More than 500 babies born during lockdown

NHS Lanarkshire revealed the figures

STEPhEn BArK

Despite the lockdown, parents across Lanarkshire have continued to celebrate a new addition to the family.

NHS Lanarkshire have revealed that since March 23 when lockdown began, 555 newborns have been welcomed into the world by parents across the region at University Hospital Wishaw.

South Lanarkshire parents welcomed 275 babies while 280 were born to North Lanarkshire parents.

A raft of changes to the birthing process have had to be made to protect everyone involved as much as possible from coronavirus.

The father, or another birthing partner, is still allowed to attend but, postnatal visiting has been severely restricted, home birthing had to stop and pregnant women have been asked to go to appointments on their own.

Cheryl Clark, NHS Lanarkshire chief midwife, explains what restrictions have been brought in.

She said: “One birthing partner is very much welcome during labour. Your midwife will discuss postnatal visiting for partners only on a case-bycase basis.

“At this time, we are asking pregnant women who are scheduled to attend for ultrasound scans, appointments in our maternity day bed unit, antenatal clinics and maternity triage to attend on their own. This in line with Scottish government advice for pregnant women.

“We do have staffing challenges but the service continues to operate in a normal function. We are experiencing an unprecedented high volume of calls to our maternity triage department from pregnant women wishing advice on COVID-19. We urge all pregnant women who are self-isolating to contact their community midwife to discuss their antenatal care and to contact maternity triage in emergency situations such as abdominal pain or concerns with your baby’s movement.”