What are pregnant women meant to do after July 19th?

[Narwhalsh]

Just that really. If you don’t have both doses of vaccine are you planning on getting on with life as much as you can or are you planning on sticking with a more restricted lifestyle? And if you do have both doses, do you still feel vulnerable?

Are pregnant women still classified as clinically vulnerable?

I had covid when I was 28 weeks back in January (baby is now 12 weeks). It was tough but I was fine. I know this isn't the case for everyone of course but I don't feel afraid of the virus any more. Not at all. I'm now double vaxxed and I tested positive for antibodies so hopefully baby is getting that through my milk. Im not restricting my activities with him and in fact I can't wait for things like rhyme time to start up and be able to go to groups and sensory play without a mask on so he can see me smiling at him!

@MissChanandlerBong90 wow that's really surprising (yet sadly not at all surprising) that your midwife hub had something up on display that goes against the current RCOG guidelines, no wonder some people are finding it hard to make a decision! I'd have been so tempted to mention it...

Make sure your partners are careful before the birth ladies as they wont be allowed there if COVID positive, which would SUCK.

I was adviced not to have it at 12 weeks. Then at 20 weeks asked my consultant and midwife who said they wouldn’t advice it, but best to google search!!
Have had it at 28 weeks only last sat. So if my daughter has got well I doubt I have much immunity.
So many kids in her school have it, it’s a Sen school and a half the parents can’t cope with their kids being off so still send them
In. 🤦🏼‍♀️

I haven't had any doses yet - I prefer to wait until I'm not pregnant and have been quite relaxed but the third trimester is looming so I am a bit concerned. I plan to get on with life as much as possible and if at any point anything changes to make pregnancy high risk I will get the vaccines and be more cautious. I'm living in central London and having to use the tube too so it's a bit mad.

For me it's not only the increased risks in the third trimester that scare me, but also the thought of not having my husband at the birth of our first child!

It sounds naive but I hadn't really considered this until I saw a post on here - if I were to test positive, even if my husband is negative, the RCOG guidance states he won't be allowed at the birth as he will need to self-isolate for 10 days (as has been in close contact with me) and that I might want to have a back up birth partner just in case.

Obviously if he tests positive / is displaying symptoms he won't be allowed there either.

There's also then the fact that if you do test positive, you will have to deliver in a unit led by a doctor as well which might not align to many people's birth preferences.

There are so many cases right now it's crazy and regardless of having vaccines or not, as I understand it, you're still tested before the birth and these rules will apply. So even if it doesn't make you or your baby very ill, it could impact your birth.

@MrsKT123 yes this is another worry that I will be giving birth on my own. It’s my last birth and I was really going for a home birth . Although I can’t see that happening will they have enough non Covid staff 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

I live in Scotland, so I'm not sure things will open up quite the same way here but cases are so incredibly high! I can WFH and will do till I go on mat leave, maybe go back for a few 'connection days' in the office - my company will abide by all current guidance on social distancing etc. If it was just me, I would probably meet my more careful and sensible friends outdoors/in their homes with social distancing and maybe avoid really crowded places (certainly not go on holiday) but still get out a bit.

However, I have a toddler in nursery full time who has had to isolate 3 times this year already due to cases at nursery. I am still going swimming and on play dates etc with him (being cooped up at home with a toddler all the time is completely intolerable). I'm hoping they relax the rules about children being off nursery if there has been a case in their bubble.

I decided to get the vaccine, I'm hopefully away to get my letter for my second dose shortly. But it's not the magic bullet everyone seems to think it is, I'm just waiting for us to breed a vaccine resistant strain.

I will carry on as normal (currently 25 weeks) and not worry about it. I have been working in a school throughout the pregnancy anyway and will be for a few weeks after the summer holidays. I’ve already had covid during the pregnancy and as a PP said, the midwives weren’t concerned at all. I know two other people who got covid in their third trimester, one a few weeks before her due date and again, the midwives weren’t concerned and there was no extra monitoring or anything.

I may limit my social contact a little bit nearer to the due date, but more because of a fear of DP having to isolate and miss the birth, than a fear of actually catching covid myself.

Oh and I forgot to add, haven’t had the vaccine and neither had the two friends I mentioned who had covid in third trimester.

Remember it takes 10-12 weeks to build up full immunity from the day of your first jab. Very glad I will have my second jab several weeks before I get to the third trimester to give me the best possible protection.
Hospitals admissions are rising steeply and I don't want to be among that number!

In data collected so far by RCOG, stillbirth is NOT twice as likely if you catch covid, stop scaring people @Poppins2016 !

The RCOG guidelines about catching covid when pregnant actually suggest there is limited risk to the baby, other than prematurity being more likely. In their studies, where the mothers were seriously ill with covid, it was recommended the baby be born early to allow the mother to recover.

Regarding stillbirth it says ‘There was no increase in stillbirth rate, and no increase in infant death for babies born to women who had COVID-19. Not all the babies were tested, but overall, only 1 baby in 50 tested positive for COVID-19, suggesting that transmission of the infection to the baby is low.’

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

@Riverrushing21 the study by Oxford University highlights that there are increased risks for both mother and baby being COVID-19 positive

22 time more likely maternal death
50% more likely to have pregnancy complications
Three times more likely to have newborn complications (due to prematurity)
10% of babies testing positive

www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-04-23-research-uncovers-high-risk-pregnant-women-covid-19

Double jabbed - can’t stand the idea of relaxing the restrictions. I only have 6 weeks left thankfully but the government and its ‘care’ of pregnant women has been an entire shit show.

my Facebook is full of positive cases today, like full. You don’t realise how many links you have to other people. I feel really anxious only having one jab and that being last week and 30 weeks pregnant now. I wish we had a government that gave a darn.
I’m sick of people writing “survival of the fittest” on the posts about people dying of Covid too.

People are writing 'survival of the fittest"?! Fuck me, that's awful.

I had the first dose and it didn’t go well, so I’m hesitating between having the second once baby is at a viable stage or after birth.

I feel in my case the risk of complications from the vaccine are about equal to the complications from COVID so feeling a bit stressed about the decision.
I’m worried about all the cases.

@thebookworm1 aww bless you so sorry to
Hear that. Touch wood I was ok half my bump
Rashed up.
I’m a little worried about the heart finding of the vaccine esp as my due date will be imminent once I have had my second dosage and of course I need my heart in a good state esp as hoping for a home birth

I'm getting really anxious about restrictions lifting. I am 23 weeks, I am due my 2nd covid jab (pfizer) in 2 weeks, after 8 weeks from 1st jab. I have booked online groceries, i work from home anyway, we are putting off family members who want to stay to go baby stuff shopping. I know i wont be able to cope going into shops without masks. Plus putting one is not the answer, you wear a mask to protect others, to stop you spreading it from your breath. Its better than nothing of course. The spike in cases which is coming is terrifying me and obviously your immune system is weakened when pregnant so no guarantee you wont catch delta, just a lower risk.

I would be happy for restrictions lifting if I wasn't pregnant, but I wish they would just keep masks on public transport and supermarkets as you can choose not to go tot he pub/club but you have to eat and travel. It would help the vulnerable.

I'm not sure if this is helpful, and it is your choice, but what made me decide to get jabbed was the following - first catching covid in your 3rd trimester can be really really serious, you are more likely to end up in intensive care- you physically have less space for your lungs due to baby and there are 2 of you to consider, plus increased still birth and early birth etc and other issues for you like blood clots. Second they have been vaccinating pregnant women in the US with Pfizer or Moderna for a while and over 100,000 had it with no documented increase in miscarriage/adverse event, this is called "real world" data and although not a formal clinical trial it is encouraging. Thirdly your baby gets some immunity too. Fourthly I have a low lying placenta and other issues which mean we are likely headed for a c section and I didn't want to be admitted to hospital in winter for a surgical procedure unvaccinated. And now fifthly the delta variant is more infectious even amongst fully vaccinated. (and on top of all this I also have a PhD on the SARS coronavirus which i never thought would be relevant to me again!).

This discussion with pregnant MP Stella Creasy and experts helped me to choose to have the jab, it might be helpful to others:

www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2006145259541323&ref=watch_permalink

Stay safe everyone x

I am so worried about the ending of restrictions. I am in second trimester, double jabbed but work in a school and am in close contact with many different people each day.

I feel somewhat better because I am jabbed, but I know quite a few people who have gotten COVID despite the jab and haven't seen any data around how well the vaccine actually protects pregnant women especially in the third trimester. As I know my immune system is not functioning as well as usual, I don't feel that confident in the level of protection that I'm getting from it. I also have noticed a significant decline in my breathing when I am doing anything remotely physical (eg walking up stairs, hills, etc) since becoming pregnant.

I'm dreading the autumn term.

Currently 30 weeks and haven't had any of my jabs, i also work in the health care setting. Just going to crack on with life as normal, i begin mat leave at the end of the month and caught covid at the beginning of the year so hoping to last until after i give birth then i will get my vaccinations

I am 19 weeks now and haven't had any jabs.I will be staying home as much as possible,wearing mask when out and socialising in very small groups only.I personally just don't want to have any unnecessary risk

I was really pleased to see this thread about the lifting of Covid restrictions and pregnancy.

Firstly I was wondering how everyone is getting on? I can imagine lots of you are close to having your babies.

Secondly I was wondering if many people are socialising indoors with multiple households. I’m 10 weeks pregnant with hyperemesis so I’ve not been able to do much. I’m so ill I can’t imagine catching Covid on top of this. I am double jabbed but I know people who’ve still got pretty sick even after vaccination. I’m not sure whether to avoid seeing friends indoors while I’m so sick just in case. Xx

@Catconfusion I’m glad you resurrected this thread! COVID has been my top worry.
I’m also double vaxxed, but being careful. I live in the Pacific Northwest United States. Once we enter rainy season, socializing outdoors will be near impossible for awhile.
We’re just trying to do outdoors-only stuff right now. My sister in law is planning to throw me a baby shower in Los Angeles in December (I’m due February). I almost refused, but then I thought… I already canceled my bridal shower and switched our big wedding to a courthouse wedding because of COVID. We’re playing it by ear, but I’m hoping as long as we keep it super small and are outdoors (god bless LA weather) it should be very safe.

I also told our HR person at work early so I wouldn’t be sucked into any occasional in-person work things.
I’m hoping they let pregnant ladies get Pfizer boosters!

@ChaiTRex the change in weather is definitely a big concern. I’m in the UK so weather can be quite unpredictable. During the summer almost everything could be outside.

I’m sorry to hear you cancelled your big wedding. Hopefully the baby shower can go ahead. I guess travelling might be a worry as well but hopefully you can sort something out. Even if attendees all do lateral flow Covid tests.

I had the Astra Zeneca vaccine so no idea what will happen with the booster. Hopefully there will be advice soon. Xx