Does Coronavirus affect pregnancy and birth?

Things are changing rapidly at the moment, but one thing remains the same is that approximately 2,000 babies are born per day in the UK. The current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is adding many more layers of both practical and emotional pressures to the already stressful time of new parenthood.

As well as the practical and physical changes during this period, as many as one in five mothers, and one in ten fathers will develop a mental health problem during pregnancy or within a year after the birth.

Many expectant and new parents often rely on the social contact of family, friends and other parents for support, information and guidance, especially in the early weeks with the new baby. People’s plans for maternity leave, birth, and spending time with a new baby have been turned upside down.

We have highlighted some key issues for pregnant women with links to organisations and resources to help give information during these unprecedented times. It is a fast-moving and evolving situation so things will change – it is important to check the most up-to-date information and advice because childhood can’t wait.

Advice for pregnant women on coronavirus infection & pregnancy

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health are working to reassure pregnant women and those who care for them. Each link will take you to information and advice.

There is currently no new evidence to suggest that pregnant women are at greater risk from Coronavirus than other healthy individuals, or that they can pass the infection to their baby while pregnant.

The announcement including pregnant women with other vulnerable groups is described as purely a precautionary measure.

Several organisations are producing useful Frequently Asked Questions to respond to the Coronavirus crisis, such as these from Tommy's and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Taking care of yourself

Routine Appointments

Routine antenatal appointments during pregnancy are important. The general advice (issued on 18^th March) is that these should continue as planned in the following way:

If you are well at the moment and have no complications in any past pregnancies
If you have a routine scan or visit due in the coming days contact your maternity unit for advice and to agree on a plan. You will still need to attend for a visit but the appointment may change due to staffing requirements.
If you are between appointments, wait to hear from your maternity team

Remember:

If you have any concerns, contact your maternity team as usual but keep in mind they may take longer to get back to you
If you have an urgent problem related to your pregnancy but not related to Coronavirus, get in touch using the same emergency contact details you already have.
If you have symptoms of Coronavirus, contact your maternity services as soon as possible.

New Birth checks from Health Visitors are expected to continue as face-to-face visits, including the heel-prick blood spot tests.

Pre-birth visits and follow-up support may take place virtually, by phone or using digital technology, phone and text advice and digital signposting.

Looking after your mind and your body

Best Beginnings have a free App called Baby Buddy which supports new parents and parents to be to look after their physical and mental health by sending encouraging daily updates. There is also a GET HELP button that clicks through to a free and confidential text-based Baby Buddy Crisis Messenger providing 24/7 support for anyone feeling extremely anxious or overwhelmed.

Family Assist provides a wide range of information and resources on pregnancy and the early stages of your child's life. It acts as a library that stores all relevant information about your pregnancy in one place that can be accessed from your mobile phone, tablet or PC

Linking up with other mothers to share experiences and learn from one another, especially at a time when we are having to be further apart is a good way of helping you to stay connected and find support. The NHS recommends the free Peanut app which gives you access to a social network to connect with other women across fertility and motherhood making it easy to meet, chat and learn from like-minded women.

Mental Health

If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or distressed it is important to seek help. Many mums tell us that they worry that if they speak about feeling depressed, anxious or having distressing thoughts that their baby will be taken away. But it's only in very few cases that parents are separated from their children, and there's lots of support available to help you make sure that never needs to happen. It is important to ask for help because you don't need to cope with these difficult experiences alone.

Useful Contact Details:

Association for Post-Natal Illness
Support for mothers suffering from postnatal depression and other perinatal mental illness
020 7386 0868
http://apni.org/

PANDAS
Pre and post-natal depression advice and support
0808 1961 776
www.pandasfoundation.org.uk

MIND
0300 123 3393
Text help: 86463
https://www.mind.org.uk/

Life at home with a new baby

Being able to get out and about to visit friends and family are important ways in which parents cope with the challenges of a newborn. These are all going to be restricted at the moment so it is important to find other ways of connecting, finding relief and accessing help and support when you need it.

In some places, baby and toddler groups have started to offer virtual meet-ups as a way to help parents stay connected and babies stimulated, so it is worth checking out to see what might be going on where you live.

There have been reports of parents finding it difficult to access formula milk for their babies, and also questions raised about the risks of transmitting coronavirus to a baby if the mother is suffering from the disease. Unicef is a source of reliable information linked to feeding your baby during the coronavirus crisis which can be found HERE

Useful Contact Details:

National Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 100 0212
http://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/

Lullaby Trust
Safer sleep for babies
http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk

Family Lives (Parentline)
Any aspect of parenting or family life
Helpline: 0808 800 2222

Email support: [email protected]
https://www.familylives.org.uk/

NCT Helpline
Pregnancy, birth and feeding your baby
Helpline: 0300 330 0700
https://www.nct.org.uk/

Supporting parents when English isn’t their first language

Mums-to-be and new parents who are living away from their country of origin, for whom English is not their first language, and who might have unsettled immigration status or are refugees from conflict face additional adversities at this difficult time, and will feel keenly the impacts of a loss of support services.

