How has being pregnant during covid times been?

[TinyPuds]

Hello pregnant ladies,

I just wanted a bit of advice about pregnancy in covid times.. basically I’m overwhelmingly broody and with a postponed wedding until 2022 my fiancé and I have decided to go for it and start ttc for our first now. It’s either now or we will need to wait until the end of 2022 which isn’t ideal for a number of reasons! But I’m a little bit worried we’re jumping the gun and I just wanted to hear your pregnancy experiences during covid - is it safe? How have scans and check ups etc been? Is there anything you wish you’d known before you got pregnant?

Congrats and love to all!

I have nothing to compare it to, as it’s my first.

I conceived around the 23rd March, so basically have been pregnant for the entirety of the pandemic.

All of my appointments have been face to face, albeit wearing masks and from 25 weeks onwards, have been in big enough rooms that DH could attend if he wanted.

I attended scans on my own with DH outside & he would have been allowed to come in had anything been wrong. We had no private scan places open until I was 24 weeks.

From the guidance now, things do seem better, so although it might take some trusts time to implement, it does seem a better idea to get pregnant now.

My midwife has said that RCOM have anecdotally seen a huge increase in pregnancies so the only issue might be much busier wards etc.

I’m a pretty pragmatic person so wouldn’t have changed being pregnant this year, it’s not bothered me too much. I’ve appreciated the time spent with DH wfh & that he will be around when the baby is born to allow me 5 mins breather etc.

My biggest factor before getting pregnant was always being married so that I had that security, particularly re mat pay & leave.

I found out I was pregnant just before the first lock down in March and then was induced during the second lockdown in November.

This was my second baby and honestly I would say overall the care was better. It was sad my husband couldn’t come to my scans and that I didn’t have a face to face midwife appt until
25 weeks but overall the attentiveness and kindness of all the healthcare staff I met went above and beyond. I was fortunate enough to have an uncomplicated pregnancy though and appreciate I would have felt much more frightened and isolated had issues arisen with my health or my babies health. I found the post natal ward a million times more bearable without visitors being there all the time but again I’m speaking from a place of privilege as I didn’t feel I needed that much support for that short period post birth what with it being baby number 2.

I think it would have been harder had it been my first baby. We were going to delay due to
Covid but I fell pregnant the first month anyway so was too late by then

The hardest part for me was worrying about the potential impact of Covid on pregnant women/babies as there was literally zero data at that point. Thankfully we have a much better understanding now.

I wouldn’t delay personally.. but I didn’t have time on my side!

I'm on dc3 and based in the south west. I can honestly say I've had the best care, possibly even better than with my other two not in a pandemic! It does vary greatly though so you may want to disclose your area/hospital to get a better idea for you.

Honestly it's been fine up till now - I'm 31 weeks with twins after several losses and IVF. Partners haven't been allowed to scans which was hard due to my history especially for the 12 week scan but rule change should be implemented soon and you can get a private scan that he can go to for as little as £50. Lockdown and working from home has actually made pregnancy physically easier

Car parks at hospitals are a lot quieter making parking for appointments a lot less stressful. Waiting rooms are more relaxed and quieter without bored looking partners on their phones.

Baby stuff can all be ordered online for home delivery - lockdown meant couldn't try out prams but we knew what we wanted anyway

The ONLY negative is the actual birth - even though I'm having twins and a c section - DH will only be allowed with me for the c section and 1 hour after and then he has to go home and he's not allowed back until we are discharged - there are no visiting hours so I'll be on my own with little support with 2 babies recovering from major surgery

If you decide not to have a c section though it's a lot easier - most women are being discharged same day so only in hospital for a few hours

Tbh the care I have received has been no different to when I had my daughter In 2016 except for wearing masks

Shit. I'm 29 weeks. I've had something to compare too as this is my second. My partner was able to come to my 12 and 20 week scan. My other consultant appointments I had to do alone. Doesn't sound a big deal, but my last birth resulted in a EMCS and an intensive care stay for my daughter for 10 days. So I've been very anxious this time round.
This pregnancy has been complicated for different reasons but all linked to the first birth problems. Referrals to fetal medicine etc, I've put a request in to have him attend the rest of my appointments which thankfully has been approved due to my mental health suffering. Panic attacks, feeling low and anxious all made worse by the covid scare. I'm worried about being on my own in the hospital especially since I'll probably be having a ELCS but I'd be just as worried after a vbac birth. I'm hoping it will just be an overnight stay and then I can go home.
I'm sorry if this has put you off, I don't want to put you off, my pregnancy hasn't been straight forward, Luckily after lots of scans a blood tests they think everything will be fine.
With the vaccine being rolled out I think by the time you fall pregnant things would of calmed down drastically, but no one can be sure. If I'd known this is what it was going to be like I would of waited. My mental health has taken a beating this time round.

I’m 33 weeks now and so far everything’s been good. In fact I’d say I’ve been better looked after with this pregnancy than when I was pregnant with DS 4 years ago. I had the bulk of my booking in appointment over the phone but al other appointments have been have to face. Only downside was going alone to the 12 and 20 week scan.

