January 2020

Information regarding maternity appointments, births and ward visiting

We recognise the important role partners, family and friends play in supporting our women during their pregnancy, labour and while on our maternity wards.

Restrictions are currently in place to ensure any risk of infection is minimised. These restrictions are under constant review.
Please find details of our current guidelines below.

Visiting

• Visiting is now allowed on our maternity wards.
  •  The nominated birth partner may attend for two hours, once a day per woman, 7 days a week.  This designated visitor will be identified when the patient is admitted. Please see full details about visitors to our maternity wards below.

Birth partners

• Women in labour are permitted to have one birth partner with them during initial labour assessment, labour or when one to one care on the labour ward or birth centre is required.
  • Women can continue to have one birth partner with them for a planned caesarean.
  • Partners are also permitted during induction of labour between 7am and 7pm.
• If after labour, a baby needs to be transferred to the Neonatal intensive care unit, both parents will be able to be present at the point of transfer. Arrangements are made for both parents to be swabbed for COVID-19. One parent can be with their baby for 24 hours a day – parents are able to alternate. Two-hour long slots can be booked with the Nursing team for other visitors.

Outpatient appointments

• Outpatient appointments: With the exception of 12-week scan appointments, no partners or visitors are permitted to attend other antenatal or postnatal outpatient appointments, please attend alone.
  • 12 week scans: One adult companion will be permitted to accompany women to their 12 week scan.
    Please follow the guidelines below:
    • Do not enter the department until 10 minutes before the scan
    • Companions will need to answer a series of question to check there is no risk, or potential risk of infection and must:
    • Wear a surgical mask at all times during the visiting period
    • Not sit on chairs while in the waiting room
    • Stay within the area indicated inside the scan room
    • Use hand sanitiser before and after leaving the clinic area
    • Leave the clinic promptly following the scan
  • Please note: We are aware of the distress not being able to attend all appointments with chosen companions may cause. Further changes in restrictions will be updated on our website as soon as they are approved.

Additional notes

• No children will be allowed on the maternity wards or in the maternity clinics.
• Please check with your midwife for exceptional circumstances.
• Visitors/birth partners must not enter our maternity unit if they feel unwell, in particular if they:
  • Have a temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss of taste or smell, or diarrhoea or vomiting.
  • Have been in contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
  • Are self-isolating or shielding

Please click here for a PDF document on access for partners and why restrictions are in place

Antenatal classes and tours

All face-to-face antenatal classes, tours and drop-in sessions have been cancelled until further notice. 

Further information

We have prepared information on useful resources you can access online to help prepare you for the birth of your baby please see below and refer to our Birth Choices website:

• Information about Bucks Maternity Voices Partnership
• Bucks MVP Facebook page
• Watch a 360 virtual tour of our maternity unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital
• There are also multiple mobile apps that provide helpful information about pregnancy, birth and parenting for example: The NHS Baby Buddy app and Mum & Baby App
• Guidance for women on home visits: Please help us help you when one of our team visits you at home.
• Coronavirus: Planning your birth
• Coronavirus: Parent information for newborn babies
• Coronavirus: Looking after yourself and your baby in pregnancy

If you have any concerns or questions please speak to your midwife or please call: 01296 316101/03