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GIVING BIRTH IN A PANDEMIC
DURING A PANDEMIC Giving Birth
Covid-19 virus infection and pregnancy. Update supplied by NHS - Press Office
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BIRTH PARTNERS
We are currently only allowing one birth partner to limit the spread of Covid-19.
SUSPENSION OF HOMEBIRTH SERVICES
Due to the current concerns regarding Covid-19 and the impact on the NHS workforce, we will be temporarily suspending our homebirth services. This will enable us to provide safe care to all women having a baby under our care.
All women booked with our homebirth team will be informed of these changes with a plan to give birth in our Midwifery-Led Unit under the care of the Homebirth Team Midwives. We will also not be providing waterbirth during this time.
We ask for your co-operation in supporting this and apologise for the inconvenience. We hope that we will be able to resume normal services once this critical period is over.
For women who choose not to attend the Maternity Unit when in labour i.e. giving birth at home, we will not be able to guarantee the availability of a midwife to attend you. This decision will be at your discretion and risk, but we would encourage you to contact maternity triage for further advice when you are in labour.
virus, how it may affect you is not yet clear. It is expected the large majority of pregnant women will experience only mild or moderate cold/flu like symptoms.
More severe symptoms such as pneumonia appear to be more common in older people, those with weakened immune systems or long-term conditions. There are no reported deaths of pregnant women from coronavirus at the moment.
If you are pregnant you are more vulnerable to getting infections than a woman who is not pregnant. If you have an underlying heart or lung c ondition, such as asthma, you may be more unwell if you have coronavirus.
WHAT EFFECT WILL CORONAVIRUS HAVE ON MY BABY IF I AM DIAGNOSED WITH THE INFECTION?
As this is a very new virus we are just beginning to learn about it. There is no evidence to suggest an increased risk of miscarriage. With regard to vertical transmission (transmission from mother to baby) the evidence now suggest that transmission is probable, although there has only been a single case reported. The significance to the neonate is not yet known and we will continue to assess and monitor the situation for women and babies.
Some babies born to women with symptoms of coronavirus in China have been born prematurely. It is unclear whether coronavirus caused this or the doctors made the decision for the baby to be born early because the woman was unwell. As we learn about the risk of pre-term birth and coronavirus infection, we will update this information.
WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY RISK OF CATCHING CORONAVIRUS?
The most important thing to do is to wash your hands regularly and effectively as soon as you come from public places to your home or workplace. There is useful advice on the NHS website on the best way to reduce any infection risk, not just for coronavirus, but for other things like colds and flu.
WHAT IS THE TRAVEL ADVICE IF I AM PREGNANT?
If you are in the UK, you should follow the advice given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is being regularly updated in line with the evolving situation.
All individuals, including pregnant women, should ensure they have adequate insurance arrangements prior to travel. You should also check that your travel insurance will provide cover for birth and care of your newborn baby if you give birth while abroad.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I MAY HAVE CORONAVIRUS OR BEEN EXPOSED TO IT?
If you are pregnant and:
You think you might have coronavirus You’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus You should phone NHS 111 or use the NHS 111 online tool for further advice, and say you are pregnant.
You should also contact the maternity unit looking after your pregnancy to inform them of the advice you have been given by the NHS 111 service.
HOW WILL I BE TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS?
The process for diagnosing coronavirus infection is changing rapidly. At the current time, if you need a test for coronavirus, you will be advised to self-isolate and diagnostic swabs will be arranged. You may need to attend a hospital, or be tested at home.
You will be tested in the same way as anyone being tested, regardless of the fact that you are pregnant. Currently, the test involves swabs being taken from your mouth and nose. You may also be asked to cough up sputum, a mixture of saliva and mucous.
If you test positive for coronavirus, you should contact your midwife or antenatal team to make them aware of your diagnosis. If you have no symptoms, or mild symptoms, you will be advised to recover at home. If you have more severe symptoms, you might be treated in a hospital setting.
WHY WOULD I BE ASKED TO SELF-ISOLATE?
You may be advised to self-isolate because:
You have come into contact with someone who has coronavirus You have visited a particular area or country with a high-risk of coronavirus You have symptoms suggestive of coronavirus and are waiting to be tested, or for your results.
