The NHS is due to send out letters or texts to over one million people in the UK considered to be high risk of coronavirus complications, telling them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks.
Among those who have also been told to avoid social contact are pregnant women – with the government having suggested they be included in the measures as a precaution.
With some health authorities also asking pregnant women to attend antenatal appointments alone, reports are also suggesting that new dads and other visitors may well be limited when it comes to seeing newborns.
Just what guidelines should pregnant women follow during the outbreak – and what happens once they’ve actually given birth?
Here’s what you should know.
Coronavirus pregnancy advice: Can partners attend scans?
While antenatal appointments will continue to go ahead, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has advised that pregnant women should limit the number of people they bring to their appointments.
They told metro.co.uk that this will include being asked not to bring children along.
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They’ve not specifically said that partners cannot attend but policies may vary from one hospital to another – so if you’re unsure it’s probably best to contact the hospital your appointment is scheduled at to find out.
Can partners attend the birth?
A spokesperson for the NHS told metro.co.uk that while they might be putting limits on visitors, there could be exceptions made for women in labour.
‘The NHS is asking the public to help protect patients and staff from coronavirus as far as possible by advising strict limits on visitors in most cases,’ they said, ‘although a specific exception can be made for women in labour if clinical staff also agree it is safe to do so.’
Visitor guidance published on 16 March has also said visitors in hospital should be limited to one per patient except in the following cases:
If the patient is receiving end of life care
If the visitor needs to be accompanied (accompanying visitors should not stay in patient, ward or communal areas, which applies to inpatient and outpatient settings)
If they are a partner or a birthing partner for a woman in labour
So while partners may be allowed to be with women who are in labour, it’s a different situation for visitors who may want to come and see your newborn.
What’s the general advice for pregnant women over coronavirus?
Chief medical officer for England Chris Whitty said last week that pregnant women should be ‘shielded’ from the outbreak.
‘Although the limited evidence suggested there were no complications in pregnancy, for many infectious diseases ‘there is a small but appreciable additional risk’ and as this was a new virus there was no evidence for people in early stages of pregnancy.,’ he said at the time.
‘Infections and pregnancy are not a good combination in general and that is why we have taken the very precautionary measure while we try and find out more.’
also published guidance on this, saying that there is currently no evidence to suggest that pregnant women are at risk of complications from Covid-19.
They have recommended that pregnant women follow the same guidelines as others, including the following:
regular handwashing
avoiding contact with anyone displaying symptoms of coronavirus
avoid all but essential travel and use of public transport
work from home where possible
avoid gatherings in public spaces
avoid gatherings with friends and family, instead using technology to stay in touch
use phone or online services to contact GPs where necessary.
You can find out more information from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists here.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/24/coronavirus-uk-guidelines-pregnancy-birth-12443233/?ITO=squid
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