Hospital birth experiences during Coronavirus

[Flymeaway4]

Just wondered what everyone’s experiences have been like? I’m not due til November, but my hospitals restrictions limit the time my partner can be with me and I don’t see this changing before baby arrives. This is my first, I’m really anxious and I don’t really want to be without him! I think I’d refuse to let him go!

Only 1.5hr for an induction (am I likely to be in active labour before this 1.5hrs is over?) and 4hrs after birth (might the baby and I be able to leave after 4hrs too?). They used to let partners stay overnight with you, so this is a big change. What about if I need a Caesarian too, are these being handled differently now?

I’ll be going to Gloucester hospital

Hi, I’m only 25 weeks so haven’t got a first hand experience but my sisters little boy is 7 weeks old and she had him in the strict part of lockdown. Her partner was allowed in for her induction on the condition that he didn’t leave and come back.. so he waited until she was having her waters popped and stayed at home for the initial parts to look after their older son. After birth they both stayed in the delivery suite and all left together about 4 hours later! It was 3am though but they really wanted to get people out as soon as possible. Not all trusts are the same though have you checked your hospitals website? I’m due the end of October so it’s been on my mind too! Good luck x

I'm also interested in this thread and due soon. I'm dreading being tested for coronavirus with the nose and throat swab. Gag. We have a young child as well, so I think my partner may have to stay home anyway as we don't really have anyone who could babysit.

Sorry, can't help with any information but I'm due in November too and going to Worcester so not far from you @Flymeaway4! So I'm interested in other people's experiences too. First baby and obviously my husband hasn't been allowed into any of our appointments so far 😔 and he's desperate to be there as much as possible at the birth.

I gave birth right at the beginning of lockdown, this is what happened:

Partner was with me the whole time I was in active labour (But not for a few hours when I was transferred to the ward as nothing was happening - this was fine as I just wanted to sleep)

Allowed with us 4 hours after the birth, then had to go home - hard for him, but again I just wanted to sleep!)

I had an emergency c section, had to stay in for 2 days after the birth. Partner was there through the op though. This was the hardest part as he couldn’t visit. The midwives were great and did everything for me and LO, although I did feel I had to buzz for them every 5 mins! I begged to be discharged the moment I could be

Inductions can take several days so no, 1.5 hours will not cover it. I dont know about the current rules OP but wanted to say I had my first two babies in Gloucester and it was a lovely experience. Noisy and busy of course but i felt cared for and safe...unlike the hospital where my DD was born.
Yes, it is possible you could leave with OH after 4 hours if there are no complications.

Talk to your midwife about it. If you are very anxious they may let your partner stay? But tbh inductions are very boring and I sent my OH home all three times because he was annoying me hanging around getting impatient. You can do this.

I gave birth 2 weeks ago, I was induced. Husband was allowed to stay for an hour of the induction and went home. I was induced at 3pm and went into labour at about 2am when they broke my waters. Husband was then allowed on the labour ward with my until baby was born. Was in labour from 2am until 8pm and ended up in theatre with forceps delivery. Husband had to leave an hour after baby was born. I was discharged at half 5 the next day.

Things are changing! My hospital is now saying birth partners can be present throughout induction, labour and delivery, and if you need to stay in antenatally or postnatally they can visit 8am-8pm. They've also announced today they're allowing 2 birth partners per person. By November things could be even better 😊

Many hospitals didn't let partners stay over night after anyway, only visiting 8-8 do not being there over night isn't much of a change, your partner will be able to stay with you until settled on the ward. You can only leave hospital and be discharged once the baby has had this initial checks done normally by a dr or specialist midwife so if no one is available to do this you will have to stay in the ward until checked over so you might not be able to leave within 4 hours plus as a first time mum you may not want to go hone that soon

Follow the Gloucestershire maternity services page on Facebook. They are updating their changes to their policies on there. I'm not due till Feb but will also be going to Gloucester. I had my son there 2 years ago and dh was allowed to stay overnight and this was really helpful. I'm really hoping things will have changed back to normal by the time I'm due but I doubt it.
With regards to leaving the same day, I wasn't able to because i had an epidural but my sil didn't and she left 2 hours after birth but was very insistant on it. That was also gloucester

Following this post as pregnant with first baby and so worried that my husband won’t be allowed with me for the whole labour! Sorry to be a drama queen but I swear I won’t go in to hospital without him, they either let us both in or I’m staying at home and calling an ambulance when it’s born 😂 (ok maybe I’m only half kidding but I really really need him to be there, and he would be upset too if he had to leave me in my own). Not due til December so I’m hoping rules will be relaxed by then.

Thank you everyone for your experiences and advice. The Gloucester Maternity website and Facebook page are great ideas too, I’ll have a look. I’m really hoping things change before November. I’ve heard of partners being told to go home, then come back and missing the birth too. He’s missed both scans, so this would be heartbreaking for him and unbearable for me to do it on my own.

