The health board perspective
LIKE everyone else health boards and their maternity units across Wales were thrown into the pandemic in March 2020 and ever since have been subject to strict Covid restrictions.
As it currently stands: Partners can attend 12-week and 20-week scans.
For other scans (serial growth scans, baby well-being) partners will only be able to attend in exceptional circumstances and by prior arrangement.
A birthing partner (preferably from the same household or extended household) can attend with women who are in active labour as well as essential support assistants. Partners can stay following the birth until mum and baby are fit to be discharged home or mum and baby are transferred to the postnatal ward.
For other hospital appointments women will need to attend without partners unless in exceptional circumstances and by prior arrangement with the department.
Melanie Llewelyn, interim deputy head of midwifery at Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB), said: “We fully understand how difficult it has been for expectant mothers and families during this pandemic. Maternity services have had to follow Welsh Government (WG) guidelines regarding birthing partners visiting and hospital appointments.
“Within SBUHB women in labour have always been able to have one birthing partner to support. During antenatal appointments birthing partners have been able to attend for the dating and anomaly scans since this guidance came from WG.
“We appreciate and sympathise how lonely and vulnerable women have felt when they have had to be admitted to the maternity unit and not being able to have anyone present. However, the staff within our maternity services have endeavoured to provide women with as much support as possible.”
A spokesman for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: “We understand how difficult the pandemic has been for pregnant and new mums in our care, with restrictions around hospital visiting and home visits being particularly challenging on top of the very normal anxieties around expecting and having a baby.
“We understand that partners are essential to the well-being of our patients and babies and, wherever we can, we will support you to be with your loved one.
“We need to balance this with prioritising everyone’s safety including that of mums, partners, babies and our wider communities. This means we have had to put in place measures that try to support families as much as we can while protecting them during the pandemic to keep everyone safe and minimise the spread of Covid-19.
“Due to the risks around Covid-19 we have had to limit neonatal visiting to one parent or carer at a time.”
I like dogs. I like their devotion and friendship and undying loyalty. Throw a stick for a dog and its simple joy is unbounded. Throw a stick for a cat and its contempt is bone chilling.
What I’m not keen on, though, is a dog that doesn’t know its place, particularly when this manifests itself in cocking its leg over you as you stand innocently chatting to a friend, as happened to me this week.
“That’s lucky!” exclaimed my better half as I limped back through the door with a trainer full of wee. “You should buy a Lottery ticket.”
I shan’t repeat my answer, suffice to say, it was loud and so high-pitched only the local canine population could have heard it.
Just as well.