Please see here for COVID-19 pregnancy and newborn information in alternative languages.
We understand how much of an anxious time this will be for all expectant parents and their families, and want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to ensure that we can continue to provide safe and person-centred care.
Our maternity services are making changes to help respond to COVID-19 and to protect women, their families and staff. We will continue to keep this section of the website up to date with the most recent advice and guidance, as well as any changes to our service to help you cope during pregnancy and when your baby arrives.
Information in relation to visiting and the presence of birth partners during labour is continually updated, please check the Visiting Guidance page for the most up to date information.
If you cannot find the information you require, or if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact your community midwife who will be able to advise.
Wearing a mask in NHS settings
We recognise that as of 18th April 2022, it is no longer a legal requirement to wear face masks indoors. However, we strongly encourage and advise that patients, birth partners and visitors who attend health care settings continue to wear masks and face coverings. This is to continue to protect patients and their loved ones whilst receiving care.
All staff are required to wear a face mask for the delivery of clinical care in hospital and community settings, as well as when in patients own homes. This is to reduce the ongoing risk of the transmission of Covid-19 from staff to patient and patient to staff.
Covid-19 Testing within Maternity Services – Update
In order to ensure that all women, babies, families and staff are kept as safe as possible, we will now be testing all women who need to stay in hospital for any reason during birth, labour, or after having given birth. This means that we will be routinely offering testing to all women (including those with no Covid-19 symptoms) who are admitted to any inpatient area within NHS Lothian maternity services. This will include those who are having planned births, either induction or planned caesarean sections.
Women attending outpatient appointments, maternity triage, or day assessment/day bed unit and who are not symptomatic will not routinely be offered a test.
At this stage birth partners will not routinely be offered a test.
Further information and guidance in relation pregnancy and Coronavirus is also available via the below sites:
NHS Inform
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Royal College of Midwives
Page last updated: 21st April 2022.