I’m not even sure I like the idea of being on a ward. I’m quite a private and self-conscious person and the idea of being surrounded by strangers, whilst I’m alone and feeling quite vulnerable makes me really anxious. They did have a private room option in Gloucester (although you have to pay for it), which I was hoping to make use of if it’s available, but maybe it’s not now?! And even if it is I’m sure it’ll be oversubscribed!

I'm not due until November too! My hospital are letting 1 birth partner throughout induction and labour, then they have to leave once you are taken onto the ward with other mums. They can return once their covid test has come back negative from the swab you both do on arrival. Not handy when my partner does not drive so will rely on family to drop us to the hospital, then pick partner up, then bring him back when hes allowed back and then pick us up once we are home! Partners are only allowed to visit 9am-9pm.

Everyone I speak to are saying it will all change by then and to stop worrying but I would rather prepare myself for what is happening at the moment incase it doesn't change.

We are also advised to isolate for 2 weeks before due date to minimize the risk of having covid when you go into labour and to also isolate for 2 weeks after birth incase you picked it up at the hospital!

My hospital do also have a private room option at £130 a night! You cannot book it and it's not guaranteed, it's on a first come first served basis!

That’s the same deal with ours, except I think it’s £200/night and £100/day! But likelihood of it being available now is probably reduced.

Are hospitals routinely swabbing you on arrival? I didn’t see that on the guidance for Gloucester. That’s insane! You’re already having contractions and they want to stick a swab up your nose til you gag?! Absolutely no chance!

I gave birth two weeks ago.

On arrival to hospital I had to wear a face mask and anti bac my hands (surprisingly hard when you're in labour!!) my partner went and parked the car. A security guard is at the doors of the maternity unit only letting you through if you're meant to be there, he panicked when he seen me and rang upstairs asking for midwifes as he thought I was going to give birth with him hahaha. My partner came back and they let him in as I was being examined luckily as I was 10cm and pushing. He had to wear a mask but as soon as we were in the birthing room we were both allowed to remove the masks. I had a water birth in a birth centre which is connected to the main hospital and afterwards I panicked a bit that my partner would be told to leave but the midwives were so lovely and said they were keeping me in the birthing room and not transferring me to a ward so he could stay. So I think birth centre rules are slightly different as you don't have to leave the one room. On leaving we both had to put masks back on to walk through the hospital.

All in all, I genuinely didn't notice the face masks and little differences due to the virus because I was in the zone and in labour. You focus so much on that you kinda forget everything else. But everyone was so good and so lovely.

@EBM20 I completely understand where you re coming from, I m due the end of October and our hospital originally was only letting people have a partner from 4cm I wards and I m only 5 minutes from the hospital so I ve been thinking about how I ll know I m definitely that far into labour before going in. They haven't said about isolating for 2 weeks but will be doing it anyway and hopefully I can get through the swab test if they re doing them at that point.

Nothing to add other than I'm keeping my fingers crossed things relax a bit. I'm also due in November and am in Gloucestershire, so same trust. My partner has already threatened not to leave if they try to turf him out after an hour, particularly if I end up being in hospital for more than the 4 hour post-birth window.

What happens if you don’t ‘get through the swab test’? They can hardly tell you to isolate and come back in 2 weeks!

I think my fiancé would do as he’s told, leave and just be completely heartbroken. I’m dreading that scenario :(

Gave birth two months ago. Was induced and partner with me the whole time. Baby born in the evening, he could stay until midnight and come back at breakfast time. Aside from the midwives in masks, and having to have a covid swab, it was no different a to normal stay. Excellent experience and to be honest once I had the swab, I forgot there was a pandemic on until we left a day later!!!

If your swab comes back positive they obviously separate you from other patients and step up the PPE. You will likely have had your baby by that point as it takes a while to get the results. Your baby stays with you, and you get extra monitoring.

I had a baby last week, here's what happened.

Day 1 induction - he was allowed in for the first hour, then told to go home.
Each day after that he was only allowed a 30 min visit (my induction took 3-4 days).

When I got to 3cm they took me to delivery room and he was allowed in from that point until baby was born, and then for about 2 hours after until I was transferred to the ward.

We stayed in for a week because baby was jaundice and under lights, and he was only allowed a 30 min visit each day.

They were very strict on the ward about where he was allowed to sit etc, and would disinfect everything when he left. He also had to wear a mask constantly, even during the birth.

Not ideal but better than nothing!

Had my baby in May! She was my second. I wasn't induced. But I had to go in and be examined my self to see how far along I was and I was 4cm so my oh was aloud in. (Not going to lie I didn't even research how long he was aloud to stay after birth etc) I told him to bring car seat in with him he forgot! Anyway I had the baby 2 hours later and was aloud out 6 hours after baby was born he stayed the full time they did say they might not allow him back in when he went to get the car seat just before leaving but they did! Actually loved my labour and experience

Update, have you had your baby??? What was the situation?

Hope all is well