The most important thing you can do for a woman in labor is to be there for her as an ongoing support and help her with everything she needs at that time. Research has shown that a trusted birth partner present during labour can help improve the birth experience (Bohren et al., 2017). The guidelines state that partners and other adults or support individuals can re-participate in pregnancy examinations, important appointments, early labour assistance or time spent with their newborns in the postnatal ward for a pregnant woman (NHS, 2020). Expectant parents are encouraged to have a second birth partner waiting if their preferred birth partner tests positive for COVID-19. You are not allowed to come to the hospital. Birth partners must be prepared and ready. Weeks around their due date are not a good time to book a spontaneous vacation or be in a meeting with your cell phone turned off. Coronavirus can affect birth plans, including counseling for birth partners. Here we discuss the changes you might expect and what you should think about before giving birth. Your birth partner can accompany you throughout the induction, labor and birth of your baby, unless you need general anesthesia. This factsheet describes your rights with regard to birth partners in normal times. If you need information about your rights during the Covid-19 pandemic, please read our coronavirus FAQ. As part of the easing of restrictions, we recommend using rapid lateral flow tests twice a week for those who do not have symptoms of Covid-19.
This applies to women and people attending prenatal appointments and designated partners – see the Rapid Lateral Flow Test section below for more information. Talk to your birth partner about the type of delivery you want and the things you prefer not to do so they can support your decisions. It can be helpful to go through your birth plan together. If your partner has a caesarean section, the staff will wear PSA and it may be more difficult for them to communicate with you. However, a specific employee will support you. We advise you to follow their instructions and talk to them if you have any questions (RCOG, 2020). There`s no way to know what your job will look like or how each of you will handle it, but there are many ways a partner can help. If you have a home birth, you can choose how many birth partners you want to have with you. If you are transferred to the hospital at any time, you may only be able to bring one or two partners.
Hospitals should respect your choice of a doula as much as your decision to have a family member or other person present during your work. Pregnant women in labour will soon be able to be accompanied again by two birth partners to hospitals run by the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT). Please note that designated partners are unfortunately unable to participate in the Day Assessment Unit (DDU) or triage at the Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit at Lister Hospital unless they have been invited to an examination with a physician. If you have been invited to a check-up, please wait outside the maternity ward or vehicle until you are asked to reach the appropriate location. You can have a birth partner during labour and delivery if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19. But there may be limits to how long they can stay after birth. Memories for birth partners Birth partners must not be positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19 and must be able to wear a face mask. A designated birth partner can visit the postnatal service (Gloucester) between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. You should listen carefully to your reasons and allow your birth partner to stay unless there is a good reason not to. You might wonder if there are ways to allow your partner to stay, even if it goes against the usual policy, for example by providing a room outside the room. If you want your partner to stay as an „appropriate fit“ because you have a disability or long-term health problem, you should discuss this with your midwife during your pregnancy and plan the support you need.
These changes to allow designated partners to participate include growth analyses that previously had a video calling system in place. MVPs can help you with all your questions and collect contact information from Private and Charitable Professionals at Birthing World who can provide advice on breastfeeding, pregnancy, childbirth and caring for your new baby by phone or video chat. You will find a range of ways to help support the expectant mother during labour (NHS Choices, 2017a). A starting point is to talk to them in advance about their expectations of you – ask them how they would like you to support them. This will help you feel better prepared before giving birth and have confidence in your role as a birth partner (NHS Choices, 2017b). Even if your hospital has such a policy, medical professionals will need to make an exception if you need the support of more than one birth partner. You must listen to yourself and take into account your personal needs, for example: for a hospital`s reason for restricting the choice of birth partner to be justified, a legitimate need must be satisfied by the restriction, and this restriction must be a proportionate means of meeting that need. An example of justification could be if a birth partner has ever been violent towards health professionals.
Birth partners can help a woman feel supported during labor and make the experience more positive. Here are some tips for being a brilliant birth partner. You may have a second birth partner who is subject to local risk assessments and physical distancing. Women and persons in our care may be accompanied by a designated birth partner if they are admitted to the Dacre Ward of the Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit at Lister Hospital in an Elective Caesarean Section Bay (ELCS), and remain with them in theatre and recovery until they are transferred to the postnatal ward (see section below on postnatal service visit). You may also be accompanied by a designated birth partner if you are admitted to the Dacre Service of the Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit at Lister Hospital before 9 p.m. if you are admitted for Induction of Childbirth (LIO). A birth partner is someone you have with you during your labor. They are with you, in addition to the health professionals who take care of you. Only you can accept your treatment. Your birth partner cannot give you your consent. However, they may be able to help you make your desires known by advocating on your interests with health professionals.
A designated birth partner can visit the Prenatal Service (dacre) of the Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit at Lister Hospital between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. He said: „We are delighted to be able to rehire two birth partners who visit our maternity wards and extend visiting hours in our prenatal and postnatal services. Maternity teams therefore encourage women and their current birth partner to consider another birth partner as a replacement (RCOG, 2020). We remind everyone that only one partner can participate in scans and appointments. Two support persons can attend the delivery and one can be in the postnatal/prenatal ward 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it`s your partner, daughter, or boyfriend who was born, it`s an honor to be invited to be a birth partner. But this exciting role can also be intimidating. Here we discuss some tips to help you prepare.
They should give you time to explain if you have specific reasons for your birth partner to stay. This could include a caesarean section, having your baby sick or because you had twins. If you are induced, your birth partner can accompany you from the beginning of the induction process if it is possible to maintain an appropriate level of physical distancing from other patients. Your birth partner may be able to cut the umbilical cord – you can talk to your midwife about this. Learn more about NCT doulas and how they can be during labor. NCT Doulas provides women and their partners with skilled physical and emotional support during labor. They have up-to-date knowledge and information about labour and delivery and help to encourage women. This helps them to have the type of childbirth and childbirth they want. Doulas NCTs are qualified professionals who have completed a Doula UK professional course developed by NCT in collaboration with the University of Worcester. If she`s planning a home birth, you can help her set up everything she needs at home, whether it`s a delivery pool or a comfortable place for the mother-to-be. On this day, you could suggest to the mother-to-be to have a hot drink and make phone calls to keep the family informed.
Nhs. (2020) Framework to help NHS trusts reintroduce access for partners, visitors and other supports for pregnant women in English maternity wards. Available at www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/framework-to-assist-nhs-trusts-to-reintroduce-access-for-partners-visitors-and-other-supporters-of-pregnant-women-in-english-maternity-services/ (accessed September 9, 2020) Not all partners who test positive will be able to participate and will have to stay home and self-isolate. If you are pregnant and test positive, please reschedule your appointment. If your partner tests positive and your test is negative, please let us know so that further arrangements can be made so that you can participate safely. The Equality Act 2010 states that health professionals must pay particular attention to ensuring that people with disabilities or using languages other than English receive the support they need.
