UK covid restrictions easing & pregnancy, how do you feel?

[Peachesavent]

Hey girls! How is everyone feeling with the news of the COVID restrictions easing in the UK? I am 7+4 so still really early on but I must admit I'm already feeling a little anxious at the thought of normal life returning especially as not many people know I'm pregnant yet... I'm in so many group chats where social events are being discussed already... Same for my other half... Just want to do everything to keep me and baby safe though?! Xx

Advancewithdragons its great you are not worried. I know 4 people that have died from covid and one of them had not taken a day off sick for years. I do know of someone who had a stroke just after having caught covid during pregnancy. I don’t know if it’s related but covid can cause problems with clotting. The though of being heavily pregnant and getting covid as badly as some of my colleagues is worrying.

Just reposting the link to the latest data emerging on covid and pregnancy, as it is less worrying than the initial studies last year. May 2020 was very early in the disease path last year, they know a lot more about covid since. This week: Imperial college London said there is no correlation between stillbirths or baby death, a small link to premature labour (a rise from 7.5% of births in all pregnancies, to 12% of births in women diagnosed with covid), and no link to increased maternal death: Link to study: www.imperial.ac.uk/news/215533/covid-19-infection-pregnancy-linked-with-still/

Im not suggesting that there is no risk. But covid is only one part of maternal and baby health. This week alone I have worked with two women postpartum who were at risk of having untreated sepsis, as they were concerned about (or worse encountered barriers when trying to access) follow up healthcare due to covid. Luckily they did access help on time, but the outcomes could have been much worse, but probably wouldn't have been a headline in the daily mail.

I think its ok to be worried, but I also think worries have to be looked at in wider contexts. I genuinely believe that opening back up a wider amount of services will be better for women's safety (in pregnancy and early motherhood), than keeping everything locked down. Last year we had to respond/react. This year we can plan. We know that the vaccines are reducing rates, the healthcare system is no longer as overloaded, and we have a much greater understanding of who and how Covid impacts health and how to respond to it. Last year there was no treatment pathway, now we have a range of options that we can try with some confidence. It is different and Im hopeful about the changes that Im finally seeing.

ps. Stairway, Im really sorry for your loses. Its been an awful year to lose loved ones.

@stairway absolutely fine for people to be worried, but the question was am I worried which I’m not. I have never said other people can’t be worried.

I just wanted to add another perspective as I didn’t want loads of other pregnant women reading this and then thinking they should be more worried than they are.

I truly believe opening up more services and relaxing the restrictions is better due to the increase rates of pre and post natal depression.

I'm totally not again something's opening. For example, baby classes being able to meet 2-3 people in your home by summer. More places being open. However 2000000 at reading festival seems to be a mic take! Or no restrictions at amusement places etc. It's about places being open in a safe way. Esp as we are not in control (control by lockdowns isn't great as it takes months to slow down numbers). Also taking away face masks just before autumn.
I have also seen the Heath sec just now. It's sounds like the plan is t be without masks from June but autumn they will prob be needed again....
seems pointless.
I don't think the government have done a very good job at all. Even when numbers were rising they were promising a Xmas. Which was just 3 families meeting up. We are now talking about thousands and thousands, hundreds of thousands now mixing. 🤦🏼‍♀️. After we have just come out of a terrible lockdown where over 1500 people were dying a day.

Sorry to post again. Even now this government has given no answers about children who are CEV, should they be back at school? Why don't they answer these questions, why are they not thinking or mentioning these kids at all 🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️.