Currently 25 weeks with baby no.2.

Other than OH not being able to come to first midwife appointment and having 1x midwife appointment on the phone and 1x consultant appointment on the phone, it's been the same.

OH can to both scans.

I've got a midwife appointment in January and 2x scans and consultant appointments January and February, all of this is face to face and, currently, OH can come to these appointments.

This is my 2nd baby first was premature so I am high risk and have been seen every two weeks and had to have an operation for a cervical stitch. The care I have received has been great so far. Partners have been allowed to scans but no other appointments which hasn't affected us as he has been at home with dc1 anyways. Always felt safe even being admitted and spending the night on the ward. Maybe look at the hospital you would go to website and see what restrictions they have in place at the min.

Also shit. Attended all scans by myself which was scary, although that shouldn't be the case now. I think most or all trusts are allowing partners for the actual scan now. Laboured pretty much entirely by myself as my active labour was quicker than they expected, partner arrived in time for pushing. Loads of people didn't know I was pregnant and probably don't know I have a baby. Obviously all the important people know so it's not the end if the world but I'm sad for missing the little interactions at work etc. I've also gained more weight as I've just generally been less active as my lifestyle changed so much (shops closed, home working, generally just not been on my feet as much). Honestly though even knowing this I wouldn't have changed when I got pregnant (was at the end of January), it's also came with positives, like a really relaxed and chilled out pregnancy and newborn period. And as a caveat, I understand people are going through much more difficult times due to covid. I am still mourning the experience I thought I would have at the beginning of the year though.

Also some of my appts (pre third trimester) were telephone appts which I didn't think were as helpful. Not as much support after either, for example my breastfeeding support appt on day 2 was by telephone which just isnt very helpful for things like checking latch. No breastfeeding support groups in person. I think breastfeeding rates this year are really going to suffer. Also physio appt for birth injury was done by phone (they did say I could go in on the phone but I think I'm fine so I declined, but am I fine? How do I know?)

This probably isn't really what you're looking for but my experience so far has been much better than my first because I am now WFH.

In my first pregnancy I had every negative symptom you can imagine; terrible sickness from start to finish, I needed crutches to walk, GD, etc. I'm only 8w but the sickness is a lot more manageable from home this time round.

Not having my DH at appts doesn't bother me too much as he only came to a few last time anyway. I'm not looking forward to labour while wearing a mask though!

I am pregnant. It's quite nice so far. The antenatal ward is not over crowded and they get you in and out quickly. No waiting around for at least 30 mins after your appointment is suppost to happen ( pre covid days)

Pregnancy itself was great, I got two private scans and DH got to come to the 20 week one so it was just the 12 week one alone, I was okay him not coming to the normal appointments.

But I went into early labour and had to be admitted due to my blood pressure being too high and DH wasn't allowed with me overnight ( I was lucky he could be there during the day) so I was alone at night for two nights maxed out on dihydrocodeine and all I could hear was other women screaming in pain alone, I was supposed to get induced after 24 hours, it was 60 hours by the time I got the drip (the pessary got prescribed on day 2 but the midwives told us that it was dangerous to go to delivery suite as there wasn't enough staff).
Active labour I had DH there the whole time including when I got the drip started, he then got to stay with us after until DS got rushed to nicu with sepsis.

Fortunately our NICU allows both parents 24/7 so it only really got bad again for me when they realised I had sepsis myself 3 days later and had to get swabbed in almost every bodily exit shall we say alone and had to wait for my covid test to come back before I could see DH or DS again (the lab did it in 5 hours fortunately) . DS then got discharged to the postnatal ward with me when they knew I didn't have covid but 2 nights with DS whilst I had sepsis was awful, in the early hours of day 8 I told the consultant if I wasn't going to be discharged that day I would be walking out without their blessing as DS was fine according to his doctors at that point. I finally got home lunchtime of that day.

I have however heard of people having much better experiences and short staffing was a big issue in my experience not just covid restrictions.

It's been ok.
Partner wasn't allowed at 20w scan. Was upsetting at first but we got over it quickly.
Care is good so far (25w now).
FTM so can't compare but honestly i can't complain.
Only annoying thing is not being able to see people go to classes or gym... hard to remain active. But that's for everyone else ...

I’ve lived it!

Now 30 weeks

Husband and as allowed at the scans,

I’ve been seeing midwife in person weekly since 28 weeks - I had to go for a scan as they thought something was wrong last week - they had me booked in the next morning and all was sorted (baby is fine)

I’ve had a relaxing pregnancy - no commute, working at home, could take a half hour nap on lunch when I was feeling awful in the early days

Missing nothing - pubs, clubs, concerts all not happening so I’m not required to attend anything 😂

Where I am you're allowed to have a partner in for scans which I didn't appreciate until my first scan and I was really nervous. I'd hate to have done that on my own.

It's my first time so I don't have anything to compare to. I haven't had any issues. The only thing to complain about is that if not for covid I'd have continued with yoga and I'd be going to classes for pregnant women.

