UCH or Whittington postnatal coronavirus approach

[Bagel2020]

Hello all - first time poster here! We are due end August with our first child and currently with UCH in London. The UCH coronavirus policy is no visits from partners after the baby is born, and quite probably my partner cannot attend all of the labour either. A friend is due in 3 weeks and is with the Whittington, who allow partners to be present for all of labour and postnatally. We live closer to the Whittington but registered with UCH because we had a miscarriage last year and the care from UCH was exceptional and very caring and we felt very happy having our baby there. Has anyone had any recent knowledge of birth at either hospital during coronavirus, and if we decided to transfer to the Whittington is that possible? We are 28 weeks along...

I transferred from UCH to another hospital at 36 weeks in my last pregnancy (though not the Whittington) so it’s totally possible.

Although I don’t know anything about either’s COVID policy. Someone else might come along and help you with that!

My friend just gave birth at the Whit. Lovely experience. Partner was able to spend the night after with them in the birthing suite. This wouldn’t be the case if you had to go up to labour ward though. He would be able to stay until birth but not go up to post natal ward with you. You’ve still got a while to go though so things will probably change by then. I gave birth at the Whit and loved it even though it all went tits up!

So glad I gave birth before these postnatal units became hotels for non-patients and didn't have to share space 24/7 with all these stranger non-patients doubling the occupancy of a unit not designed for it.

@highmarkingsnowbile there has been lots of research to show that allowing partners to stay overnight has huge benefits for the mother. I know my utterly hellish postnatal experience would have been a million times better had DH been able to stay and support me

I’m at the Whittington and due any minute - your partner can currently stay on the postnatal ward, and be with you throughout an induction. Not the case at UCH I know from friends. I have had a brilliant experience with the Whittington so far. My midwife told me they’d had a lot of women transferring late recently because of their more relaxed rules about partners.