Look North for guidance on birthing partner access for labour and antenatal visits- Currie

We must look North for guidance on birthing partner access to hospitals for labour and antenatal visits, a Fine Gael Senator has said. Senator Emer Currie was speaking ahead of a crucial meeting tomorrow in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, in relation to public health guidelines.

Senator Currie said: “The last few months have shone a light on the tremendous sacrifice made by pregnant women and women giving birth during Covid-19.

“Now that the Government has acknowledged the need to review our approach to living alongside Covid-19, guidelines for hospital maternity services must also be examined. Life goes on and there’s nowhere else that mantra seems more appropriate than a maternity hospital.

“I welcome the commitment of the Master of the National Maternity Hospital to review the situation and I think we should go all the way and allow access to hospitals for birthing partners.

“We only need to look to the North to see how well it is working there. Their guidelines changed in July to allow a birthing partner access for the duration of labour and birth, including induction, 12 week scans, anomaly scans and early pregnancy clinics.

“Here however, not all birthing partners can attend the 20 week anomaly scan, or the 12 week dating scan or other antenatal care and they are only permitted at birth when the mother enters active labour or is in theatre.

“Having a baby is not straightforward and these restrictions are very blunt in managing what is an amazing, emotional but also a frightening, physically draining and sometimes devastating time.

“For all babies, infant bonding and attachment is really important in the first few days when access is severely limited. We have to weigh up global evidence and the impact of visitors to hospital on disease transmission, versus the impact of reduced involvement of birth partners through the antenatal and postnatal process.

“A review of these restrictions is needed, particularly now members of the same households can make visits to places up to a certain number of people and with schools reopening. We are only talking about access to the hospital for one person, which will make a world of difference to mother and baby.

“Additional guidelines could also be put in place where social distancing is not possible, or if we have a surge in COVID-19. Overall, a more balanced approach is required to give mothers, babies and families the best possible start and I’m confident the guidelines can be updated to get the balance right,” Senator Currie concluded.