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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Giving birth with covid

15 replies

Delving42 · 16/12/2021 13:50

I am due to have a baby next month. As I understand it if my partner has covid, he will not be able to be with me at the birth I am negative. What happens if we are both positive - would he be able to attend then? Thanks

OP posts:
froobie · 16/12/2021 13:53

No he would not I'm afraid

Verybookish · 16/12/2021 13:53

I would guess: no he would not be able to be there. The reason he would. It be allowed to attend is not not protect you (who would have been exposed to it at home already anyways) but other mothers and babies. Both of you should get vaccinated if you haven’t already!

Verybookish · 16/12/2021 13:54

Apologies for typos: ‘the reason he would not be allowed to attend is not to protect you’

SnowdropFox · 16/12/2021 13:56

I'd agree with pps. It would be a no to protect others (parents, babies and staff) as much as possible. They'd just focus on supporting you through the birth.

Original poster
Delving42 · 16/12/2021 14:00

@Verybookish

I would guess: no he would not be able to be there. The reason he would. It be allowed to attend is not not protect you (who would have been exposed to it at home already anyways) but other mothers and babies. Both of you should get vaccinated if you haven’t already!
We are both vaccinated with the first 2 doses - we need to get the booster but all the centres are so busy which makes me really nervous too in case we catch covid there!
OP posts:
Original poster
Delving42 · 16/12/2021 14:01

Thanks everyone. It makes sense that that would be the case. Fingers crossed we can avoid it until baby makes their arrival then 😊

OP posts:
SparklingLime · 16/12/2021 14:04

Do you have FFP2 or N95 masks to wear to the vaccination centre?

Original poster
Delving42 · 16/12/2021 14:07

@SparklingLime

Do you have FFP2 or N95 masks to wear to the vaccination centre?
No but that’s actually a really good idea, I’ll try and find some online. Thanks
OP posts:
SparklingLime · 16/12/2021 14:10

I got some from Medisave.co.uk (was worried about fakes on Amazon) and they are so much better than surgical masks. And you can reuse them.
Hope all goes well!

turtletum · 16/12/2021 14:11

I have birth at the start of the pandemic, so things have changed a bit since then. My DH had suspected covid so wasn't allowed at the birth. They treated me as also suspected covid, as I was a close contact. In reality, this meant I had a private room with dedicated midwife the whole time I was in hospital. Yes the birth team all had to wear loads of PPE and I had to wear a hospital gown in case I needed to go to theatre at any point, but I actually felt very supported. Sad that DH missed the birth of our daughter but overall a positive birth experience.

Lacedwithgrace · 16/12/2021 14:18

My friend's husband was able to take his paternity leave earlier, 2 days before her actual due date and then isolated with her before she gave birth. Is your partner able to do the same?

Congratulations by the way! Fingers crossed he can be with you

SparklingLime · 16/12/2021 14:23

JCVI have just put pregnant women on the priority list for vaccines. Should make it easier for you to get a booking, @Delving42.

jolota · 16/12/2021 16:23

@SparklingLime
Didn't help me at all!
I booked at the first opportunity through the NHS website & the earliest I could get was 8th of January,
Got invite through GP by text yesterday but it was immediately cancelled because I already had a booking through NHS website.
Then found out my local friends are getting theirs on Sunday & Monday (one of which already had a booking through NHS website & didn't even need to cancel that to be rebooked through GP for a much earlier date & more convenient location - & they're not pregnant or high risk)
So I saw the news and rang today to ask be booked through GP to get an earlier date as didn't feel comfortable waiting until after Christmas when I'm already 5 months since my 2nd jab & the GP receptionist point blank refused! Even when I said I'd cancel my current booking to enable me to book through GP she claimed that because I'd started the process through the NHS website, she was now unable to send me an invite to book through the GP at all even if I cancelled my current booking with the NHS website. Certain she was lying as makes no sense especially given other people's experience but she was adamant and extremely rude & condescending & supremely unconcerned about me being pregnant.

Luckily new centres/increased capacity seems to have become available & I was able to rebook through the NHS website for Christmas Eve at least.
Sorry for the rant, just still fuming about it & certainly doesn't seem to be any guarantee to help you get an appointment.

SparklingLime · 16/12/2021 16:26

That is ridiculous. The prioritisation of pregnant women only came out this afternoon so guess it won’t have made much difference yet, but you shouldn’t be treated like that anyway. Email your practice manager? Or try to get another receptionist?

sageandbasil · 16/12/2021 17:40

It depends on the hospital. In my NCT class a girl was positive and her partners negative and they were both allowed. It wouldn't be allowed at my hospital tho it would have to be someone else from a different household

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