Pregnant in a Pandemic – Double Trouble!!

At the time of writing we are 6 months into a global pandemic and as of today, Solihull, Birmingham and Sandwell are back into a localised lockdown – with households no longer able to meet with others in their homes or gardens.

Whilst lockdown has been tough on all of us, working from home, juggling school and homelife, for those trying to conceive, falling pregnant and/or giving birth during covid times, the journey has been particularly bumpy.

The pregnancy journey many families are having are far from what they would have experienced with pre March, and far from the birth plan they would have written given the choice. There has also been much anger from pregnant women across the UK that pubs, bars, restaurants and even soft play *shudder* have been allowed to open, yet their partners cant experience the joy of first scans and antenatal appointments.

We chatted to Rebecca from Not Another Mum Group, who is not only pregnant, but expecting TWINS(!) about her experiences of being pregnant during a global pandemic. You can follow Rebecca’s pregnancy journey at Not Another Mum Group and on Instagram

When did you find out you were expecting? 

We found out we were expecting at the start of April. We’d been trying for another baby since January. It took us nearly 3 years to conceive our first child Teddy, after lots of fertility tests and were 4 weeks away from starting our first round of IVF, so we really didn’t expect to get pregnant so quickly!

Were you shocked to discover it was twins? 

Weirdly, the week before finding out I was pregnant, I kept having dreams about twin girls and we’ve always joked about having twins or triplets as both run in my family. I don’t think we actually thought it’d happen though!!

We went for a private scan at 7 weeks where we found out there were two heartbeats. We laughed a lot, so did everyone we called that afternoon! We already have a one year old son, Teddy, who turns two a few weeks after the twins are due to arrive.

What were some of your biggest concerns / fears about expecting twins during a pandemic?

The information around how COVID-19 affects pregnant women and the transmutation to babies in the womb was very limited when we first found out I was pregnant. It was quite daunting not knowing what would happen if I did catch it. I was concerned that I had no face to face midwife appointments until 24 weeks, however, due to the twins sharing a placenta, I’ve been having biweekly scans at the hospital so they’ve been monitored quite closely.

I think my biggest fear overall is having to be alone during labour or shortly after giving birth. I had quite a traumatic experience giving birth to our first son so I wouldn’t want to be without the support of my Husband and Mum this time around.

What has been your experience of antenatal appointments during your pregnancy? 

My midwife appointments have all be via phone call up until the point I was 24 weeks pregnant. I had a ‘booking in’ call at 8 weeks and a check in at 16 weeks. I’ve had no extra community midwife input due to having twins. I went to my first face to face appointment with the midwife at 24 weeks and will see them again at 30 weeks.

From my 12 week hospital scan, I’ve been seen at the hospital every other week. We are expecting MCDA twins, which means they’re sharing a placenta but have their own sacs. This comes with a higher risk of Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome where one twin gets too much blood and one doesn’t get enough. This can be fatal for both babies so we’re closely monitored with scans and consultant appointments. Our care has just been moved to another hospital so we are now seen by a multiples specialist team.

I’ve had to attend all appointments alone so far (apart from the private scans we’ve booked ourselves). When I was pregnant with Teddy, we found out that he had a cleft lip at the 20 week scan so going to that scan this time around alone was by far the worst appointment.

Thankfully, the twins both look healthy with no visible problems.

What is the plan for your birth? 

I have requested an elective caesarean. Due to the twins sharing a placenta, they will be delivered at 36 weeks. I was induced with Teddy as I was nearly two weeks overdue (and had a very pushy consultant) which wasn’t a nice experience. I felt very out of control and ended up having an episiotomy with a forceps delivery which for me was the worst case scenario I’d thought of for myself when pregnant.

So to manage my feelings of control around the birth of the twins, I’ve asked for a caesarean this time.

I am concerned about being left alone with two newborns just after surgery if my Husband can’t be with us after the birth due to the COVID restrictions. I’m also concerned about the difference in recovery time, but I think I’d have requested a caesarean regardless of the virus.

Will your partner be able to be with you during the birth?

I haven’t been told about the specific restrictions around birth partners just yet. I think that is discussed when I’m around 30 weeks pregnant. I think my Husband will be allowed to be in the room for the birth and shortly afterwards, but then will have to head home until visiting hours. 🙁

You’re currently only allowed one birth partner.

Will you have options for Teddy’s childcare during the birth or is this another added complication?

We have family members who will be on standby to look after Teddy when I go into hospital. I guess changes in restrictions could complicate this though nearer the time. Currently, we have immediate family in our social bubble.

What will happen if you go into labour early?

As I currently understand it, I will be taken in for a planned caesarean if I do go into early labour. This will be reviewed depending on the twins position at the time.

What will happen if the twins have to stay in for any reason (i.e. if born early)

My twins will be delivered around 4 weeks before their due date due to sharing a placenta as the efficiency of it drops significantly from that point so they’re likely to need some NICU support.

As I currently understand it, we may only be allowed to spend time with them during hospital visiting hours once I’m discharged. And if we need to isolate, we won’t be allowed to see them at all until the isolation period is over. This will be incredibly hard!

What are your views on maternity arrangements during covid times? Do you think the restrictions are fair?

What impact do you think the restrictions will have on Mums (particularly first time mums).

Due to some of the restrictions put in place, I imagine there could sadly be an increase in post natal depression or requests to access maternal mental health services. As a first time mum with Teddy, meeting other mums and going to baby groups was such an important lifeline for me personally. Setting up Not Another Mum Group to meet local families was the best decision we made. Sometimes you just need to connect with someone in the same situation as yourself. Whilst a lot of this can be done virtually, it just isn’t the same.

Even as a second time mum, especially expecting twins, I’m already concerned about how I will socialise (and cope in general) with other Mums with three children under the age of two to look after at the same time!

When discussing this with my community midwife, I was told that due to the COVID restrictions, maternal mental health services are really very limited and I should look at downloading a mindfulness app. Whilst I agree these apps can help, I really don’t think that’s the solution!

Thanks so much Rebecca for sharing her experience! I cant even begin to imagine how hard it has been not to be able to have your partners reassurance and support. I feel so sad that what should be such a special experience for so many people has turned instead into an incredibly anxious and stressful experience for many.

Wishing you all the best for your new arrival(s) – Teddy is going to be an amazing and super cute big bro!

Are you currently pregnant or did you give birth during the pandemic? I’d love to hear about your experiences!