NCT classes when Covid cases are high?

[Redsequin]

Hi all,

Hope you are all having a lovely week!

Just wondering how everyone else approached NCT or similar when Covid cases are high ( as they're expected to be this autumn)? From the research I've done it sounds like third trimester, when you would do an antenatal course, is the riskiest time to catch Covid, and yet every course provider I've spoken to has zero measures in place to protect the pregnant women attending. The most they seem to offer is hand sanitizer: hardly effective for an airborne disease! I suppose my partner and I could mask, but I worry that'll leave us the odd ones out and we won't make friends.

I obviously don't want to catch Covid in my third trimester, particularly since I've so far not been eligible for a booster during my pregnancy, but I desperately want to make a few local mum friends.

Any thoughts?

xxx

[Rollercoastersmiles]

Hey. I’ve booked into classes for October (due date mid Dec). I saw this a couple of weeks ago and it reassured me.

gov.uk/government/news/over...

If you read the details, hopefully we’ll be getting jabs in autumn!

[Redsequin in reply to Rollercoastersmiles]

Thanks lovely. Yes, maybe if I opt for an October class r/t a September class (due late November) I’ll at least be vaccinated by then!

[Buisquits]

I think, i scary as it is you can't really wrap yourself in a cotton wool and stay at home for the last 3 months. Or can you? I work in primary school. I'll be working s long as I can in pregnancy, no chance of social distancing between 5 year olds 😂

[Redsequin in reply to Buisquits]

We sort of can! We'll both be working from home and I find friends are usually okay to do lateral flows before we hang out. I think I have a low-risk tolerance, but it's partly because I've had Covid twice before, and the first time I was seriously ill for 2 months so I worry what would happen if I got it while pregnant. I hope your school has a good sick pay policy at least! I can see how it would be very hard to get excitable 5 years olds to social distance 😂.

[Buisquits in reply to Redsequin]

You're so luck! I'm sure if you suggested testing before NCT meeting non of the mums to be will object!

[Purpledoggy]

I assume from your post you contacted NCT directly about their COVID measures? I wonder whether they will be doing more to limit spread by October. I did mine towards the end of 2021 when cases were really high but at the time everyone in the classes was wearing masks and there was a degree of social distancing (not as much as NCT were saying they would do though!). Before I attended I contacted the course organiser as mine was a high risk pregnancy and I wanted to let her know that and that I was really uneasy attending. She did make a point at the start of the sessions to remind everyone that not everyone is vaccinated, some pregnancies were high risk etc. So I suggest at the least doing that. I don't think wearing a face mask (even a FFP3) is going to stop you making friends, as we were all wearing them last year and it definitely did not impede that! xx

[Redsequin in reply to Purpledoggy]

Thanks so much for your input. Yes, I contacted NCT and also an alternative, more hipstery antenatal class in the area. I guess I was hoping they might at least have thought about ventilation but they both basically tried to tell me that Covid was over (?!) and that no one else was worried about it. I guess the government guidance nowadays is nonexistent, but I was just hopeful organisations working with pregnant women might've thought about safety a bit. Maybe I just got unlucky with who I spoke to.

Hopefully, I'll manage to get a vaccination before the course starts and I will mask. I don't find masking impedes communication—in fact, I always mask in indoor spaces— but I'm worried the other parents will judge us as "paranoid" if we're the only ones masking! I certainly get some very odd looks when I'm masked in the supermarket and even had one man tell me to "take my F*@ing mask off", which really upset me. Oh well... hopefully the people at an antenatal class will be much more understanding! 🙃

xxx

[Purpledoggy in reply to Redsequin]

Urgh why are people such dickheads. Stuff anyone else thinking you're being paranoid xx

[DianeArnold Partner]

Hi Redsequin. I would make sure you are vaccinated and perhaps attend a later class with a mask on! Diane

[Redsequin in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks, Diane. I'll be first in line when the autumn boosters are announced! Even though I do feel a little self-conscious when I'm the only one masking, I will definitely mask if cases are high! xx

[DianeArnold Partner in reply to Redsequin]

Hi. "mask away"! I do and don't care what others think! Enjoy your weekend. Diane xx

[Hidden]

I’m actually slightly envious. Our Antenatal classes are all still only via Teams 😖 we don’t even have the option to attend face to face! Good old Cornwall. If I were you I’d opt for a mask and just stay as distanced as possible. Once you getting chatting to other mums etc and explain why you’re nervous about catching Covid again etc I’m sure it will be fine. Anyone who doesn’t understand isn’t worth speaking to! Xx

[Redsequin in reply to Hidden]

Yes, online must be so tough to bond with people in the same way! I’m currently planning to go but mask. Hopefully people will be understanding 🤞🏻 Xxx

[Missl73]

