Third trimester - how careful are you?

[housewifeathome]

Those of you in your third trimester: how careful are you and what precautions are you taking? I keep reading that over 28 weeks we are classified as "vulnerable" to Covid regardless of vaccination status.

I'm not vaccinated, however I have been exposed to Covid via DC2 in second trimester and didn't test positive or have any symptoms.

We have a number of school events coming up. I have always gone to every single event in the past. Would you attend school events / kids' parties?

I don't feel comfortable taking the vaccine - especially before the baby is born. There are too many unknowns and it is a deeply personal decision.

Very grateful for your replies about the precautions you are taking to keep yourself safe during your last three months, thank you for those x

I caught covid in Feb at around 30 weeks pregnant. Honestly, it was pretty awful. Thankfully my DH was around to look after our other two children as I couldn't do much for nearly 3 weeks. I was completely exhausted by it, felt like I'd been ran over and very breathless.

Just really pleased that me and DD were fine by the time I gave birth. But unfortunately still have problems with taste and smell up to this day

My SIL is a neonatal consultant in Birmingham and has some harrowing stories of babies being delivered extremely prematurely, and sometimes dying, where the mother has Covid. The women are, in the vast majority, unvaccinated.

You'll have seen other stories of the mothers dying from Covid too.

To me it's a no-brainer, whether you're healthy or not - get vaccinated.

I'm 17 weeks' pregnant, caught Covid several weeks ago and am very relieved that I'd had both vaccines by then, but it was still a rough week.

@Almostcooked2021

It’s a difficult one. Having just contracted covid at 36 weeks it was far worse than I expected it to be. I am not vaccinated, and felt I had made the right choice. I had been very careful but obviously not careful enough. I have been lucky i believe - now 38 weeks and baby is doing just fine. I am recovering slowly but it really knocked me for siz. It’s hard to say whether I would have had the vaccination if I had known I would get it. I’m not sure I would as there are still too many unknowns.

Very glad to hear you are on the mend I haven't decided one way or the other whether I'll be vaccinated after baby is born. I'm due to have whooping cough vaccine and flu jab in the next few weeks. Did you have those?

@housewifeathome

I don't feel comfortable taking the vaccine - especially before the baby is born. There are too many unknowns and it is a deeply personal decision.

Exactly my thoughts during my pregnancy OP, everyone feels different about it, you'll hear so many different opinions, I'm glad I didn't take it my own personal choice, have a very happy and healthy 3 month old, like I said previously it's completely how you feel, no matter what anyone says, it's your choice 😊

I had my whooping cough and flu jab (all 3 pregnancies) and honestly if we have a 4th, I would get them all again and the covid vaccine too.

@Fairywings86 thank you, I'm glad I'm not alone. Even my midwife said it wasn't an easy decision to make and she didn't envy me!

The saddest thing is, this time last year with no vaccine, people were so quick to reassure pregnant mothers. This year, all we get are the scare stories about how deadly Covid is to pregnant women without a vaccine.

Out of the other five pregnant women I know, only one had the vaccine (prior to pregnancy).

I'm 33 weeks, I'm fully vaccinated. I am not going anywhere busy, just seeing my close friends and family that I normally see who are all vaccinated, and wearing masks where necessary or if I don't feel completely comfortable with social distancing being done well etc. If I wasn't vaccinated at all I probably wouldn't set foot outside the door until birth except for school run tbh.

@housewifeathome my midwife said to me it's my choice, but even she said at the time she wouldn't either!

