Pregnancy and giving birth during the pandemic

Pregnancy and giving birth can be a very lonely journey at the best of times. But what is happening during the pandemic? I asked midwives, health visitors, doula’s and women to tell me how women are coping. I would love to hear from those who are pregnant or who have recently delivered. How has your experience been?

Let’s start with the antenatal clinics. In the UK they used to be free, but it seems that the NHS classes have stopped, but private classes are available.  This is terrible for those who cannot afford to pay. Some hospitals are offering free classes online. But missing out from actually meeting other pregnant women will be a huge loss, and also for the Dads to meet other Dads.

I built up a key network of pregnant women during my pregnancies, including those from the antenatal classes and from pregnancy yoga. I think it is so important to be with people who are going through the same as you. They understand totally where you are. This support is crucial and goes beyond delivery to support with the newborn, breast feeding, and more. Can a few Zoom calls replace this?

Ultrasound scans are done at 12 and 20 weeks and are key for people to see their baby for the first time but a partner is needed in case there is any bad news. I have heard varying reports, some saying that partners are allowed in for the scans but others saying they are not. I was told that one woman wanted to Facetime her partner to show him the scan video but was not allowed. Do you have any experience of this?

During delivery, support from your birthing partner is really key. I delivered my twins on my own and was very lucky that the hospital staff were amazing. Especially the anaesthetist. I would not want any women to be alone. During the pandemic I have been told that partners have been allowed in once the woman is in established labour but then have to leave 2-4 hours after the delivery.  There has been controversy as women need a vaginal scan before it can be established that they are in labour and some women are not happy about this.

I was told about one women who ‘ had to choose between having her doula and her husband present yet there were two student midwives allowed into the room to observe.’ But I want to also quote a lovely comment ‘My experience is far from these. I delivered our baby girl in June, I was induced and my husband was allowed with me throughout the whole process, and he stayed with us in hospital until we were discharged. 5 star service from Kingston Hospital. During pregnancy the only time he was not allowed was a scan at 36 weeks, other than that he was always with me.’

After delivery I assume that few hospitals, if any, allow family or friends to visit? I have very strong memories of the visits from friends and family when I had delivered. It can be a difficult time for women and having people visit is highly supportive.

What if mother and baby need to stay in hospital? Many babies need antibiotics so can be in for 5 days. If the baby has to be in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) there is a problem. In some hospitals, at one point there was a 2 hr slot for one parent but now one parent can come in all day but can’t leave the unit and a parent can not swap with the other parent. What about if you have other children – can you imagine how hard this must be? In one hospital skin to skin was stopped when there was a baby being ventilated in the room yet skin to skin is protective for the baby and the mum was not allowed to put her baby to the breast as it was deemed unsafe.

And what about after delivery? In the UK we used to have a wonderful group of health visitors who supported new families and I had a great relationship with mine. She was amazing and identified a hernia in one of my sons. These services have been taken over by organisations such as Virgin and I have been told that they are not training their staff in breastfeeding. I needed a lot of support to breastfeed my first and would not have managed it without the breastfeeding support I received. Peer group supporters are either stopped or doing it via zoom. Some breastfeeding rates at day 10-14 have gone down in the pandemic for the first time in 10 years.

How is maternal and paternal anxiety?

One health professional I spoke to said ‘I am considering retiring as I am too upset by it all.’ Too sad for words.

I would really love to hear what you think or about your experience.

Photo: My first pregnancy in 2002 at Bourne Hall IVF clinic.