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 know you’ve said you don’t want to discuss the vaccine, but when you say
‘so as far I’m concerned there isn’t much evidence of the effectiveness of the vaccine anyway’ - based on the fact that some people have been vaccinated and still got covid…
There is lots of evidence showing that those who have been double vaccinated and contract covid suffer significantly less severe symptoms and are less likely to be hospitalised. For me this alone would be enough.

There is also significant evidence that getting covid in 3rd trimester increases the risk of preterm birth. There’s been a pre term birth for non covid reasons in my family and it was seriously no picnic .

Whilst also forgetting how many pregnant women have been absolutely fine (the vast, vast majority!) Scaremongering stories like this are the exception and not the rule.

COVID-19 infection can also affect the pregnancy. In pregnant women with symptoms of COVID-19, it is twice as likely that their baby will be born early, exposing the baby to the risk of prematurity. A recent study has also found that pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of birth were more likely to develop pre-eclampsia, more likely to need an emergency caesarean and their risk of stillbirth was twice as high, although the actual number of stillbirths remains low.

the above paragraph isn't scaremongering - its fact and from RCOG

I’ve skipped most of those thread but to answer then original question…. I was single vaxxed in the third trimester and was still very verrrry careful. I essentially only left the house for appointments and for outdoor walks in open areas. I saw what at the time was my bubble and that was it.

If I was unvaccinated, I’d essentially shield. I definitely wouldn’t be going to events or parties as it’s just an unnecessary risk. I’d get my shopping delivered to home and ask family to take lateral flows if they’re going about their business as normal. There wouldn’t be a chance in hell that I’d put my baby at risk.

Surely as a patient we are entitled to consent or otherwise to whatever medical procedure is being offered.

On the childbirth forum there are plenty of threads where the OP has been offered an induction or a CS and for whatever reason is not willing to take this offer up, plenty of posters will inform the OP it is her choice (quite rightly) and not to let the doctors pressure her into a procedure she doesn’t feel comfortable with I do not see why the vaccine is any different

@CosmicMonkey

Surely as a patient we are entitled to consent or otherwise to whatever medical procedure is being offered.

On the childbirth forum there are plenty of threads where the OP has been offered an induction or a CS and for whatever reason is not willing to take this offer up, plenty of posters will inform the OP it is her choice (quite rightly) and not to let the doctors pressure her into a procedure she doesn’t feel comfortable with I do not see why the vaccine is any different

I agree. You wouldn't think so, though, reading some of these comments. Most of which assume (wrongly) that pregnant women don't know of the risks of Covid during pregnancy, particularly the latter stages.

Interestingly there's another thread on Mumsnet where the OP has reported worrying heart changes after her Pfizer vaccine and other posters on the thread have had similar issues. For posters on here to imply these vaccines are totally safe for pregnancy is ludicrous. The truth is no one really knows for sure yet.

@mariebaby3

If I was unvaccinated, I’d essentially shield. I definitely wouldn’t be going to events or parties as it’s just an unnecessary risk. I’d get my shopping delivered to home and ask family to take lateral flows if they’re going about their business as normal.

This is all good advice.. thank you. Asking my parents to take lateral flows is like pulling teeth though 🥴 I have to nag them. My ILs do test before visiting us. But yes we have shopping delivered and won't be going to school events or parties.

A lot of your evidence seems to be that your friends haven’t had the vaccine while pregnant. Well lots of my friends have and I am very glad of it. That’s not EVIDENCE that is bias.
Anecdote isn’t bias. There is a lot of advice out there from professionals that vaccination is recommended in pregnancy. But sure, your friends know better

Sorry meant to say anecdote isn’t evidence

‘ Interestingly there's another thread on Mumsnet where the OP has reported worrying heart changes after her Pfizer vaccine and other posters on the thread have had similar issues’

It is listed as a very rare side affect, if you’d done proper research, you’d understand how rare this actually is.

All vaccines come with risks, but funnily enough the very small risks always are worth taking more so than not having the vaccine itself.

@Staryflight445

‘ Interestingly there's another thread on Mumsnet where the OP has reported worrying heart changes after her Pfizer vaccine and other posters on the thread have had similar issues’

It is listed as a very rare side affect, if you’d done proper research, you’d understand how rare this actually is.

