Search box python selenium sendkeys

[dorabajji]

Hi,
I am having issues with send keys..
I am trying to search numbers in whatsapp and select corresponding names in the recent chat and send message/files.
But after typing, when it is moved to next element find, the search box is cleared. So the message goes to last user to whom the file/message sent.
Instead of sendkeys, is there any alternative?
I am trying this through whatsappweb.

 v_elem=driver.find_element_by_class_name('_3u328')
 v_elem.send_keys(phone))
 driver.find_element_by_css_selector('span[class="_19RFN _1ovWX _F7Vk"]').click()

When after sendkeys sends the number to searchbox, when span class element find starts, the search box clears,
hence the first name in the recent chat gets sent the message/media.