Anyone else terrified of positive test meaning you have to labour alone?

[CurlyS]

I am getting closer and closer to my due date and I am getting more and more nervous about this

I know that they swab you when you are admitted and today my midwife confirmed that if that were to come back positive, my husband would have to leave and I'd be alone (obviously excluding midwife) through labour.

I feel so anxious about this happening it's keeping me up at night thinking about it. I have no reason to suspect I have Covid obviously but I'm terrified I'll be asymptomatic and just test positive surprisingly when I get to the hospital. I can't stop panicking about it.

We have been through so so much to get to this point and I am higher risk of hemorrhage due to a blood condition I have so I'm just terrified of DH not being with me.

My condition also means a home birth isn't an option for me, not safely anyway.

I'm actually considering lying to get a test just so I can relax a bit knowing it's negative and me and DH can be super super super careful from now until then.

Heya

It's a worry isn't it. I'm making this up as I go along but I planned to have a test a bit closer to my due date so so could have peace of mind I'm in the clear? And DH.

Then truly lock ourselves in not that we aren't already!

In your shoes I’d lie for a test, if only to put your mind at rest enough for you to not be stressed.

Assume you’re effectively “shielding” and nobody is working outside the home as a further risk factor?

We are both locking ourselves away until baby is born just in case. I'm not terrified of giving birth alone but can't stand the thought of DP missing the birth after also missing all scans and appointments

I think this is what I'll do tbh. I know I'll have to lie as I don't have any symptoms but for my peace of mind I feel like I should. I can't sleep much at the minute from worrying about this

Unfortunately DH is still having to go to work, he can't work from home. Although he only works with 2 people in a large workshop so not as big a risk as some people's workplaces.

Many areas are doing mass testing regardless of symptoms, have you checked you can't just have one anyway? No appointment necessary.
You are might have just started one.

How long do you have to go? Obviously staying at home is the answer and your husband doesn't sound like he has much chance of infection from his environment.

I wish you look and a Covid free end to your pregnancy and birth

How long do you have to go?

I'm 37 weeks so providing be isn't 'early' then I do have time to isolate if I'm positive.

My only concern with that is that it can take longer than the isolation period to test negative again so what if I tested positive, did my 10 days isolation but then still tested positive at the hospital anyway?!

I'll have a look at mass testing sites

It's the same where I am, if my husband tests positive I can have a back up person. But the thought of being on my own is horrible- there's already a shortage of staff in the nhs so I'd feel like I was just annoying them if I constantly was calling them! And I'd be so upset if DH missed it all. I'm due in march, just really hoping infection rates drop in the next 6weeks.

I'm 36 weeks tomorrow and also so worried about this! DH and I are both WFH anyway so have started getting shopping delivered as well, so we now have no contact with anyone!

My midwife tried to be reassuring and say they've only had it happen to two women through the whole pandemic at my hospital but still... I just can't stop worrying!

I suggest you talk to your midwife about the fact that you can't stop worrying and can't sleep.

While your anxiety is understandable, it's also disproportionate, and you might benefit from some extra mental health support, usually there are specialist mental health midwives that can offer this.

Have you done any birth preparation classes (online, I mean, since all F2F will have been cancelled)? If you haven't done any hypnobirthing I strongly recommend it for feeling calmer about the birth and more confident about being able to cope with whatever happens.

FWIW my DH was pretty useless at both births. I realise this won't change the fact that you really want your partner to be there (understandably) but I do think than having partners at the birth is overrated. In most cases I think it's more to benefit the man (witnessing the birth of his child and all that) than the woman (who would probably get better support from a doula or close female friend/relative who has given birth).