All vaccines come with risks, but funnily enough the very small risks always are worth taking more so than not having the vaccine itself.

I do know people who have had side effects, some short term and some longer term. They're not as "rare" as someone under 50 dying of Covid.

Hi I'm a scientist and worked in virology for several years, though not a specialist in respiratory diseases have been to a number of presentations /conferences in the past.
I'm very glad you are doing your best to avoid infection and i think one thing that people don't always realise is that gradual exposure or a low dose of virus can be why you see less symptoms ie if your around your DP when they first become infected, you are exposed to the small amount of virus they shed at first and it can give you immune system time to get going, whereas if they come home fully ill after say a work trip and cough over you, you may get exposed to huge amount of virus particles and more serious illness. So definitely keep up social distancing, hygiene, limit number of people and fresh air (again all help to reduce concentration of virus particles if someone around is unknowingly infectious)

I know you appear very certain about not getting a vaccine, but please read my reasoning to have it while pregnant, as may just help with your concerns.
I've not had my baby yet, but have had both doses of the pfizer vaccine. I thought very carefully about it, but feel very comfortable that it is extremely unlikely to have a long term negative effect on the baby. As I mentioned I'm a biologist and have worked in researching new medicines for over 20 years. I would be very concerned about taking a new medicine in pregnancy (ie a completely new chemical), but the vaccines recommended in pregnancy are biological RNA molecules and a few other not novel ingredients. The RNA is very extremely unlikely to cross the placenta (and would not cause harm if it did and would be so diluted by the time it got there from your arm) , and will largely remain in your muscle for a short period of time (and will degrade through natural processes) . The RNA is the genetic code instructions for your body to make the viral spike protein, which your body makes an immune response (a very normal process which happens all the time when exposed to any infection during pregnancy ) . And wonderfully you will share protective antibodies with you baby.

I totally get why people feel wary of vaccines when pregnant, but the risks of covid in pregnancy are not insignificant. And even if it is a mild case it would be stressful, and if picked up in hospital at birth would be rubbish to spend first couple of weeks ill with a new baby or worse end up with long covid. I was at a checkup recently and midwife said the maternity ward had lots of women with covid, many more than the previous waves

I feel this all anti/pro vaccination can really polerize people, but ultimately we all want the same thing for our babies (and us) to be safe. I wish all the best with your pregnancy and LO.

@housewifeathome it’s true more and more pregnant women are ended up in icu.
Are you on instagram? I follow “pregnant then screwed” she had the actual
Figures a few weeks ago, nearly al were unvaccinated. Also my midwife said that it’s the same for
Our local hospital 😢

@Katy4321 obviously Katy knows more than me however I researched and that’s what I found.
It’s a scary time.
I would also do the opposite to what ever nicki Minaj says ever 🤦🏼‍♀️😂😂

‘I do know people who have had side effects, some short term and some longer term. They're not as "rare" as someone under 50 dying of Covid.’

What is it that makes your own personal experience more important than the reality of what’s happening op? By that logic covid doesn’t even exist as I haven’t known anyone who has had it.

I’m sure there’s plenty of people out there who know healthy 20/30 somethings that are in ICU fighting for their life because they decided COVID wasn’t a risk to them and not getting vaccinated kept their baby safer.

All vaccines are risky, if you’ve had the flu/ whooping cough or any of vaccine you are being a hypocrite.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19latestinsights/hospitals

I'm not a hypocrite for deciding which vaccines, if any, I want in my body during the last 3 months of my pregnancy. Especially as I know of several people who have reacted badly to Covid vaccines, my DM being one of them.

I also know of many many more people - mainly my family - who have caught Covid after their first vaccination than I did during the first two waves.

I am aware of the increased risk of Covid during third trimester and will be doing all I can to "shield" effectively until baby arrives.

I'm not going to comment further on this thread now as I think everything has been covered but thank you all for your comments and advice on how to keep me and baby safe. Xx

@CosmicMonkey

Surely as a patient we are entitled to consent or otherwise to whatever medical procedure is being offered.

