We know this is a time of concern for you and we have put together a list of some frequently asked questions. We hope this is helpful, however if you cannot find the information you require please get in touch with your midwife.
1. Care During Your Pregnancy
What antenatal classes or education is available?
Please speak to your locality midwife about the antenatal classes that are available to you.
Will I still see a midwife routinely during my pregnancy?
Yes. It remains important that you attend for routine antenatal care with your midwife as it is essential for helping us to continue to monitor you and your baby’s wellbeing. You will see your midwife at the routinely recommended times during pregnancy as before COVID-19. Your midwife will keep you informed as to when and how you will meet for each of your appointments. Some of your appointments with your midwife might be over the telephone or an online video chat.
Are there any changes to my scan appointments?
No. You will continue to be offered a scan around 12 weeks and again at 20 weeks. If you are getting frequent scans to monitor your baby your midwife or obstetrician will advise you when these will be, based on your own individual needs.
Can my partner or children attend my appointments or scans with me?
You may bring one support person with you to any appointments and scans. Unfortunately, we continue to ask that you do not attend any appointments with children just now.
More information regarding attending appointments & visiting is available here.
I am due to have an appointment with an obstetrician at the hospital, will this still go ahead?
Yes. It remains important that you attend these appointments to allow us to continue to monitor you and your baby’s wellbeing.
Your appointments with the obstetrician might be over the telephone or an online video chat. Other appointments may be face to face so we can continue to carry out some of the physical checks needed to monitor you and your baby. You will be kept informed as to when and how you will meet the obstetrician for these appointments.
What do I do if I have any concerns regarding my pregnancy or after my baby is born?
It is important that you continue to contact maternity triage if you have any urgent concerns, this line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer you advice. If, for example, you feel unwell, think you are in labour, if your baby is not moving as normal or if you have any other concerns please do not hesitate to call.
Phone numbers:
St John’s Hospital, Livingston 01506 524125
Triage, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 0131 242 2657
If you have any non-urgent questions or worries please get in contact with your community midwife who will be able to advise you.
What should I do if I develop a fever or cough, or both, when I am pregnant?
If you develop a temperature or a cough, or both, in pregnancy you can use the NHS Inform website to obtain advice about isolation which you should follow in line with current regulations. However, please also be alert to the other possible causes of fever in pregnancy, these include urine infection and your waters breaking. If you have any burning or discomfort when passing urine, or any unusual vaginal discharge or have any concerns about your baby’s movements please contact your maternity triage who will be able to provide you with further advice.
It is important that you contact your midwife or your local maternity unit if you are scheduled to have an appointment or a scan and you or someone in your household has any symptoms of COVID-19 (such as a high temperature, new continuous cough or loss of taste or smell). In these circumstances it may be necessary to delay your appointment and reschedule to a later date.
2. During Labour
Can my birth partner attend when I am being induced?
Women can be accompanied by two birth partners throughout labour and birth, including induction, provided that neither person is not COVID positive, self-isolating or showing any symptoms of coronavirus. Partners can accompany women through the whole induction process.
Can I still have a birth partner with me in labour?
Yes, you can. You can be accompanied by two birth partners. If your birth partner is symptomatic of COVID-19 they will not be able to accompany you.
Is there any advice for birth partners during this time?
We are asking that birth partners help staff to keep everyone safe by following the guidance below:
- Do not attend the maternity unit if you currently have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have had any symptoms in the previous 2 days. To prepare for this, women and their partners are being encouraged to think about a alternative birth partners if required.
- Please be aware of the strict infection control procedures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to pregnant women and their babies, as well as other vulnerable people within the hospital and the maternity staff:
- Please wash your hands regularly with soap and water and use hand sanitiser gel in clinical areas as available.
- If you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth with a tissue and dispose of this in a bin immediately and wash your hands.
- Stay in the labour room with your partner. Do not move/ walk around the Labour Ward unnecessarily, please use the call bell if you require assistance.
- Birth partners will be asked to a wear a mask throughout their visit to the hospital, please follow the instructions carefully.
- If required, please be aware that operating theatre staff will be wearing PPE and it may be more difficult for them to communicate with you.
Can I still have a water birth as planned?
Yes, if you were planning to give birth in one of our Maternity Units or at home you may use the birthing pool if you do not have confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) do not recommend the use of water in labour or birth if you are suspected or are confirmed to have COVID-19.
Can I still give birth in the Birth Centre or at home as planned?
Yes, if you had planned to give birth in the Birth Centre or at home, this option is currently still available to you.
If it is confirmed that you have or it is suspected that you may have COVID-19, the RCOG recommend that you plan to give birth in our Labour Wards in hospital. This is because it is recommended that we carry out extra monitoring of you and your baby during labour as some small studies have noted that some babies may be slightly more likely to become distressed in labour.
Can I still have an epidural?
Yes, all pain-relief options will still be available to you during your labour as you wish.
Can my birth partner come into theatre with me if I have a caesarean section or an instrumental birth?
Yes, as most caesareans, as well as instrumental births in theatre are carried out under spinal or epidural anaesthetic one of your birth partners can come to theatre with you. This means that you would be awake but the lower part of your body is numb.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff in the operating theatre will be wearing enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of infection, which will make it more difficult for them to communicate. To enable the clinicians to assist in the birth of your baby safely, it’s important your birth partner follows the instructions from the team.
Occasionally, a general anaesthetic (where you’re put to sleep) may be used, particularly if your baby needs to be born urgently. If this is the case your birth partner will not be able to be present during the birth for safety reasons. The team will explain this to you and will do everything they can to ensure that your partner can see you and your baby as soon as possible after the birth.
3. After the birth of your baby
Can people visit me on the ward after I have had my baby?
Information regarding visiting is available here.
Can my partner stay with me on the ward overnight after having my baby?
Unfortunately, this is not possible at present. Again, we appreciate that at times there may be exceptional circumstances. We would ask that you speak to the midwives who will discuss your concerns with you.
What happens if my baby needs to go to the neonatal unit?
If your baby is admitted to the neonatal unit, you will still be able to spend as much time as you wish with your baby. We have no restrictions on the length of time that you can stay. You will be asked to wear a surgical mask whilst you are with your baby so as much protection as possible can be given to your baby. Staff will also be wearing masks to protect your baby as much as we can.
Hand washing is also extremely important, the nurses on the neonatal unit will teach and support you to wash your hands as thoroughly as possible when you arrive and before you leave. You can also phone the neonatal unit as much as you wish when you are at home to get an update on how your baby has been.
Will the community midwives still provide postnatal care for me after I give birth?
Yes, the community midwives will plan your postnatal care with you based on your individual needs. Some visits will be face to face at home and others may use telephone or online video conversation with you.
Please do not hesitate to be in touch with your midwife if you have any questions regarding you or your baby, or maternity triage if you have any urgent concerns.
When your baby is 10 days old, your care will be handed over to your Health Visitor who will contact you between day 11-14 (if it’s a weekend) and will arrange your ongoing care with you.
