No visitors on post natal ward!

[lking679]

Friend might need a c section in a few weeks as baby not head down. Was told today that they’re a covid special hospital or something so no visitors on post natal ward.
It’s her first baby and they’re both double vaccinated. Wtf?!
Hospital is north middlesex in north London.
I’ve told her to come to my local hospital (south london) allowing visitors 10-10 and her DH can stay in our spare room!
She’s so stressed out!
I had my baby in covid lockdown and DH could still visit 2-7pm on wards!

By 'visitor' do you mean her partner? I am a midwife and our ward only allow the partner in for 2 hours a day, which is sad :-( No visitors allowed in at all (I don't count the other parent as a visitor!)

Yes surely they mean no visitors but partners aren’t visitors? 🤷‍♀️

I've no idea why this hospital is doing that when others aren't but I can't imagine it's a party commuting across London in labour and/or with a newborn, nor staying in a spare room between visits. Even with a section she'll likely be out within a day or two if friends' recent experiences are anything to go by. Trying to re-arrange a hospital at 30-something weeks isn't great either. It's less than ideal but if (big if) there are medical reasons behind this to do with infection control, I think I'd just suggest she does her best to get through it.

(I'm not speaking from the lofty heights here - heavily pregnant, may need a section, likely to be in hospital alone.)

Is it possible that in her natural distress at getting less than good news she misheard?

As you know, being double-vaxxed doesn't mean you can't get Covid, in attempting to reduce her risk they might be doing her a favour as Covid plus a section and new born would be no picnic.

Even partners weren’t allowed on post natal wards when I had a baby in the first lockdown. It was just you and the baby, possibly for days. I’m not saying I agree with the restrictions she is facing (I don’t), but this kind of restriction, and worse, is not very surprising now unfortunately. And it varies enormously from one medical setting to another, and even from week to week. It is very hard for everyone.

I have a 3.5month old and all I was allowed was 1hr a day visit from my husband.
That was in my own room after a section and additional tests which meant we were in for 4 nights.
He had to wait out in the car park for 6 hours while I was contracting but waiting for theatre to fit me in. Then he was allowed to stay while I was in recovery but had to leave when transferred to my own room.

No she hasn’t misheard.... it refers to partners. Website said partners allowed 2 hours a day following birth, her consultant confirmed today they’ve changed to partners for birth only until covid admissions go down.
Know it would be stressful for her but it would only be hospital near me for induction (previously on cards anyway) or c section. I’d be happy to drive them home. Also they have no family coming to help or nearby (both from North West she’s a school friend) so at least I could fuss over her a bit and show her ropes on baby dressing, top and tailing and answer any questions she has! Totally up to her but think hospital policy is shocking. If she has c section are midwives meant to run around for things she can’t do for herself or baby all the time? Seems mad.

Their website says one nominated visitor can come after the birth during visiting hours. Which is only 2 hours a day but that's not nothing I guess.

Oh sorry, x post

I had a c section last June at 9am and was out the following day by 10am. If it's planned and she is able to get on with it she might not be in soon. Only thing I recommend is start moving about as soon as able.

Here it is your nominated person (who is also your birth partner) is allowed to visit once a day at a time they specify. The time is allocated per bay, so there is only ever one visitor per each 3 bays. If your partner can't make your time slot then tough luck.

The thing I find odd is at the same hospital my MIL and a friend went to visit another friend who broke their hip. Just turned up within visiting hours and were both let onto the ward.

I get they don't want visitors as such, but really partners aren't visitors but supporting and caring for you. Plus they've been tested pre being allowed on the labour ward.

Can you just swap hospitals at this late stage?

Partners aren't considered visitors so I assumed partner will be allowed for periods of time?! Bonkers if partners aren't allowed when thousands can go to festivals and football matches! Really sad times to live in!

I was discharged 36 hours after my first c-section and 23 hours after my second so hopefully everything will go smoothly and she'll be home quickly!

First lockdown it was no visitors whatsoever. The midwives understood though and we were told to buzz as much as we needed

Had my first baby in November - partners were allowed to visit the postnatal ward for 30 minutes per day. Because my baby was born at 3am they told me that counted as my DHs visit for that day so he wouldn’t be allowed in until 4pm the day after baby was born. Luckily I got home the same day so didn’t need to bother with visits.
My hospital are still following the same rules!

