dreading family not being able to visit but also trying to concentrate on the positives, that we are being kept safe. Good luck everyone x

Hi! I'm the same with mainly dreading family not being able to meet baby. How long is everyone else going to leave it? (assuming not in lockdown?)

Ah so glad transverse baby has moved!! Did you know before the scan? Could you feel a difference? Mine is still definitely transverse.

Mschatterbox, I have no idea! Even when lockdown ends, is it realistic to think we’re just gonna jump back into life as before? I can control what we do within my household but I can’t control where other people go or what they do, when will I feel I can trust them to come into my home? I honestly don’t know the answer!!

Prinnypree how scary for you, having to move hospitals etc with it being your first too. It might sound silly but maybe there are some antenatal classes online somewhere if you feel you need them.

I read a book when I was pregnant with my first called “Ina May’s guide to childbirth” & it helped me hugely! IMO really recommend looking it up. Ina May Gaskin is an old skool midwife & her book really reassured me with my first to trust my body & have faith in my abilities. I found it more helpful than antenatal classes!

I wish you all luck & hope you all remain healthy during this rubbish time xxx

I feel exactly the same. Especially as my in laws are police officer, nurse and social worker! At what age do I decide OK she's strong enough to catch it now?! So so crazy.

I don’t know. Half of me just worries for myself too. As the statistics say children seem to on average get it much less severely, I worry well what if I got it bad? The thought of being to ill to look after my children or worse, leaving them is unbearable & I get palpitations just thinking about it!

Then there’s the “what if my husband got it bad?” How would I cope with a toddler & newborn? So many scenarios too scary to imagine & yet I find them popping into my mind. I just keep trying to distract myself but I honestly have no idea when I’ll feel safe again.

I suppose only time will tell!