Information continues to change on a frequent basis from the government, Public Health England and other sources.
Any changes made are to keep you, your family and our staff as safe as possible.
More information can be found on the trust’s maternity service website.
Are there any precautions I can take?
Yes.
We recommend all pregnant patients and their accompanying birth partners or nominated support person access the free COVID-19 lateral flow home tests.
These tests can be requested online for home delivery, from participating pharmacies or from participating test sites – www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
You and your birth partner or nominated support person will still be offered a COVID-19 test before any admission to ensure your safety and that of other patients
and staff.
Are partners or my nominated support person able to attend ultrasound scans and antenatal clinic appointments?
Yes.
Following ongoing review of guidance we are pleased to welcome partners or your nominated support person, to attend antenatal appointments.
To maintain social distancing within the department it is important partners wait outside the hospital building or in their vehicle until a room is available.
We encourage all pregnant women and their partners/nominated support person to carry out twice weekly lateral flow tests to protect patients, other families and staff and keep everyone as safe as possible (see above for access to lateral flow).
Can my partner or nominated support person attend for an induction of labour?
Yes.
From April 2021 we are pleased to welcome your birthing partner, or nominated support person, to accompany you on admission to central delivery suite for induction of labour.
They can remain with you until 8pm on day of admission.
If you remain in the induction suite the following day your partner, or nominated support person, is able to attend from 10am to 8pm and then accompany you into a delivery room once labour has started.
Can my partner or nominated support person attend during labour?
Yes.
One birthing partner or nominated support person is able to accompany you to the maternity unit when you think you are in labour.
Partners or nominated support person are required to wear a surgical mask at all times and are asked not to leave the unit once admitted.
Your birthing partner or nominated support person should be from the same household bubble and be free of COVID-19 symptoms.
If your birth partner or nominated support person is unable to attend due to isolation you are able to have an alternative birthing partner who is free of symptoms of COVID-19.
Can my partner attend the antenatal ward?
Yes.
From April 2021 your partner or nominated support person is able to support you on the antenatal ward between the hours of 10am to 8pm this must remain the same person for the duration of the stay.
Staff will keep a record of partners, or nominated support person, contact
details for track and trace purposes and will ask COVID-19 screening questions before
admission.
Partners or nominated support person must have had a negative COVID-19 swab on
patient admission and be in the same household or support bubble.
Can my partner attend the postnatal ward?
Yes.
From Monday 26 April your partner or nominated support person is able to support you on the postnatal ward between the hours of 10am to 8pm this must remain the same person for the duration of the stay.
Staff will keep a record of partners or nominated support person contact details for Track and Trace purposes and will ask COVID-19 screening questions before admission.
Partners or nominated support person must have had a negative COVID-19 swab on
patient admission and be in the same household or support bubble.
Will I be offered a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes.
Pregnant women will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine by GP or vaccination centres at the same time as the rest of the population based on your age and clinical risk group.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has published an update in
relation to COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.
Based on data from the US, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)
advises that it’s preferable for pregnant women in the UK to be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines where available.
There is no evidence to suggest that other vaccines are unsafe for pregnant women, but more research is needed.