Partners were visitors when I had my baby last November. I was in for three days post C-section, just me and DD. The midwives were absolutely lovely and very helpful, but there was one point when DH had to come in to drop stuff off (DD was unexpectedly small and I didn't have premie sized clothes or nappies with me as she was term) and I could hear him by the reception desk but he wasn't allowed in - that was tough.

I had a section last august and was out by 11am the next day. My husband was allowed with me from when I went in in the morning until 8pm at night and would have been able to visit 2-7 the next day had I needed to stay in. The hospital is being unreasonable and to be honest it’s about time people started making a stand about it. My husband was PCR tested the day before my section so he posed no risk I’m sure they can do this for your friend if they really wanted to. Covid being used as an excuse to deprive women of post natal support is bang out of order. I would recommend that she speaks to PALs and makes her feelings known as the more people accept things like this the more it will happen. Really hoping it works out ok for your friend.

I had a planned c-section during lockdown. Not allowed visitors. DH was only allowed to stay until I went back to the ward. Booked a further 2hr visiting slot that evening - couldn't have anyone else visit. Could have booked a 2hr slot for DH the following day but was discharged within 24hrs of csection so wasn't necessary. Really wasn't a big deal, the time flew gazing at newborn (and constantly feeding over night). Midwives and other staff were super helpful when needed. A buzz was never too much trouble.

@lking679 I had my daughter in May last year, husband not allowed it till I was in a delivery room and for 2 hours after birth then he couldn't see us till we left hospital 3 days later. He was not allowed to set foot in the hospital, I had to wheel the baby out and put her in the car seat just outside the front doors. Your friend will be fine, staff were available at the push of a button when needed, they don't like having to put the restrictions in either. She just needs to make sure she takes a long charger cable and some earphones so she can call people without the ward hearing (unlike some I was in with). Things may change in the next few weeks but if not they will be prepared to help her out

I had a c section June 2020. My DH was only allowed on for baby being born only. Within an hour of her being born, DH was asked to leave. No visitors. Not even DH. We stayed for 2 weeks after the birth as baby was prem, but DH wasn’t even allowed to visit us.

Your friend will be fine, OP. I had DS April last year and partner was allowed in for 2 hours after birth only. When we were moved to the post natal ward he had to leave and we didn't see him again until we were discharged. It wasn't ideal, but it was okay. Midwives and HCAs could help with things.

I had a c second in North Middlesex a month ago. DH was allowed with me from the start of the day, through the surgery and then in the recovery room. Once I was able to walk (about 12 ish hours later) I was moved on to the ward and he had to leave. We were given a 2 hour time slot the following day that he could come and visit.
Second baby I'm having there and overall I'd say it's a good hospital, you have to look at the whole picture. Our baby had to go to NICU and North mid have a good one, (level 2, I think). Most people get discharged 24 hours after baby is born, can your friend not cope without visitors for max a day? It's nice that you want to help, but you could also help when they get home and being close to a hospital is not a bad thing. Eyes on the prize and all that

My baby was born in may 2020. He was in neonatal for a week and I was on the ward on my own with no visitors. The staff used to leave my food at the door. My husband left me during pregnancy so I was very vulnerable at the time. In the height of early Covid I was so scared being in the hospital. I was scared even using the toilet. Time has obviously moved on now and although it was so lonely and scary at the time, o look back and think how strong we were. It wasn't what I wanted it to be, but totally out of my control. The best thing your friend can do it just try and accept what it is and use that quiet time to bind and heal. She will soon be home with her bundle and loving family ♥️

It’s not ideal but neither would a covid outbreak. By its very nature hospitals and maternity wards are full of vulnerable people. Can you imagine what would happen if 40% or more of the midwives were off with covid? It’s not like they can just get loads bank nurses who may have specialist in surgery but are able to nurse in geriatrics.

Feel sorry for her. But it is doable. I had my first baby April 2020. DH was only allowed into hospital was I was 4cm dilated and contracting regularly. (Was induced) after birth he had our so. Whilst I went to theatre to have the extensive damage repaired where they gave me a spinal and a blood transfusion. DH was then told he could not come to recovery ward post surgery and had to leave me there. Holding a 3 hour old baby not feeling anything from the chest down post blood transfusion. Less than ideal.