Maternity wards and visitor policies around coronavirus

[LillianFullStop]

Has anyone seen any changes in visitor policies in maternity wards in light of coronavirus?

I can see them limiting visitors but I wonder if it means partners as well as other family.

Yes my maternity ward has limited to two visitors and no children. I’m due in 3 weeks

I don't think visitor restrictions will apply to birth partners though.
I'm due in just 15 days but nobody has said anything to me about this yet.

One maternity hospital in Dublin has limited birth partners to labour ward only. No visitors, including birth partners, to ante and postnatal wards or to NICU apart from the baby’s mother.

Yes. Many are saying one named visitor only who cannot be changed or swapped.

Yes I saw yesterday that only one birth partner can be present at our local hospital at the moment. Sounds great to me!!!

Ours is birth partner only currently. It's reading though which had the first death so perhaps being extra cautious.

Ours is one birth partner only since yesterday. I totally get it - halving the risk to staff and other mums and newborns - but I was going to be birth partner no 2, requested by DiL. She's 39+4. DS will have to be all-in-all!

Thanks everyone - I've got 12 weeks to go so let's see how it plays out.

Makes sense to just have 1 birth partner but would be interesting how this plays out on postnatal wards - whether to have just one visitor or whether they will say no partners overnight.

Here it is strictly birth partners and no children to appointments and scans, and strictly just the birth partner and no visitors when giving birth and if you're kept in.

@NearlyGranny I'm sure your DS will do well 🙂 they are lucky to have you!

Edinburgh RI is birth partners only, no one in waiting room, no visitors.

would be interesting how this plays out on postnatal wards - whether to have just one visitor or whether they will say no partners overnight

From an infection control point of view, probably better to keep the birth partner cohorted with the patient for the whole admission instead of going off the ward then coming back again!

My hospital has no restrictions as of yet? I am high risk because I have a condition which means I can die in childbirth.

My mum and and my DH are both due to be my birth partners, I have awful anxiety about going and being in hospital so much so that I am under the perinatal mental health team. To be honest I'm not sure I will cope and will just discharge myself as soon as this baby is born should there be restrictions.

My hospital has nothing yet either, can still have two birth partners & normal visitors. They’ve changed their visiting hours to less but I think that was pre-planned!

I assume it may change in the near future! It’s pretty reasonable to be fair.. they are always going to allow a birth partner but limiting other visitors seems sensible!

Where are these hospitals where Dad can stay overnight?! I’ve never heard of this.. where do they stay?!

@Bol87 my husband slept on a pull out chair! Not the comfiest...

Birth partner only in our local hospitals

My hospital was birth partner + 1 named visitor. Visiting hours severely limited. And this was to limit the spread of infection before it all kicked off with coronavirus.

I'm going to phone my hospital today to find out, I'm due in less than a week and there seems to be nothing on their website...

@hopefulowl let me know what they say. I've got an appointment today so I will ask mine too

Only one birth partner or visitor in Derby now too.

Had planned a home birth with my husband and mum present but the home birth service has now been suspended so feeling a bit today.

My whole hospital has introduced strict single visitor policy, they need to be pre-identified for critical care. Advice for those needing to come to appointments to come alone or with only one other if necessary, unless more required for care needs. If you need a lift in the driver should wait in the car.

Sorry to hear about the home births being suspended - presumably they need all hands on deck on labour and post natal wards? They will be even busier now if people who would have had home births now need to be in birth centres or labour wards.

Strict single visitor policy here too, birthing partner can only be your partner - partners only on the maternity ward, birth unit and delivery suite. No children or over 70’s to visit at all.

I guess they can't control the conditions of a home either like they can in a hospital. Sorry to hear that @DerbyshireGirly, the decision won't have been taken lightly and it is about keeping everyone safe as much as we can- understandable you are dissapointed though.

One birth partner / visitor only. Personally, I think it’s great as will restrict the people who have entire families coming to visit and disrupt the ward and other patients.