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Coronavirus update for maternity services

We are making changes to keep mums, babies and families safe. We are very sorry to ask you to do this at such an important time for you and your family. But your safety and that of your baby and your family is our top priority.

To help us look after you and your baby, it's really important to tell your midwife or maternity team if you test positive for Coronavirus.

If you have no symptoms, or mild symptoms, you will be advised to recover at home. If you have more severe symptoms, you might be treated in a hospital setting.

Appointments and scans

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, all NHS Trusts have had to make difficult decisions on limiting visitors to hospitals. These decisions were often most felt in maternity.

With the easing of lockdown restrictions, we are delighted that we can now invite a support person to attend every antenatal appointment and scan throughout your pregnancy.

We are reminding everyone that only one partner can attend the scans and appointments. Two support people can attend the birth and one can be on the postnatal/antenatal ward 24/7.

Any partner displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to not attend the hospital. All visitors to any hospital are required to comply with all infection control procedures, including using hand gel when you enter the hospital and again when you enter a ward or department.

To help support social distancing, please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before your planned appointment time.  Be aware that your support person may be asked to wait outside of the department prior to the appointment, if we are unable to adhere to social distancing within the waiting area.

We are asking local people to respect the dedicated NHS staff who care for them and we have a zero-tolerance campaign to tackle threats of violence, abuse or harassment against NHS staff.

Filming of scans is not permitted. 

Birth partners and visitors

  • You can have two named birthing partners with you for the duration of your labour and delivery.   
  • Only one birthing partner can visit you while you are in hospital following the delivery, and they will be able to stay overnight. 
  • We cannot allow any other visitors, to help prevent the spread of infection.  

Antenatal classes 

  • We have to cancel antenatal classes for now but you can access free antenatal classes online here This includes sessions on understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby. 
  • This has been written by NHS midwives, health visitors and clinical psychologists and there are versions in English, Urdu and for women couples.
  • Please contact your midwife or health visitor for support if the course raises any concerns for you or your baby’s wellbeing. 

Tours 

  • We cannot run tours or drops ins at the moment but you can view video tours of our maternity units at QEQM and William Harvey hospitals via the MOMA app and on our website here
  • Please note that the information about birth partners and visiting guidelines are currently different to what it says on these videos, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Home births

We are pleased that we can now start to resume homebirths. Please speak to your Community Midwife should you choose to birth at home. Anyone planning to have a homebirth will have a detailed discussion about their birth plan with their community midwife.

Blood tests

Blood tests are now by appointment only for all patients. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer a walk-in service.

To book an appointment please click on the following link to access the booking portal https://itx.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patheks

If you are unable to book via this portal please call 01227 206739. Please note this number is only to book blood test appointments if you are unable to use the above link.

Useful links

You can find helpful information about pregnancy and our maternity services on the MOMA app and our maternity web pages as well as our social media channels: FacebookTwitter, Instagram 

Download the Coronavirus Maternity Leaflet for parents with newborn babies



Message from your local Maternity Voices Partnership during Covid-19

Becoming a parent can be a bit scary at the best of times but with the changes to maternity services due to Covid-19, things can seem more overwhelming than usual. It can be hard to keep up with what all this means for your care throughout pregnancy and when your baby is born.                                                                                        

Your local Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) is a great resource at this time. Each Kent MVP has links to their local hospital, birthing centres, midwives and heads of maternity. 

MVPs can help with any questions you have and are also collecting the contact details of private and charity birthing world professionals who can give advice on breastfeeding, pregnancy, birth and caring for your new baby on the phone or on video chat. 

Please use the links below to find your local MVP on Facebook, subscribe to posts by ‘liking’ the page and feel free to ask them any general questions you have. 

Important note: MVPs are independent from the Trusts they represent but will help you by signposting to the information you need. 

Any queries about the health of you or your baby must be directed straight to a healthcare professional at the hospital via the maternity triage line.

Links for the Facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/NorthKentMVP

https://www.facebook.com/MVPMedway/

https://www.facebook.com/MVPEastKent/

https://www.facebook.com/BirthVoices/