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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

People meeting your newborn during Covid

19 replies

BB142831 · 09/03/2021 20:42

Hi,

I’m due my first baby in a couple of weeks time and my husband and I are currently trying to work out how people might meet our newborn. The news that you can meet in private gardens should come into force just after the baby arrives so we should be able to see people this way.

Many of our family will have had their first vaccine, and we are trying to decide whether this is enough to let them have a cuddle. Do we ask them to get a test? Or do we not let them touch the baby at all? It’s a tough situation that I never imagined dealing with but we want to make sure we make the right choice.

What would you do?

OP posts:

SnooperTrooper12345 · 09/03/2021 20:54

I'm due in a few weeks and personally, won't be seeing people. With a child under 1, you can bubble with one family which will probably be my parents. But apart from that, won't be seeing people. Again, personal choice.

Regardless of if they've had the vaccine or not, that protects them and not you/your baby.
There isn't enough evidence to show it stops them from spreading it ect.

RenegadeMrs · 09/03/2021 20:55

I had a baby last July, so just about in time for the easing of restrictions last summer. After 2 weeks self imposed isolation (making sure I didn't pick anything up in hospital) immediate family and grandparents had cuddles, friends and acquaintances did not. My family is reasonably disperse so generally different family units came a few weeks apart, always stayed within rule of 6. I was more worried about passing it between the adults than giving it to the baby.

ChocOrange1 · 09/03/2021 20:58

Definitely form a support bubble with a family if you can, it has been an absolute lifesaver for us.

WashableVelvet · 09/03/2021 21:00

My second is due in a couple of weeks. I think we’ll be sticking to outdoors except with our support bubble. Im not worried about covid for the baby, but I certainly won’t be having anyone hug me myself, more worried about transmission between adults.

Rules on social distancing will be good to keep ordinary bugs etc away so I don’t have a baby full of colds

Original poster

BB142831 · 09/03/2021 21:20

Sorry I didn’t mention that we will be forming a bubble with my parents .

Not sure what to do about the rest of my family and my husbands!

OP posts:

serialplanner · 09/03/2021 21:34

@BB142831 I'm a FTM so working this out too.

In London the lateral flow tests are really easy to do and local so I think we'll ask people to do one of those.

Even if we don't go down that route, if we let anyone have a hold I think a mask is a good idea anyway really. For any other colds or bugs as when people hold babies the babies are right under their mouth. I'm not OCD or anything usually just something I think is good.

We'll be practicing social distancing etc for the foreseeable as I agree with a PP above we don't want it sleep deprived with a newborn!

peachypetite · 09/03/2021 21:39

Had my baby in November. Even when things slowly open I won’t be in a rush to let loads of people hold her. There is no need.

Lazypuppy · 09/03/2021 21:41

My friends who have had babiea during the past year have pretty much carried on as normal. Once they could see people we visited and they were happy for everyone to have cuddles etc.

You have to do what you feel comfortable with OP, i would wait until baby is born and see how you feel

Babyfg · 09/03/2021 21:49

I had my baby last July so restrictions had eased. I met people outside when I felt able. Tbf most people did say on he's gorgeous I can't wait until this virus goes to give him a hug or something similar, which saved me having to feel awkward about saying no to holding him. The couple of people that I did allow to hug him had to wash their hands first (and were people I felt were 'safe' for example wfh and only went out for their daily walk etc)

Also definitely bubble up with some support. Someone you trust holding the baby for you or being close to you. I think it's essential.

Try not to worry to much right now as the rules are always changing as are the rates etc, which you'll will inform your decisions.

Piccalily19 · 10/03/2021 06:11

It’s entirely your choice and what you and your partner feel comfortable with.
Ive had a baby recently and he has had cuddles with friends and family, I feel personally that the virus will always be around even with vaccinations so I’m taking the same precautions now that I would in a normal non-COVID world. Eg stay away from him if you feel poorly in any way (I wouldn’t want him getting a bug either!), wash hands, no kissing him.
I decided this based on advice from two friends who had newborns during lockdown 1 who said their babies are now nightmares if left with anyone else as they’re not used to being held by other people. They both said if they could redo their babies early days they wouldn’t have been so strict. One of these friends left her baby with me for mere minutes while she went for a wee and she got that upset she threw up.
Im not saying every baby would get this anxious but it’s just another thought to consider.
Congrats on your pregnancy 😊

Mrsmch123 · 10/03/2021 07:33

Me and my husband have thought about this and tbh I think we are going to carry on as normal. Covid is not going anywhere anytime soon. Even having the vaccination won't stop you from catching it. We figured that if he was born in winter we wouldn't say no holding ect when worried about the flu. Obv if anyone is unwell they shouldn't be visiting and will ask everyone to wash their hands. I think you just have to do what you are comfortable with.

kkr168 · 10/03/2021 07:51

My baby was born in December & has met the majority of his family now, we bubbled with my mil, fil & SIL (1 household) & see them most days too. My mum lives a 4 hour drive away but if she was local I wouldn't stop her visiting her grandchild.

For those of you bubbling with your parents please be mindful of your husband's parents. My neighbours son has had his 1st baby recently, her 1st grandchild & has been refused a visit as she isn't in their bubble! She WFH has her shopping delivered, only leaves the house for a daily dog walk, it's ridiculous & has left her very upset & feeling pushed out

Hardbackwriter · 10/03/2021 08:00

I do think this is such a tricky aspect of the current situation - I completely understand why she's upset but they are following the law. I have a newborn and am bubbled with my parents but have met the in-laws outside and they've cuddled him there on two occasions - I'm fully expecting to be told how awful I am for breaking the law to do this, but even with this rule-breaking it still feels so unfair and unequal that they've only been able to do this while my parents can have us in their house.

serialplanner · 10/03/2021 08:45

My MIL is a useless nightmare so legally not being able to bubble with her is a godsend!

notalwaysalondoner · 10/03/2021 09:39

I 100% would be seeing all close relatives in gardens and be allowing cuddles if they’ve had their first vaccine or been tested in the last few days. The risk to babies is basically non existent. We live in an area with very low rates though and my parents and in laws have been vaccinated so that helps. I just think focusing only on Covid isn’t the best approach - what about the risk of post natal depression from not seeing anyone, or the baby catching some other random virus - you’d never have been too worried about that normally.

Spied · 10/03/2021 09:42

Meeting in gardens fine but I'd not be comfortable with anyone touching my baby.

AegonT · 10/03/2021 10:32

I'll be meeting as far as the law allows at the time (gardens at least by then) but won't let anyone outside our bubble touch the baby till it's legal for everyone else to hug again. Our bubble is with my mum as she lives alone and is vulnerable.

Amichelle84 · 10/03/2021 10:54

We had our baby in the 1st lockdown, we didn't see anyone for a few weeks which in hindsight was nice as we got to settle and bond as a 3. Family we let have cuddles then close friends who we knew were being good with the rules a few weeks after that. We said no kisses and hands were washed.

BlueberryPancake21 · 10/03/2021 15:01

This is such a dilemma - I'm in the same position and no idea what we'll do. I'm hoping for good weather so garden meet ups are possible and I don't have to decide!

Personally I'm not relying on lateral flow tests. They only pick up 50% of positive case (yes, that's right - half). I know someone who inaccurately tested negative 3 times in a row who had COVID (had a positive test both sides of these 3) and infected family members. Baby will probably be fine but I don't want to be sick with a newborn!

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