This pregnancy and covid checklist is for all pregnant women to help gather the right information for you. Maternity units have experienced tight restrictions as part of the Covid pandemic, which has meant that pregnant woman have been on their own for appointments, induction and on the postnatal ward.

Policies are now very varied across the United Kingdom so it is important to ask questions, to find out what options are available to you in your local area.

Your antenatal appointments & scans

• Can your partner come with you? If not, can they be on the phone with you?
• If you don’t have a partner or your partner isn’t available, find out who you can bring as there may be issues about social bubbles.
• If you need to use the pregnancy assessment unit during your pregnancy, can someone accompany you?

Birth Options

• Is your maternity unit still offering a home-birth service? If not, what are your options if you want a home-birth?
• How many birth partners can you have with you?
• Can you use a birth doula?
• Is your maternity unit able to offer Covid testing?
• If your partner shows symptoms or tests positive, what are your options for another birth partner?

Induction

• Can your partner be in the induction room with you? If not, can they be on the phone?
• If you don’t have a partner, who else can attend with you?
• If your partner shows symptoms or tests positive, what are your options for another birth partner?
• If you are being induced and you need to be on your own, your partner will need to go home. If you don’t have a car, can you enlist the help of friends or family to do some of the driving?

Labour Assessment

• When you go into the hospital in labour, can your partner go in with you?
• If you do need to go in on your own, how does it work and if you are then booked in, when can your partner join you?

Postnatal Stay

• Is your birth partner able to stay with you after the birth of your baby?
• If your birth partner has to leave – how long after the birth does this need to happen?
• If your birth partner is able to stay – what are the conditions of this? Are they allowed to leave the room/ward and come back in? Do you need to bring in a bag of food?
• Is any visiting allowed?

Gathering Information

• You can talk to your midwife but this is not always easy with brief appointments.
• See if your local maternity units have a Covid helpline which you can call to ask your questions and check the hospital website/social media for updates. You could also call the maternity unit for more information.
• Join the local Maternity Voice Partnerships (MVP) Facebook groups – these are a great place to ask questions and gather information.

Why is it important to ask questions?

Knowing more about your options and being able to make more informed choices can help to ease any anxiety and fears about being pregnant and giving birth during this pandemic.

Useful Information

RCOG Pregnancy Guidance

Pregnant The Screwed Covid Guidance

Maternity Voices Partnership

You can download this Pregnancy And Covid Checklist here.

Just send me a message here if you have any questions.
Janine Smith | A specialist in pregnancy, birth and working with parents