St George’s London - partner allowed for labour only

[Midlifebaby]

Just got this message, now really hoping obstetrician doesn’t recommend cs as OH wont be allowed in the hospital at all - not for any part of the delivery...

I know the most important part is a safe delivery and for us, and for the medical team and other women to be in a safe & virus free environment but still feeling quite sad.
We’ve all got our stories and reasons why we thought we’d have our partner with us - I’m 49 and this is my first and only baby (yes, ivf!)

MATERNITY VISITOR RESTRICTIONS

Starting from 26th March 2020: for the duration of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) alert St George’s Maternity Services will be restricting visitors to ONLY ONE BIRTH PARTNER IN LABOUR AND NO-ONE, NOT EVEN THE PARTNER, WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE ANTENATAL OR POSTNATAL WARDS to minimise risk to babies, new mothers and staff.

Translation and special needs services for women are available by phone. Translators and essential support that need to physically attend the hospital to accompany mothers will still be allowed, but will be assessed on the individual’s needs, such as impaired hearing. No partners will be permitted to enter the theatres.

As such, from today we will be alerting women who come into hospital with their partner to give birth that they bring everything they and their baby need for their entire stay, including after the birth. No further visitors or items will be allowed into the postnatal ward at any time.

THEREFORE ANY BIRTH PARTNERS WHO LEAVE THE DELIVERY SUITE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RE-ENTER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

Please note: the Lanesborough entrance is now closed and will only be accessible by buzzer to labouring women who are unable to walk from the main Grosvenor Wing entrance.

Very sorry that you have to go through this, but sadly it makes sense to minimise infection risk for everyone.

This is also the case at my hospital in Sheffield

These are the most severe restrictions I've heard of so far, do you think it will be applied across the country soon?
I'm having a planned c section in May - I guess it could be better/worse by then.

I hope that you don't have to have a c section, when are you due?

Have a scan on 8 April for the consultant to advise CS or try for natural (pesky large low lying fibroid which the baba is trying it’s best to flatten lol) if cs, 7 May. If vexit, being evicted 13 May if not our before.

I’m not that bothered about the postnatal period, I’m sure the MW team will adapt your the challenges and also try and get women out as fast as possible. I’m just a bit disappointed that OH might miss the arrival of this very anticipated baba. He’s joking about ordering some cigars & whiskey just to wind me up lol

Look across the news etc it seems most hospitals have now gone for these restrictions in the uk

I’m also pregnant and obviously concerned.
It does say that you can have a birthing partner during labour /delivery. So why would he miss the actual birth?

@flissity OP made a reference to cesareans where partners won't be allowed in theatres at all so would miss the birth. So she is hoping the obstetrician would not recommend an ELCS

Partners are still allowed into theatre at St George's!

Speak to your midwife as they're addressing per circumstance, fingers crossed you don't need a CS but if you do explain your concerns.

@LillianFullStop I will blame my pregnancy brain on not reading that part. Sorry ☹️ I hope you don’t need an ECS.

I have seen promising info from RCoGB

Partners are definitely not allowed in the theatre for CS, but they can be in the recovery area for 2-3h before the woman is transferred to the ward. They are also not allowed at the start of an induction, until 1:1 care or monitoring is needed. So I’m hoping that my body is preparing for a natural birth, it starts & progresses at home and we arrive at the hospital in time to push and for standby blood should it be needed (have condition that has probability of leading to a bleed)

It's not ideal no, Mid I only had that with 1 pregnancy and he shot out like a tobboggan, but he was my last. Most things shoot out of there pretty fast nowadays.

It's basically got to, fuck birthing plans (not worth the paper their written on) if you come out alive with your MH intact and healthy baby you're doing alright.

If you're lucky you'll be so off your tits on gas and air you won't know whose in the room.

@theendoftheendoftheend you are my favourite commentator ever! Three brilliant points that almost had me wee myself laughing - you should know better than to do that to a heavily pregnant woman 🤣🤣🤣

@Midlifebaby

If you look at the maternity page now they have removed the no partners in theatre bit.

I spoke to my midwife today who they're currently letting partners into theatre (who have no symptoms) and in the unlikely event it changes your partner can wait whilst you go in and meet you and baby when you're out.

They're still offering private rooms if you're happy to pay as well.

@aprilshowerss thanks so much for telling me the policy has been updated! I wasn’t sure if they’d have private rooms available. 😍🤞

I know it could change again, but I’m so relived that partners are allowed in the theatre. I feel like a really selfish cow for being so relived about it when other people are going through so much real suffering!

I got the hospital bag together today, the baba has dropped down a bit and it’s feeling real that after all these years of thinking I’d never have the opportunity to have a baby/child of my own, in a few weeks I —might— will!!!