Lockdown babiessay helloto theworld

Despite the lockdown, parents across Lanarkshire have continued to celebrate new additions to the families.

NHS Lanarkshire has 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.

North Lanarkshire parents welcomed 280 babies while 275 were born to South 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 their appointments on their own.

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

She said: “One birthing partner is very much welcome during the labour process.

“Your midwife will discuss postnatal visiting for partners only on a case-by-case 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.”