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As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise around the country, maternity hospitals are cracking down on visitors to protect the health of mothers and theirbabies as well as considering early discharge post-delivery, in line with new national advice.

On Saturday,The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) issued new guidelines,which acknowledged the risk posed to the community, health workers, all patients and pregnant patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How will this affect you?

As well as reducing, postponingand/or increasingthe interval between antenatal visits and limiting routine antenatal visits to less than 15 minutes, RANZCOG also recommended closing access to hospital and maternity units to visitors (excludingpartners).

While there is some variationbetween hospitals, and you will need to check with your own, most have now issued updated visitor requirements.

In an Instagram post, The Mater Private Hospital in North Sydney told patientsthat while partners are welcome, other family members and friends are not permitted to visit.Maternity Tours have also been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne has advised patients to "keepvisitor numbers to a minimum" and discourage siblings and other children from visiting. "We remind the community that visitors should not come to the Women's if they are unwell," they note.

While most parents and parents-to-be aresupportive of the move, some have admitted to feeling "heartbroken" and concernedabout the logistics.

"I completely understand this,I really do," one mum wrote on Instagram. "However, I'm due in eightweeks and will be having a c-section and therefore staying for fivenights. Will be heartbreaking to not to be able to see my eldest child for that amount of time. Or for him to be able to meet his sibling for that amount of time. It will also result in my husband not being able to spend time at the hospital due to caring for him at home ... "

New South Wales mum Hayley is currently five days overdue with her fourth child and tells Essential Baby that she's torn about the ban, but also understands that it's warranted. "We'd love people to come and support us and welcome the baby but obviously a bit wary of germs," she says. She's also prepared for a quick discharge from hospital. "I left four hours after birth with my other babies and that'll be the plan this time," Hayley says.

Dr Nicole Highet, Founder and Executive Director of the Centre ofPerinatalExcellence (COPE) tells Essential Baby:"It's understandableto be anxious at the moment and disappointed about not having visitors however it's always better to be safe, and prevention is always the best approach when it comes to public health issues such as this.

"Try to think about way that you can still connect with friends and family through for exampleFaceTimeorSkypefrom Hospital," she says. "Whileit is never going to be quite the same as having a hold of bub, remember, there are many days and years ahead for cuddles, as this too shall pass."

Newborn baby tests positive for COVID-19

The move comes as a newborn baby in London testedpositive for thecoronaviusminutes afterbeing born. The baby's mother had been admitted to hospital suffering frompneumonia but only testedpositive for COVID-19 after givingbirth,reportsThe Sun,who say the baby is the "world's youngest victim".

But questions remain around how the newborncontracted the illness.

"We can't say it happened while the baby was still in the womb," Dr. WilliamSchaffner, a professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, toldLive Science. "The baby could have also contracted the virus during, or immediately after, birth."

What we currentlyknow about the impact on babies and pregnant women:

The news remains comforting for babies and pregnant women.

A recent study of19 pregnant women infected with COVID-19, which was published in The Lancetfound no evidence of mum to baby transmission.

In addition, research published inJAMAon February 14 looked at cases ofcoronavirusin infants under the age of one in China. Nine babies were infected betweenDecember 8, 2019, and February 6, 2020.The youngest was justonemonth old and the oldest was 11 months. All babies were hospitalised. One baby had no symptoms but tested positive for the illness. None of the infantsbecame seriously unwell.

RANZCOG advisesthe followingpreventative measures for pregnant women:

Pregnant women are also advised to avoid all non-essential overseas travel and to report early symptoms to theirmidwife,obstetrician or GP.

Tele-health now available:

The government recently announced thatTelehealth(consultations with doctors via phone)will be bulk-billed forpregnant women and those with newborns.

What else can parents do?

In an article for The Conversation,Karleen GribbleAdjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University andNina Jane ChadResearch Fellow, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney suggest parents of babies prepare for COVID-19 by taking the following steps:

What about breastfeeding?

According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) women can continue to breast feed even if unwell.

"Breastfeeding helps protect babies from a variety of illnesses," the ABA notes. "This is because breast milk contains antibodies and other immune protective factors. If you have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having COVID-19, care should be taken to avoid spreading the virus to your baby while you continue to breastfeed."

If you notice a drop in supply (which can happen during illness) you can contact aAustralian Breastfeeding Association counsellorfor support, see alactation consultantor a medical advisor.

As the COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving issue, for more resources and up to date information, visit:

RANZCOG

Centre of PerinatalExcellence (COPE)

PANDA Helpline:1300 726 306

Australian Breastfeeding Association

Continue reading here:
Coronavirus crackdown: only partners allowed to visit maternity wards - Essential Baby

This entry was posted on March 16, 2020 at 1:48 pm and is filed under Preventative Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |