Covid and Visitors

[EMF2021]

Well exactly that, My due date has passed and I’m expecting Baby’s arrival to be any day now, I’m just wondering what’s people’s thoughts on visitors? I’m anxious about having too many people wanting to visit to see/hold the baby even if they are vaccinated but also don’t want to come across as extremely rude in telling people it’s not appropriate in the current climate. what has those whom have already delivered policies been and what do those whom are near delivery intend to put in place?

I am currently 38+4, my partner got pinged on the app on Friday (so far his and my tests are showing as negative so I think we are good). My Mum and sister have also been in contact with someone who has received a positive test and are now self isolating too. It has opened my eyes a lot the last few days how easy this virus can spread around. Therefore, I have decided I will be self isolating myself until baby is here now (I have made the decision not to have my jabs until baby is born) so I do not have any protection myself and it feels just too risky at this stage to do anything but stay home. In terms of when baby is born, I am going to firstly get my first jab as soon as I can and then to ask that whoever visits to do a test beforehand for peace of mind. I don’t think it’s rude and I think people will respect the decision Xx

I'm booked for elcs in just over 2 weeks.
Immediate family will be welcome to come once we're home and settled. Extended family and friends will most likely visit in the following weeks but they are usually pretty good and don't stay too long.
It's perfectly acceptable to set boundaries around visits and most people will be understanding.

Same as the poster above in that I haven’t been vaccinated and I’m isolating now (38 weeks). My plan is to only have visitors outside and il have a gazebo up in the garden with chairs under it so the weather isn’t an excuse to have to let people come in. I’m going to put baby in the pram when people come and let them see them but not offer a hold (and just hope they don’t ask for one)! I’m letting our parents hold baby and brothers/sisters but no extended family. I think that might be the awkward bit to say no to but if you let every member of your extended family hold them it would add up to a serious amount of people 🙄 I went to see my friends baby in the same set up and she didn’t offer me a hold, I didn’t ask for one either! I would hope everyone else will be as understanding

@sarah13xx that's a good idea to see people outside. This has been worrying me something rotten so it's good to see what others are planning on doing.

@Vie8126 I felt like I was the only one but I saw similar posts on a Facebook group I’m on so clearly not! I think because you have to be more paranoid when you’re pregnant anyway you end up feeling like you’re living by different rules from the rest of the world 🙈 that’s the only thing making me think some people might have completely forgot about covid and will think they can just have a hold! My sister suggested messaging the forward people before they come and say I’m not passing him about due to covid. Even if it didn’t cause them to end up in hospital you really don’t even want them catching a cold when they’re so young so it would be bound to have some affect on them

Yep even if people have a negative covid test there are plenty of other cough and cold viruses that can be harmful to newborns who have very immature immune systems.
Very sensible to be selective about who holds them in the first 6 weeks, outside is better and hands washed first, no kissing!

@sarah13xx oh definately made to feel like being extra paranoid. My 20 year old son had covid the other week (he doesn't live with us he lives with their dad) my dd and ds had been in contact with him so made them isolate in their rooms as much as possible to reduce the risk of the household getting it (I'm 39 weeks and this was only at 37 weeks!) my exh kept on to our dd like I had lost the plot by doing so but just didn't fancy giving birth with Covid and alone!

@SouthwestSis good point re the kissing the cold sore thing is frightening as hell. Another thing I've been made to feel paranoid as hell over as my sdd has cold sores and molluscum contagiosum on her face and I've asked DP to have an age appropriate conversation with her re hygenine and kissing the baby (she's 5) as it's so dangerous for baby.

We will definately be doing meets outside and no holding. My mil is a carer and fil a postman they are my concern as the amount of people they come into contact with and can't really tell them not to hold. My mum is isolating now this week and wfh rather than in the office as well as taking bi weekly lfts as I'm being induced Saturday and she's my childcare for my dd. She also gets it tbh and doesn't want to put any one at risk.

I would be asking potential visitors to do a rapid flow test before hand as even if vaccinated doesn’t mean they won’t be carrying the virus.
Do what makes you feel safer and happier. I’ll also be limiting the amount of people I’ll see initially and spread it out. X

@Vie8126 it’s a horrible feeling 🤦🏼‍♀️ My friend is against getting the vaccine and hasn’t followed the rules for about the last year. I feel she’ll expect a hold so think I’ll need to text her beforehand! That’s good you hopefully didn’t catch it then. I would have been the same! I’m 38 weeks and just keeping everything crossed neither of us catches it before anything happens, would be awful having to go through it all by yourself

Thanks for all the replies, I honestly didn’t know if I was been super paranoid about the whole situation but I really just want to protect baby and their little immune system especially in the early weeks. I have a big extended family so all the visitors would add up. I’ve no problem with our parents and siblings, they are very excited and really the only people we’ve seen these past few months but outside of that I think I’ll stand firm and try forewarn people. There’s always a few difficult ones tho 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ Who would have thought this would be even something us ladies would have had to consider.

You have to set boundaries with what you’re comfortable with.
Some people might be funny about it - like some people are funny about wearing masks etc. But I think a fair response is “have you had a baby during a pandemic?” I think you are well within your rights to set the expectations… and most people should understand and respect that!