Giving birth during the Covid-19 pandemic

Dr Anita Mitra, also known as the “Gynae Geek”, answers some frequently asked questions about birth during the current pandemic, based on guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and her first-hand experience of the maternity ward.

Will I be allowed to have a birth partner?

Women are still permitted to have one birth partner with them during labour and birth. They must be asymptomatic and will be asked to stay inside your labour room with you, so make sure you’re well stocked with snacks.

Many units are prohibiting visitors on wards because it’s not possible to carry out social distancing in communal bays. Your birth experience may no longer be what you hoped for. However, these measures are being taken to protect you, as well as the staff, in the hospital at this difficult time.

Are elective Caesareans being cancelled?

Scheduled operations in other departments are being postponed, but a C-section is somewhat “time-sensitive”.

If you are unwell with proven or suspected Covid-19, or there are not enough staff to provide a safe level of care, it could be postponed. Otherwise, it should go ahead as planned.

Can I use gas and air?

Yes, this is not an aerosolgenerating procedure (ie it doesn’t make droplets that spread the virus), so it should still be available.

Will it be harder to get an epidural?

Anaesthetists are also trained to look after patients in the intensive care unit, so some are being redeployed. As a result, there may be fewer on the labour ward, but there’s always at least one.

As is usual, at times they may be stuck helping with an emergency, so they may not be able to do your epidural straight away. Your midwife will do their best to keep you comfortable in the meantime. I advise my patients to have a chat with the anaesthetist early on in the labour so they can go through all the information with you. Then, when you need it, they can put it in slightly quicker.

Can I have a water birth?

There is no clear contraindication to water birth if you are well. However, many units are no longer offering them, because we can’t yet be sure if they really are safe.

And what about home births?

Unfortunately, many hospitals have had to suspend their home birth services. This is because they need to use staff elsewhere and ambulance services are at capacity.

There is guidance online on how to have a semblance of the birth

Will I be separated from my baby?

No. This is not part of the current UK recommendations. I have delivered many women with suspected and proven Covid-19 and I can reassure you that we did not separate any of them from their baby.

They’ve also been able to do immediate skin-to-skin, and breastfeed as normal.

It is, of course, a case-by-case situation, and if your clinical team had a serious cause for concern, the situation may be different. But it’s certainly not a decision to be taken lightly.

Finally, I want to reassure patients that we are doing our absolute best to provide the safest care that we can while trying to uphold the highest standards that are possible in these troubled times.

Please note that the information for pregnant women and their families regarding coronavirus changes frequently. For the latest guidance, go to rcog.org.uk