Honestly OP, it's been shit. Im so glad this is my second baby and I had a positive experience being pregnant with my first. Fewer midwife apts, less support, no GP apts despite HG being awful, and no support from those who I would normally turn to, thanks to covid. I've had to go to every apt and scan alone, DH barely feels a part of the whole thing now he's "performed". The only good thing is being able to WFH without question.

This is our first baby and it did take a wee while to get here. I was very anxious in the beginning due to the lack of contact as a first time mum, but I found out that’s actually pretty normal here. I found forums really helpful and when it came time to meet my midwife for the first time my worries mainly faded away. I was given so much information and was invited to baby classes via zoom which we’ve found really useful.

Everyone’s experience is different during this time (which is really unfair, everyone should have the same level of attention) but my husband and I have had a pretty good one overall. We booked a couple of early scans to ease my anxiety and were fortunate that my husband was allowed to all the NHS scans and appointments too. That could change for anyone though as the tiers change. Our next scan is February and hopefully he can go, but after we seen things were okay it became less important to us that he made them all. The thing that worries me the most is him not being allowed in until the actual birth. I don’t handle pain very well.

Probably the worst part of it (and I’m sure many will feel the same) is that it’s pretty lonely when you can’t see your family. My in-laws are my only parents and treat me as their daughter, so my MIL has really been a rock for me through this. I’ve missed seeing people in person, but I hope things will be better by summer.

We got pregnant early in the pandemic and I've found it bearable so far. We chose to do some of our care privately. Now I'm under the NHS care I do find it borderline overwhelming. Busy waiting rooms, people not wearing masks properly etc - and I'm particularly worried about the birth, which is about a month away. I'm in London so would imagine the picture might vary depending on where you are located.

However, the look ahead view for you, if you got pregnant now, SURELY must be better, with vaccines being rolled out. Hopefully over the coming months things will ease up and normal life might just resume before you give birth?

We didn't feel like we could wait. We thought we would leave it to chance, and got pregnant almost immediately.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

I've been pregnant twice since we went in to lockdown in March. First pregnancy I found out I'd had a MMC at my 12 week scan in the first week of lockdown - I had to attend the scan alone, get the bad news alone and deal with six weeks of appointments and two full day inpatient visits/treatments alone. The staff couldn't have been nicer but all of my treatment options were limited because of Covid, which is why it took so long to have the whole thing over and done with.

I'm now 28 weeks pregnant in my second pregnancy (first baby 🤞🏼) and my experience has been really good - DH couldn't come to the 12 week scan, which was terrifying after the previous experience (we had a private scan before though that he could be at), but my hospital's policy had changed by the 20 week and he was able to be at that. He's been allowed to come to all of my community MW appts if he wishes (which have all been in person) and my trust have now changed the rules so that when I go in to labour, he can come in as soon as I am admitted and has 12 hours of visiting time a day if we have to stay in. The staff have been lovely again throughout and appointments are so much smoother - much less sitting around and waiting than last time.

So I'd say it depends on your trust as to that side of things - take a look at their website and/or social media pages and see what their rules are at the moment but also keep in mind that most seem to be doing their absolute best to loosen the rules now and allow partners in as much as possible, so by the time you get to that stage, the rules may have changed again.I honestly don't think they'll go back to being as strict as they were back in the first lockdown - they were learning as they went along then and now they have all of the information, they've been able to implement Covid-safe processes.

On the other side of things, I've also really enjoyed WFH during pregnancy - it means more sleep as not having to get up to commute, not having to be on a train with nausea in the first trimester and generally less stress than having to go in to work, meet up with clients, etc. I do have to force myself to get out and walk or do some exercise though as I'm much less active without the commute.

The only worry I really have is how things will be when baby arrives and if my parents, siblings and in laws will safely be able to meet her etc but hopefully by the time you're at that stage, the world will be a very different place 🤞🏼

My care has been shit. My midwife forgot to refer me for really imperative appointments (one being to fetal medicine due to previous premature birth).
The care has been so rubbish ive asked not to see those midwives again.

As for holding off, personally, i would just go for it if thats what you both want.

Im sick of covid halting everything and she should just crack on with life as and when we like (socially distanced of course).

Like PP said, the only thing that worries me is when the baby arrivès and handling visitors etc, but as baby isnt due until April, things could change by then (although, im not overly optimistic)

I’m 26 weeks with DS2 and it’s been mixed. DH has been allowed to attend all scans but no other appointments. This is what we would have done anyway so that’s been fine. I think if it was my first baby I might have missed the excitement of seeing family and going shopping and to the classes but as it was our second it wasn’t as big a miss. I do still feel a bit sad that lots of family haven’t ever seen me pregnant this time and realistically I don’t think they will

It’s been great for me, being able to work from home has been fantastic. Also, nobody can see me pregnant so I can tell people when I want to! Having had previous miscarriages, I want to wait for the 20wk scan before I tell work, friends, etc. As I’m showing now, this would have been impossible. My husband is also mostly working from home so can take me to scan appointments (even though he can’t come in). The hospital care has also been great.