Giving birth in recent pandemic at Basingstoke hospital.

[Lamama15]

Hi all
Im new to this forum so dont know about rules or anything. Actually im a bit anxious and worried these days. Im 33 weeks pregnant and have a planned c section on 39 weeks at Basingstoke hospital. But given the recent situation and pandemic im not sure whats gonna happen. I called the hospital twice but no one was picking up the phone. Im not sure if my c section will be done on day planned or it will be changed? And if my husbsnd be allowed to go with me or i will do it alone?
Any thoughts or comments will be appreciated specially by those who recently gave birth in pandemic via c section in hospital.

I work in the NHS (but in a research capacity, so I'm not providing patient care). The perspective right now is that it's a very quickly changing situation and it's impossible to anticipate what the next few weeks and months will involve. The good thing is though that you are 6 weeks away from your planned c-section. A lot can change in 6 weeks and things will very likely have started to normalise by then. The peak will likely happen in the next few weeks, so you will miss the time when the service is most pressured. If you are having a planned c-section for health reasons, then they will find away for it to happen. There may be some last minute delays or changes, as long as you and baby are well, but I would try not too worry about it too much.

I've had 2 friends give birth in the past couple weeks - one was a planned vaginal birth and the other a planned c-section, both happened as intended. Currently, it seems the general policy is that partners can be present for the birth, but must leave right after and you have to stay in hospital with baby yourself until you're ready to go home (no visitors, not even your partner). This was the case for both of my friends, one in a hospital in the south west, the other in Central London. I live in the south west and the policy at our local hospital is that partners can stay after only if you have a private room (and they must stay in the room and not be wandering about). If you need to be moved to the shared ward, they have to go home. Both friends managed just fine, but were grateful to be discharged so they could have support from their partners.

@mindutopia thank u so much for a detailed response which definitely gave me some reassurance. My husband is planning to pay for a private room in the hospital but im reluctant to do this. Even i dont want him to come with me for delivery as we have 2 kids at home. I dont want him to come to hospital leaving them at a relative house.
And yes its good that i still have 6 weeks to go so things may start to normalize in meantime.