Stay safe during COVID-19

As COVID-19 continues to sweep across the UK everybody is looking for support and advice where they can.

Covid19 The main advice is to STAY safe at home to stop the Coronavirus from spreading:

Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home).
If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times.
Wash your hands as soon as you get home.
Do not meet others, even friends or family.

You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

Please refer to the Gov.uk site for all the information you need about staying safe at home.

Also visit the NHS website for more advice.

Pregnant Women

Pregnant women have now been classed as a vulnerable group. This means you are being advised to reduce social contact through social distancing measures and to look after yourself and your baby.

Visit The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for more advice.

Breastfeeding

Is it safe for a mother to breastfeed if she is infected with coronavirus?

All mothers in affected and at-risk areas who have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing, should seek medical care early, and follow instructions from a health care provider.

If a mother is too ill or have Covid-19 symptoms, she should be encouraged to express milk and give it to the child via a clean cup and/or spoon. While still following the same infection prevention methods.

Please visit unicef.org for more information and advice. Also The Breast Feeding Network has lots helpful information and is updated constantly.

Self Isolating can be very lonely

Maintaining healthy relationships with people we trust is important for our mental wellbeing. Zoom

Try staying touch with friends and family while needing to stay at home, we have the luxury of smart phones in this modern day. Make use of them now.

You could try phone calls, video calls or social media instead of meeting in person – whether it's with people you normally see often or connecting with old friends. We highly recommend Zoom, it's perfect for keeping you connected wherever you are.

If you are self isolating at home with your family, here are some rules if one of the household has symptoms.

The most common symptoms are:

new continuous cough and/or
high temperature

If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

if you have coronavirus symptoms:
- do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
- you do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home
- testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home

wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser

If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get any better after 7 days then please contact NHS 111 online. If your home has no internet access, you should call NHS 111.

More information is available at Gov.uk.

Self Isolating with kids

Isolating with kids brings a whole new world of challenges, keeping them entertained while not playing out with their friends can be hard. Also now you are having to try homeschooling for the first time that schools are all closed. Here are some helpful ideas:

Take a look at our Online4baby crafting blog with fun & exciting crafts to do with your kids. Get their imagination flowing in plenty. If your kids are complaining of being bored, and you want them to do something more creative than watching back to back episodes of Boss Baby on Netflix, we've come up with a list of our 20 favourite UK-based blogs with craft ideas.

As for the home schooling, the world of celebrities are pulling together to help you out, try PE with Joe Wicks or Music with Myleene Klass, there's even Reading with David Walliams!