That's all I've ever heard, since the vaccine came out are the scary stories, I felt like I was pushed into getting it alot, but for me there still the unknown of what happens in years to come, for me I felt better not getting a trial vaccine than not knowing in the long term, trial or not I wouldn't have it, had all the others during my pregnancy tho

I've know 4 pregnant women personally and none have had covid, I know 1 (my cousins friend) who had covid and didn't have one symptom

All I can say is don't feel preasured into getting it if you don't want too, ignore the "your stupid not to get the vaccine whilst pregnant" comments, all the negatives, regardless of who says what my mind was set from day one

But one the other hand if you do decide to have it, then thats fine too, no judgement either way OP 😁

@housewifeathome none of out the women I know have had the vaccine, one was thinking about it, but not sure weather she's had it since or not, yes there a risk, but I feel better knowing my little man will have no unknown effects in the future from the vaccine , getting me updated when babys born please 😊

@Fairywings86 it's a tough decision and I respect people either way but yes, for me too many unknowns with unborn children and also, the vast majority of people I know who had Covid when my DC caught it from school were vaccinated (although my DH didn't and he is fully vaccinated). So as far as I'm concerned there's no guarantee of the vaccine's effectiveness anyway.

@Garman I think you are right and that closer to my due date I won't be going anywhere apart from school run tbf!

I've had both jabs and very glad I did so. With all restrictions lifted I really don't see how any working person can take enough precautions to keep themselves protected over several months.
The risk of getting sick and needing hospitalised, or needing to have my baby delivered early is just too great when covid has now been allowed to let rip, people who are unvaccinated are essentially sitting ducks, who might be lucky and get away with a milder illness, but some will not be so lucky.
Very happy with my decision and as a health worker will be taking the booster when it's due, which should hopefully help me give baby some antibodies if I'm successful in breastfeeding

@Thefaceofboe

Also just to say I was adamant I wasn’t having the vaccine while pregnant but something clicked when I reached 32 weeks and realised I was being silly, so got my first one and will get my 2nd after birth. I really wish I’d been able to have them both tbh.

Same here! I wasn't going to get it until after birth. Then at 32 weeks I woke up and thought why the hell am I not getting it... read too many sad stories and I don't want to risk it. First jab done .. & second after birth

OP there has been a huge change with risks to pregnant women with the variants, that's why messaging was different last year.

'Original' covid didn't seem to have a substantial effect on pregnant women compared to the rest of the population, or not one that was picked up. The Kent variant substantially increased the risk of stillbirth - this was only really discovered in January/February, and was why they examined the data about pregnant women more carefully and quicker. Women who were getting quite mild cases of covid were losing babies as covid had effected the placenta. The delta variant, which took over a few months later, doesn't seem to have the same stillbirth risk, but seems to effect the pregnant mother more.

I'll be honest and say I actually don't think it is the case that its understandable for pregnant women not to take the vaccine any more. I think its irresponsible for you and your baby. I understand the initial doubts, but literally tens of thousands of pregnant women have had the vaccine and their babies by now. The idea of some kind of 'future effect' we don't know about just isn't credible based on how the vaccine works. Yes, there was a risk that it could have somehow caused clots/there could be another unforeseen risk factor particularly affecting pregnant women, or somehow effecting the baby. But we know enough now to know there isn't.

If you're happy to have whooping cough, and to have the flu vaccine, it doesn't make sense to me. I was initially v wary in jan/Feb, I was still breastfeeding and planning a second pregnancy and so I do understand the initial reluctance. But I've read all the available data and at this stage I just can't see why you would make the decision you are. All the professional bodies are recommending it, they don't do that lightly.

This woman was only 35 www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40365230.html

I haven't seen a single compatible news story with a new mother/father saying they regretted getting the vaccine in pregnancy, have you?

@leakymcleakleak 👏👏

My only "vulnerability" is pregnancy

with compromised lungs in the third trimester, its a fairly big vulnerability that unfortunately you can't avoid

please be really careful, as others have said in some cases things aren't going well

I gave birth in June so I had only had one vaccine before I gave birth as they weren’t available to my age group before that. In the third trimester I almost completely shielded, didn’t even see my own family unless outdoors. As PP said, just because you’ve been exposed to covid before doesn’t mean you won’t get it - my friends boyfriend and baby both had covid summer 2020 and she didn’t get it even though she lived with them. She then caught covid in December 2020 and neither of them got it.

