Mother-to-be scan appearing to show baby wearing a face mask – before she tested positive for Covid 

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A mother-to-be has said she felt a scan photo seeming to show her baby wearing a mask was ‘a sign the unborn child would be safe’ when she tested positive for Covid-19.

Samantha Spicer, 34, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, was nervous to attend her 12 week scan but her worries soon turned to giggles when the scan appeared to show her unborn baby wearing a mask in the womb.

Days later, the mobile hairdresser tested positive for Covid-19 and whilst they initially thought the photo was just a light hearted coincidence, Samantha said she now feels the unusual photo had a deeper meaning. 

She explained: ‘It felt like a sign from baby telling me she would be safe. We joked she was wearing her mask to protect herself from me and it helped me keep calm.’

Samantha Spicer, 34, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, said she felt a scan photo seeming to show her baby wearing a mask was ‘a sign the unborn child would be safe’ when she tested positive for Covid-19

Samantha is expecting her second child with partner of 11 years and husband David, 32, (pictured, the couple on their wedding day in 2018 with their son Harry, nine)

Samantha is expecting her second child with partner of 11 years and husband David, 32, (pictured, the couple on their wedding day in 2018 with their son Harry, nine)

Due to lockdown restrictions, Samantha was forced to attend her antenatal appointment without her husband, David, 32.

But family were quick to point out the funny side of the photo when they shared the news of their pregnancy.

The couple who have been together 11 years and married in 2018, have an older son, Harry, nine, and their daughter is due in May.

The mobile hairdresser and her mechanical worker husband were left laughing when their 12 week scan photo proved their daughter was already fully aware of everything going on in the world around her.

The mobile hairdresser and her mechanical worker husband were left laughing when their 12 week scan photo proved their daughter was already fully aware of the world outside

The mobile hairdresser and her mechanical worker husband were left laughing when their 12 week scan photo proved their daughter was already fully aware of the world outside 

Pregnant women are 13 times more likely to die if they get COVID, study finds 

Pregnant women are much more likely to have poor outcomes from COVID-19 than similarly-aged people who are not pregnant, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that expectant mothers infected with the virus were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized with complications.

What’s more, mothers-to-be were nearly 14 times more likely to die than Americans within the population who were in their 20s and 30s. 

It comes as the WHO warned pregnant women, of whom there more than three million in the U.S., are against receiving a coronavirus vaccine.

The group added that mothers-to-be should only be immunized if they are at risk of high exposure.

No vaccine trials to date have included pregnant women – and they are not expected to until after the first quarter of 2021 – meaning there is no safety data, the WHO says.   

The varying sketchy shadows on the scan are visibly lighter across the nose, mouth and chin of baby’s face and the same lighter colour makes a clean line back across the side of baby’s head, like the string of a mask tucking behind her little ear.

‘It was so clear to see, plain as day.’ Laughed the soon to be mum-of-two.

And it wasn’t just a mother’s eye that saw the distinct oval shaped shadow on her little one’s face.

Samantha recalled: ‘The staff looked at the monitor and then looked at me and we both started to laugh. 

The varying sketchy shadows on the scan are visibly lighter across the nose, mouth and chin of baby's face and the same lighter colour makes a clean line back across the side of baby's head, like the string of a mask tucking behind her little ear

The baby waving

The varying sketchy shadows on the scan are visibly lighter across the nose, mouth and chin of baby’s face and the same lighter colour makes a clean line back across the side of baby’s head, like the string of a mask tucking behind her little ear (left, and right, the baby waving)

‘I said, “Yes I can see it too! She looks just like she is wearing a mask”.’ Samantha said.

In another scan photo, their daughter can be seen waving hi, with her tiny hand raised in the air.   

However, just a short while after the scan, Samantha tested positive for Covid and whilst they initially thought the photo was just a light hearted coincidence, Samantha said she now feels the unusual photo had a deeper meaning. 

The hairdresser said: ‘It was a shock to see my baby wearing a mask in the womb, but so funny and it really summed up being pregnant during Covid.

Days after the 12 week scan had taken place, the mobile hairdresser tested positive for Covid-19

Days after the 12 week scan had taken place, the mobile hairdresser tested positive for Covid-19

‘Even more so when just days later I was diagnosed with the virus.’

She added that after she was diagnosed it felt like ‘a sign’ from the baby that she ‘would be safe.’

Samantha continued: ‘It was a very worrying time to be pregnant and fighting Covid, but thankfully I am now over the worst of it and looking forward to a less stressful pregnancy going forward.’

Samantha said the photo is very apt for the current global situation, explaining: ‘It just sums up being pregnant during lockdown and this crazy time. 

The expectant mother said being pregnant and fighting Covid-19 had been 'a very worrying time'  but she was looking forward to a 'less stressful pregnancy'

The expectant mother said being pregnant and fighting Covid-19 had been ‘a very worrying time’  but she was looking forward to a ‘less stressful pregnancy’ 

‘It’s an odd world we are living in right now and I think it was her way to let me know she is safe and happy.

She added: ‘I am nervous about going into labour during a lockdown. With everything happening of course I am apprehensive about her being delivered safely and whether David will be able to be with me and what restrictions we will face.

‘It’s a very uncertain time, but we are keeping positive and the scan photo really made us smile – at least we know she is prepared for lockdown life on the outside.’