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Becoming not vulnerable after giving birth

16 replies

L777 · 18/05/2020 18:57

Pregnancy/covid 19. When pregnant you're classed as vulnerable. Are you instantly non vulnerable when you give birth or does it take a while to become not vulnerable? And if so, how long? I can't find info anywhere.
Thank you!

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Natalie654321 · 18/05/2020 19:11

I am guessing you are no longer classed as vulnerable. Why would you need to know this? When is your baby due? :)

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Bienentrinkwasser · 18/05/2020 19:19

The only reason pregnant women are vulnerable is because we can’t be 100% confident it doesn’t affect pregnancy (it probably doesn’t based on the evidence).

So no you aren’t vulnerable after having a baby technically. Although it’s worth considering other factors like recovering from a cesarean, having low iron, fighting an infection etc. which might make covid riskier. Newborn babies generally seem to recover well if they contract coronavirus but with being so young and fragile it is definitely worth mitigating.

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bookish83 · 18/05/2020 19:20

I was told your immune system can be lower up to 12 weeks post partum. Definitely the case for me due to low iron x

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Elouera · 18/05/2020 19:25

I too was also wondering how long it takes for your immunity to return to a normal level after MC. If its 12 weeks post partum, presumably its less than that amount of time.

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L777 · 18/05/2020 22:33

Than' you everyone! I'm due at the end of June. I'll be on mat leave and isolating but just wondering about whether dp should refrain from going back to work and how long for. He has 2 weeks paternity leave

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L777 · 18/05/2020 22:38

@Elouera what do you mean 12 weeks after mc? You've lost me... I'm also not good with the abbreviations lol

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Elouera · 18/05/2020 22:45

@L777- the poster above me bookish83, said that your immunity returns to a normal, pre-pregnancy level about 12 weeks after having a baby. I had a miscarriage last week, and wondered when my immunity would return to normal. I can only assume it returns quicker than 12 weeks with a miscarriage as opposed to going full term.

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L777 · 18/05/2020 23:03

@Elouera I'm really sorry to hear that. I think it would probably be less than 12 weeks too. But is there a possibility that your body thinks you're still pregnant so your immune system doesn't start to recover/recover until later? I've no idea but just making theories really

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Elouera · 19/05/2020 05:13

@L777- I don't think my body could think I'm still pregnant, no. All symptoms have gone and I physically passed the pregnancy. I'm doing fine though.

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Peggysgettingcrazy · 19/05/2020 05:29

You would be a different category of vulnerable. The same as someone recovering from an operation or illness and has an temporary lowered immune system.

Without knowing anything about your husbands jobs, its difficult to say wether he can or should avoid working. However, even if you live with someone who is sheilding, you can still go to work.

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L777 · 19/05/2020 08:20

@Peggysgettingcrazy he works in construction management... Construction is bad at social distancing anyway as they don't seem to care. But being the manager he has endless people coming up to him moaning about things and I have no doubt they wouldn't obey the distancing. Finances wouldn't be a problem so it's not really about whether he should go back following the law/guidelines. It's whether there's an increased risk in which case he probably wouldn't go

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bluemoon2468 · 19/05/2020 08:36

Have a look at the RCOG guidelines. The main vulnerability for women in their 3rd trimester is the pressure that the baby puts on the lungs - women in lage pregnancy find it harder to breathe anyway, so if you were to get COVID it would be even harder to breathe. As soon as you give birth your uterus shrinks back down and your lungs have more space, so most of the 'danger' is instantly gone. Your immune system may stay slightly weaker for a while, but that's not actually the main concern for pregnant women with COVID.

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Peggysgettingcrazy · 19/05/2020 09:02

@L777 I work connected to the construction industry. My experience is that theres lots of H&S guidlines and it is being adhered to. Its taking an average of 20% longer to get our guys on site at the moment, because of H&S. Which is good and that is strict on site.

Companies are terrified of being reported to the whisleblower line and being closed.

Obviously that's not everywhere.

As a manager, people will moan to him. Thays his job. He needs to ensure they remain 2 meters away. Thats for him to manage.

And someone has the job, on site of making sure the construction workers are adhering to the new guidence.

My mum is shielding and dad works in the NHS. So it is manageable in the home, but theres a lot they can do on site to limit his risk.

Would he have to leave his job or are they offering him unpaid leave? Obviously what you choose to do

Your risk once you have given birth decreases. Then will decrease as you recover from the birth.

Him going to work, after the birth would be slightly less of a risk, to you, than him going now.

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L777 · 19/05/2020 10:18

@bluemoon2468 thank you, I'll have a look now
@Peggysgettingcrazy okay I'll talk to a midwife and see what they advise. My bfs work are very supportive of them following advice even if it is not a rule

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IDontLikeMondays88 · 19/05/2020 10:56

I am about to give birth in roughly two weeks and what I wondered about was even if I am no longer “vulnerable” whether I will still have to take care because I have a tiny baby?

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L777 · 19/05/2020 11:39

@IDontLikeMondays88 I'm not aware of baby's being high risk, I'll look now though

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