There is always going to be difference of opinions. However I'm 34 weeks and personally very relaxed about it, other than still wearing masks, basic hygiene and keeping my distance etc. I'm not vaccinated. I live with DP who has had COVID twice since I've been pregnant and I haven't caught it, somehow! I do work from home currently so that is a bonus too. But other than that I'm still seeing friends, family etc. X

I would also like to add for those saying about unknown long term effects - if a baby has to be delivered early because mum is in intensive care wirh covid then there will be a lot more long term effects on that baby from being born prematurely (depending on how premature) than from mum having the vaccine in pregnancy as the vaccine cannot cross the placenta so there is no mechanism for it to cause long term effects on the baby. To me, it’s far too risky an option to not have the vaccine.

@lockdownbabyx

There is always going to be difference of opinions. However I'm 34 weeks and personally very relaxed about it, other than still wearing masks, basic hygiene and keeping my distance etc. I'm not vaccinated. I live with DP who has had COVID twice since I've been pregnant and I haven't caught it, somehow! I do work from home currently so that is a bonus too. But other than that I'm still seeing friends, family etc. X

Thank you for the balanced view

You don’t feel comfortable getting a vaccine that has been deemed as safe, but are willing to risk contracting covid and having a stillbirth/ lengthy stay in icu/ ventilation?

There are lots of side effects on the body of getting COVID that could be absolutely disasterois for you.

(I just got my second jab during first trimester)

I’m assuming you didn’t have the flu vaccine or whooping cough either? They have risks too…

Hey OP, wasn't going to comment but decided to as a show of support.....

Am 35.5 weeks pregnant with twins and due any time now with a toddler in the childminders and not vaxxed. The same decisions being not knowing the long term effects on the babies.... our hospital (south east) are only starting the national trial now and will be looking at the effects on newborns up until they are 2 years old- so because of the lack of information and data on this I am not having the vaccine. Will get it as soon as I can after they are born.

In terms of how careful we are being, we went to wimbledon centre court in July, had 2 parties for family and friends end of July, and husband recently went to a 6000 person gig in london at the beginning of September.

I stopped going into the office in July and stopped work at the end of august. Otherwise- it's business as usual for us. Lots of practicing good hygiene and resting where possible. I went to a friends last night and on Monday. Just being cautious, and taking things as they come.

Would echo that my midwife and consultant also support my decision and have both agreed with me verbally.

Wishing you all the best in your pregnancy x

Also just to add that 6 of my friendship group including me all had babies this year and had the same approach and waited until after to get the vaccine.

I'm currently 37 weeks with my second DD. I've had my girls really close together so I was actually pregnant with DD1 throughout the entire pandemic last year too, where obviously there was no vaccine and I managed to keep myself safe and touch wood have never had covid.

I haven't accepted the vaccine for many reasons. The first being that when I initially fell pregnant this time, the vaccine was deemed unsafe for pregnant women and we weren't allowed. Weeks later the advice changed and it was a very blasé attitude of 'get it if you want, but we haven't researched it'. My midwife has said on several occasions that she doesnt blame me and thousands of others for not wanting it, even the leaflet I was given had a cons list of 'NO SPECIFIC RESEARCH HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT ON PREGNANT WOMEN' and actually a clause to say:

You have two options:

1. Accept the vaccine and slow the spread of covid-19
2. Wait until research has been carried out on the effects on pregnancy

I wasn't willing to let my unborn baby be a guinea pig so I've declined. There is no way of determining what would be a greater risk to my baby, effects of a non researched vaccine or catching covid, but I can take precautions for avoiding covid as much as I can.

I said to my partner it's almost like scientists saying 'cross this rickety bridge if you want to, it might help' i question if it's safe and they reply 'don't know, try it'.

I'm now isolating until birth, am getting the shopping delivered and just staying home and playing with DD1 in the garden which suits me because im tired anyway!