This article in the Community Practitioner offers a helpful exploration of the mental health needs of asylum-seeking women in the UK.

And Doctors of the world have produced translations of up to date NHS information and advice in 26 different languages

Other organisations providing information and support for parents experiencing particular challenges:

Bliss
For parents of babies born early or sick
Email support: [email protected]
https://www.bliss.org.uk/

Child Bereavement Trust
For parents of babies who die
Helpline: 0800 02 888 40
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/

Contact
For families with a disabled child
Helpline: 0808 808 3555
https://contact.org.uk/

Down’s Syndrome Association
For people with Down's Syndrome, parents and families
Helpline: 0333 1212 300
https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/

Multiple Births Foundation
Multiple Births

Twins Trust
For parents of twins, triplets and more
Helpline: 0800 138 0509
Email: [email protected]
https://twinstrust.org/

Gingerbread
For single parents
https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/

Relate
Relationship counselling, support and information for all relationships
http://www.relate.org.uk/

One Plus One
Relationship support
https://www.oneplusone.org.uk

SANDS
Stillbirth and neonatal death
Helpline: 0808 164 3332
Email: [email protected]
https://www.sands.org.uk/

Tommy’s
Pregnancy, baby loss, preterm birth
http://www.tommys.org/

Refuge
24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline: run in partnership with Women's Aid
Helpline 0808 2000 247
http://refuge.org.uk/

Scottish Women's Aid
For women experiencing domestic abuse
24-hour free Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Helpline: 0800 027 1234
Email help: [email protected]
https://womensaid.scot/

Women's Aid
For women experiencing domestic abuse
24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline: run in partnership with Refuge
Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Email support: [email protected]
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/

Latest

We feel united. We will come out of this together - Life under lockdown in Orkney

Orkney is a collection of 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. Our islands have a strong sense of community. But for many vulnerable individuals being part of such a close community with a relatively small population comes with incredible challenges.
Home-Start highly commended at global 2020 Interact Excellence Awards

Home-Start’s internal intranet platform @Home has been recognized in the Best Stakeholder and Best Video categories in the 10th annual international Interact Awards.
New parent survey

Babies, parents and COVID-19: Tell us your experiences
Your baby’s sleep

Babies sleep varies for lots of reasons, from their temperament to different family behaviours such as what they are fed, where they sleep, and how as parents we make sense of their needs.

Your baby’s sleep

Babies sleep varies for lots of reasons, from their temperament to different family behaviours such as what they are fed, where they sleep, and how as parents we make sense of their needs.
Coping with a crying baby

Coping with a crying baby is difficult – they can’t communicate with you to explain why they’re crying so it can be a guessing game.
Looking after your mental health when you have a baby

It’s normal for new parents to feel overwhelmed and anxious at the best of times. Having a newborn during a pandemic can bring with it additional fears and anxiety. And that’s why it’s so important to look after yourself.
Dealing with loss and separation during the coronavirus pandemic

Not only are there the tragic losses of life, loved ones, health and income to deal with, we are also dealing with the loss of our previous life. Events that have been cancelled, the friends we are unable to meet, the ordinary activities like having a haircut or going to the gym that is not currently possible.
Advice for parenting teens during COVID-19

With exams, proms and days out with friends planned for the summer now being cancelled, teenagers will be experiencing a lot of new emotions which may be difficult to process. Here are tips to help guide conversations about talking to teenagers about staying inside and how they are feeling.
Helping Children manage their emotions during COVID-19

Children may have many questions about why they are still at home, why school is still closed and why they can’t go to birthday parties or after school clubs. Answering these questions and managing their feelings of loss or their past life can be challenging but we have some tips...
Ten tips to support parents during COVID-19

Now we are all socially distancing, it can be difficult at times to adjust to life in this 'new normal'. Here are ten top tips to help support you, as a parent, during these uncertain times.
Staying at home - The Children's Commissioner's guide

Since the Coronavirus pandemic, there have been significant changes to our lives. The Children's Commissioner have created a useful guide for children to help explain the situation.
Encouraging language development with household activities

These ideas for ‘Being at Home’ come from Home-Start’s Home-Talk programme, aimed at children from birth to the age of 3. They could be especially helpful now we are ‘Being at Home’ even more than usual!
How do I talk to my children about Coronavirus?

It can be tough talking to children about coronavirus (COVID-19). We have put together a few pointers to help guide the conversation with children about the coronavirus to help make them feel more secure about the situation.

Help us keep families connected

Coronavirus will place the greatest strain on families who are already vulnerable, including those already isolated, facing financial hardship and mental health challenges.

Home-Starts across the country are working tirelessly to stay connected with families and support them remotely when they can’t visit. They are helping families get vital food, baby goods and other supplies delivered to them during the outbreak.

But we can’t do it alone. We need your support. Read more

Donate