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.

I agree shirley when I was in post natal in November there were so many visitors it was distressing without CV...

Really though having 1 birth partner and no additional visitors isn't an issue.

Mine is partner only. Quite glad about that

I'm due on Sunday, and I think it's a bit of a godsend that they're only allowing birth partners. With DS1 at the ERI, I was sick of other people's constant, inconsiderate visitors at all hours. Have seen in the news recently that ERI has been allowing male birth partners to sleep on the wards, which I think is absolutely out of order.

Having said that, I've heard that the reason why visitors get away with murder is because they are too stretched to enforce the rules, so I'm not holding out much hope that extra visitors will be told to get their skates on.

@LillianFullStop So my hospital seem to have no idea!!

No restrictions on visitors, the woman I spoke to had no idea and seemed to just say business as usual when you go into labour just give us a call.

@virginpinkmartini I'm also due on Sunday. Seems like your hospital are a bit more organised if they're restricting birth partners etc. Can't quite believe the timing of all this though!

@hopefulowl mine had nothing specific either except for being accompanied by only 1 person to ante natal appointments...

I still have a while to go so I'm sure they will firm up guidance in a few weeks but it must be stressful for people due in the next couple of weeks!

I've just had a thought...and I am a health worker. What about bounty? Visitors are being limited to one per bedside and kids not allowed..but bounty are going from bed to bed taking pics using same equipment for all babies and it seems unfair that they're allowed at bedside but the woman can't have her child. As it isn't a necessary service and is a risk should they still be working on the wards?

Good point!

@lucky313ven that's a very good point and I would think they should stop bounty visitors before they stop family visiting

Where I work is 1 visitor only for whole admission, no swapping, no children

My hospital in ireland....only one companion will be admitted during labour, once baby arrives they have to leave, no visitors allowed on the wards. No companions for scans, appointments, a&e or anything like that. All classes, physio, dieticians, mental health counselling etc are cancelled, there's some provision of services over the phone and through email. It's scary. But I'm glad having just seen the sky news report showing the wards in Italy, our tiny country would will come to it's knees if we don't take these precautions