On the childbirth forum there are plenty of threads where the OP has been offered an induction or a CS and for whatever reason is not willing to take this offer up, plenty of posters will inform the OP it is her choice (quite rightly) and not to let the doctors pressure her into a procedure she doesn’t feel comfortable with I do not see why the vaccine is any different

It completely depends on the scenario as to the advice that is offered. Many doctors are keen to induce earlier and some women actually have more time. However, a woman was being offered an induction at 42 weeks and didn’t want to take it, also didn’t want the additional monitoring. 99% of posters said the woman should get the induction or section because her rate of stillbirth was now starting to double (same as covid). They were also stating the numerous other disadvantages to going over 42 weeks, as posters in this thread are doing about catching covid. When the usually divided MN is so cohesive on something, there’s usually a reason for it.

Had OP said that she and her husband work from home, had no older children in school, were getting their shopping delivered and not socialising with anyone and she wasn’t getting the vaccine, yes she would still get people trying to persuade her but her exposure risk is small and she’s unlikely to catch it. Instead, she said her older child is still at school, she’s thinking about attending school parties, she’s still socialising. She’s now agreed to drop the school parties and get the shopping delivered but is still seeing family who are reluctant to do lateral flow tests (assuming they also know she’s unvaccinated) and her older child is still in school. Her risk of exposure is much higher and she’s sticking her head in the sand about it. She says she knows the risks of covid in the third trimester but then also says the vast majority of women are unaffected. Even if the vast majority are unaffected why the hell would you willingly double your risk of stillbirth, even though that is thankfully still a very small number? I have gestational diabetes, that also carries an increased risk of stillbirth if undiagnosed or poorly controlled, although still thankfully a very small number. I’m doing whatever I can to make sure that doesn’t happen to me. OP doesn’t even seem fazed by the prospect of covid in her third trimester and so posters are trying to point out the very serious complications she could face. It is of course her right to choose but posters are pointing out she’s taking a big risk. I think she’s be better having the vaccine but if she doesn’t want that, she should effectively shield and definitely not see people who have to be nagged to take a lateral flow test. Ideally not seeing anyone at all, given lateral flows aren’t that reliable.

You are a hypocrite. You’re picking and choosing what information is relevant to you based on your opinion instead of looking at all of the information and making an informed decision.

I think you know this though hence the bowing out.

I hope to god op you don’t become a statistic.

I’ve been fully vaxed since 28 weeks and feel so much safer. I’ve been meeting up with friends and family, going out for dinner, getting the train to london, going to hotels, going into the office and I’ve really been enjoying my last few months of freedom as it’s my first baby ☺️

If I wasn’t vaxed I would probably be isolating mostly as its everywhere at the moment and pregnant women are more at risk in the third trimester.

I will be isolating with my husband from 38 weeks on recommendation from the hospital, as I have a planned c section and if either of us tests positive I’ll be doing it alone xx

@Staryflight445

You are a hypocrite. You’re picking and choosing what information is relevant to you based on your opinion instead of looking at all of the information and making an informed decision.

I think you know this though hence the bowing out.

I hope to god op you don’t become a statistic.

Hmm no, shes made a very informed and personal choice to do the best for her unborn child to not have a vaccine she doesn't feel 100% with, it's that her choice just accept it, and move on 👍

Please, get a vaccine if still possible. I got mine few months ago after hearing horror stories. Or at least try to minimize the risk as much as you can

@SW1amp

OP, you quite clearly don’t understand the concept of risk

All risks are not equal

Literally everything has risk, most of it is quantifiable/measurable

Some things are higher risk than others

Driving without a seatbelt is more risky than wearing one
Driving on a motorway at 90mph is more risky than driving at 70mph

You are basically saying that it’s fine to drive at 90mph with a seatbelt because you’ve seen people killed at 70mph not wearing one
You could obviously drive at 70mph with a seatbelt a reduce the risk

You’re not minimising your risk… you’re just reducing it slightly, instead of reducing it massively

I really really wish risk analysis is was routinely taught as part of maths/statistics

The ignorance of so many people is shocking, and actually dangerous because they can’t wrap their head around how to interpret basic information

Well I for one am just trying to work out which part of this comment contains the "big words to deliberately mislead" 🤣

I think @SW1amp explained very well