Giving Birth - Covid rules

[CountDownnn]

Hi

Looking to hear from anyone who recently gave birth, what city are you in and what were the rules like with partners staying with you before/during/after birth?

I appreciate every hospital is different, just interested in how it went for you.

I’m due any day and hope to ask tomorrow at my midwife appointment about the rules at my hospital. Silly that I haven’t asked before now but I feel like they were always changing so what would be procedure a few weeks ago might not be now.

Have you had a look on your hospital’s maternity services page? There should be some up to date information on there about your hospital policies

I think it’s changing by the day to be honest, so I wouldn’t pin your hopes on any one thing!

I gave birth a couple of weeks ago in Leicestershire and my partner was allowed with me from beginning of assessment at the birth centre to see if waters had broke (they had), all the way through to birth 13 hours later. Unfortunately I had complications which meant I went to HDU after delivery, he was allowed to be with me 24/7 until I went to a ward. Once on a ward they were visiting slots, only 3 hours a day.

I know during established labour they were also allowing a second birth partner as well. But they couldn’t visit afterwards on ward etc.

Hope this helps :)

I gave birth 2 weeks ago in Sussex. Partner was allowed to stay with me whilst I was in established labour and until I gave birth (about 24 hours in hospital in total). He wasn't allowed on the ward again until visiting hours which were 12pm-6pm and he had to wear a mask throughout. No other visitors allowed other than one birth partner. After what things have been like with covid I was grateful just to have him there. I think it helped that the main period without him was overnight and as I had an emergency c section and complications for baby there were so many observations/checks the time passed quickly. Good luck and I hope where you are has reasonable arrangements in place!

I'm in the North east and my partner was allowed with me from checking to see if my waters broke at MAU, giving birth, and on the ward afterwards, I stayed till 5pm on the ward and they let him stay the full time, he had to wear a mask all the way through, its worth checking your hospital website or you could always give them a ring x

Hi, I would ask about their usual policy (which might be different depending on whether you’ll be in a midwife led unit or the labour ward), but also:

1. What happens if you test positive when you go into labour?
2. What happens if your birth partner tests positive?
3. What are the arrangements for visiting after the birth?

There seems to be a lot of variation between trusts and hospitals with all these things. I’m in London and at my hospital the standard policy is one birth partner only, and restricted visiting hours on the postnatal ward, but your partner can stay with you if you’re in the MLU. If I test positive then nothing changes other than the midwives would wear additional PPE. If my birth partner tests positive, then he can still accompany me in the MLU, but not if I transfer to the labour ward.

Mine have been the same since March, now, I’m due in a few months and have been checking it often! One birthing partner, who has to stay throughout active labour - if they leave they can’t come back. If you go in before 4cm, they can’t stay yet, but can come back when you’re in active labour. If you have a C-section, they can stay for the surgery & while you’re in the recovery bay, but leave when you go onto the ward. There are two hours a day for visiting, staggered by bed number.

If you test positive, they put you in a special part of the labour ward, and the midwives wear heavier duty PPE. If your birth partner does, they can’t accompany you. They need to wear masks, but you don’t.

There’s no other visitors allowed but birthing partners, at all.

I think the rules are a bit more relaxed and they can stay for longer on the MLU, as it’s self contained, but due to staffing, there’s been less than 20% of births taking place there in the last three months… I’m hoping to give birth there so DH can be with me.

It’s definitely worth looking to see if it’s all online. Congratulations and best of luck!

Mine changed at the beginning of August. Whether that will stay during winter, who knows!

Currently it looks like this:
You can have a second birth partner during active labour.
Your main birth partner can be with you 24/7 on the induction suite.
Partner can stay 8-8 and you can have one other visitor 2-6 but no swapping or children.
Twice weekly LFTs & masks at all times unless in labour

At mine, Winchester, it all seems pretty chilled. Visiting for birth partner is 8am til 8pm, one birth partner can stay for the whole duration of labour and siblings are also allowed to visit.

I'm in Yorkshire
Our visiting was 9-12, 2-5, 6-8 on induction suite, antenatal and postnatal wards - had to be your birth partner. Then your partner could stay the whole time you were in labour ward but had to wear a mask.