CAN I STILL ATTEND MY ANTENATAL APPOINTMENTS IF I AM IN SELF-ISOLATION?
You should contact your midwife or antenatal clinic to inform them that you are currently in self-isolation for possible/confirmed coronavirus and request advice on attending routine antenatal appointments.
It is likely that routine antenatal appointments will be delayed until isolation ends. If your midwife or doctor advises that your appointment cannot wait, the necessary arrangements will be made for you to be seen. For example, you may be asked to attend at a different time, or in a different clinic, to protect other patients.
HOW WILL MY CARE BE MANAGED AFTER I HAVE RECOVERED FROM CORONAVIRUS?
As a precautionary approach, an ultrasound scan will be arranged 14 days after your recovery, to check that your baby is well. This 14 day period may be reduced as more information on how infected people are in recovery becomes available.
If you have recovered from coronavirus and tested negative for the virus before you go into labour, where and how you give birth will not be affected by your previous illness.
WHAT DO I DO IF I FEEL UNWELL OR I’M WORRIED ABOUT MY BABY DURING SELF-ISOLATION?
Pregnant women are advised not to attend maternity triage units or A&E unless in need of urgent pregnancy or medical care.
If you have concerns about the wellbeing of yourself or your unborn baby during your self-isolation period, contact your midwife, or out-ofhours, your maternity team. They will provide further advice, including whether you need to attend hospital.
If attendance at the maternity unit or hospital is advised, pregnant women are requested to travel by private transport, or arrange hospital transport, and alert the maternity triage reception once on the premises, prior to entering the hospital.
WILL BEING IN SELF-ISOLATION FOR SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED CORONAVIRUS AFFECT WHERE I GIVE BIRTH?
As a precautionary approach, pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus when they go into labour, are being advised to attend an obstetric unit for birth, where the baby can be monitored using continuous electronic fetal monitoring, and your oxygen levels can be monitored hourly.
The continuous fetal monitoring is to check how your baby is coping with labour. As continuous fetal monitoring can only take place in an obstetric unit, where doctors and midwives are present, it is not currently recommended that you give birth at home or in a midwife led unit, where only midwives would be present.
Almost half (43%) of parents believe the Coronavirus crisis will alter the way UK babies are named – and seven per cent of mums-to-be have already changed a name choice due to the pandemic..
The survey was conducted between 28-29 May 2020 by www.ChannelMum.com
Naming Baby During a Pandemic
ChannelMum.com baby name expert SJ Strum said:
“Baby names reflect changing times and never more so than when the world is facing a catastrophe. The current crisis means parents are understandably stressed and anxious, so are using new-born’s names to celebrate new life and joy. Positive names are a wonderful way to keep focusing on the future and means that the child knows their name has real meaning.”.
However, the coronavirus pandemic means parents are now choosing more positive names for their children.
Seven in ten have listed hopeful ‘virtue’ names, with Faith, Hope, Charity, Patience and Constance predicted to come back into fashion.
Over half (54%) would consider a Rainbow name after the kids’ art trend. Popular picks include Iris, meaning Rainbow in Greek, alongside Indigo and Blue. But Violet is out because of its closeness to ‘virus’.
Also popular are Hero names to honour our key workers, the poll of 1,300 parents for ChannelMum.com found. Top choices are the gender-neutral Hero, Avery and Bravery plus Maverick for boys, with three in ten backing a rise in popularity. Meanwhile Florence – which is currently number 15 in the baby name charts – could jump into the top ten girl’s names as half consider it, due to its links with the Nightingale hospitals.
Amongst the current uncertainty, a new trend has also emerged for ‘secure’ names, including Haven and Harbour. One in five parents said they would consider a secure name for their child, as the crisis continues.
Happy names are popular with a third of new parents, in a bid to beat lockdown gloom and celebrate new life. The most selected names include Bliss, Joy, Blythe and Felicity for girls, alongside Pax and Sol for boys.
One in ten even believes Wickes or Wix could be used as a baby name after school PE fitness video hero Joe Wicks, while the name Joe – currently ranked 316th - could rise through the name charts again.