I would just do it and mask up with an FFP3 grade mask. I had my son during the first lockdown in 2020 and so all my NCT classes were cancelled in person and moved to online and our group never really bonded, in fact there are several I never met in person. I am so excited for this pregnancy and actually getting to leave the house with my newborn and spend time with other mums it’s so important for keeping you sane I wouldn’t want to miss out on that. It can be an isolating time so in person would be so valuable xx

[Redsequin in reply to Missl73]

Yes, sounds sensible. I definitely don’t want to end up isolated in those first weeks. Xxx

[JoyfulStar]

I did an NCT course last year in December and it was meant to take place in person but they changed it to an online course at the last minute due to rising infection rates. This was obviously before the government removed all guidance and restrictions. Although I would recommend it, like you I was concerned at the time and contacted the course leader who never responded! However, when the confirmation email was sent, NCT sent through some really comprehensive information about Covid measures at the time so I am not sure why this has not been shared with you. I was personally happy when the course was moved online.

Regardless of how anyone feels, you should do what makes you comfortable. You never know if there are other mums on there who have the same concerns.

Also perhaps drive to the venue beforehand to see how big it is. You may be able to have a conversation about ventilation with the people at the venue.

All the best hun 💕

[Redsequin in reply to JoyfulStar]

Thanks so much for your kind reply. I definitely do find myself wishing there were still some restrictions in place! I’ve looked into the venues of local courses and neither seem particularly big or ventilated, but I suppose if my partner and I are properly masked, it’ll be alright 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 X

[Chiefy]

I was due to be on a course September last year and they changed it to online just before it started due to covid, and I suspect that is their covid measure. Despite being online they only offered a very small discount so we cancelled and did a Daisy Birthing antenatal class instead in person (it was actually with the same person as the nct course should have been so was clearly an nct decision and not the course leader). We wanted to attend to meet other future parents so it didn't seem like online would work for us. Have you looked at other local independent options?

[Redsequin in reply to Chiefy]

Thanks, Chiefy! Yes, we're going with a local independent option as the NCT didn't have any spaces anyway. I think we'll just mask and hope for the best. I really want to meet some other mums who live within walking distance, and agree that it would be harder to do so with an online class! x

[Positivechangeplease]

We did bump and baby. No masks but social distancing was still in place for those who wanted to. So much for avoiding covid when I was pregnant (tbh I seemed to have super immunity) now I have a 6 week old it turns out I had covid (and didn’t realise as the test was negative on day 2) and I’ve given her covid - poor baby.

[Bozo_the_pumpkin in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Oh Pcp, how is the poor little one doing? I hope she is not too ill

[Positivechangeplease in reply to Bozo_the_pumpkin]

She’s not too bad I don’t think. Her temp was high so we took her to A&E where we spent all night but in reality she was fighting it off with her temp and sleeping lots and feeding a little less but still feeding. Apparently all her vitals were good so they let us come home. The hardest thing is she can’t have calpol until 8 weeks (and she’s just one week away). Apart from struggling to fall asleep now - and I think that’s a sign of her feeling a bit better she’s quite a bit better in herself and they say that babies can handle it a lot better than us adults!

[Bozo_the_pumpkin in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Really great news.. I am glad she is doing better. Not nice having Covid and not being able to have meds though and waiting at A&E with a sick baby 🙆🏽‍♀️ But looks like she is coming through it quite nicely

[Positivechangeplease in reply to Bozo_the_pumpkin]

Thanks she is. Although stuffy nose bothering her and no calpol for another week!

[Bozo_the_pumpkin in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Sending love and hugs to you both xx

[Redsequin in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Oh no! Uff how stressful. How is your little one feeling now? xx

[Positivechangeplease in reply to Redsequin]

Hey, I think she’s okay now. She has had some inconsolable moments but we think it’s overtiredness rather than covid related. Vaccinations next week but she can thankfully have calpol by then!

[Redsequin in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Uff! Poor little bean. Life will be much easier when she can have Calpol!!

[Positivechangeplease in reply to Redsequin]

I know, it feels so mean when you can easily medicated yourself but you can’t do the same to your little bubba! ❤️

[Bozo_the_pumpkin]

I’ve just finished my NCT classes and they have only just relaxed their rules a bit although we were still socially distances per couple, not sharing tea cups, all doors and windows open etc. Apparently they have only just started providing biscuits again but those were banned during high Covid figures. They seemed quite on it where Covid was concerned

[Redsequin in reply to Bozo_the_pumpkin]

Thanks, Bozo. We had to go with an independent provider in the end as NCT was full in my area. Doesn't sound like they take any precautions but they have said I can ask the course leader to open the windows, and my husband and I will mask. xx

[Bozo_the_pumpkin]

Oh and during the peaks their classes loved online!