COVID-19 Coronavirus - for women using our maternity services
The current global situation surrounding Covid-19 can be extremely worrying for everyone, including pregnant women.
Firstly let us reassure you that the care we provide to you,
alongside the safety of our staff is our priority. All the
measures we are putting in place are up to date government
guidelines. We are working to reduce the spread of Covid-19 virus
while maintaining a safe NHS service.
If you have any Covid-19 symptoms such as a raised temperature,
a dry persistent cough or shortness of breath please visit NHS.uk/coronavirus
We are aware that some GP surgeries and Children's centres in
our area are closing. This means that your antenatal care
will be affected if you are pregnant. We are continuing
to provide our services however they are greatly reduced.
Click this link to see
a video message about the changes to our services
Scans
You will have a face to face midwife appointment after your
12,20 and 36 week ultrasound scan at the hospital. At 28 and
32 weeks if you don't require additional scans, you will have a
face to face appointment with a midwife in a clinic. For
women requiring additional scans you will be seen by a midwife
during or following your scan at the hospital.
All other midwife appointments will be conducted over the
phone. Should complications arise or be suspected and you need
to be seen more often, provision for this will be made.
If you have an appointment and have symptoms of Covid-19 please
inform the scan department on 01702 385161. An appointment
will be rearranged for you when you are symptom-free and out of the
isolation period.
Visiting
We have stopped partners visiting within the Maternity
unit. Only one birthing partner can attend when women are in
labour or having a planned caesarean section.
Appointments
We are limiting routine antenatal and postnatal
appointments. Women are being risk assessed and care provided
accordingly.
If you are pregnant please book your pregnancy on line via the
Southend
hospital maternity webpage. We will then phone you and
book your pregnancy, discussing everything within your antenatal
booklet as we would have done if we were seeing you face to
face.
You will have a face to face midwife appointment after your
12,20 and 36 week ultrasound scan at the hospital. At 28
weeks you will have a face to face appointment with a midwife in a
clinic.
All other midwife appointments will be conducted over the
phone. Should complications arise or be suspected and you
need to be seen more often, provision for this will be made.
If your pregnancy is deemed high risk due to any number of
factors and you require a consultant appointment you will be seen
after your 12 week ultrasound scan for a face to face appointment
and a plan will be discussed.
Our antenatal triage service will continue to run as normal so
if you have any concerns about yourself or your baby in between
these times you will still be able to self-refer for advice and or
a check-up. Please call our antenatal ward on 01702
385301.
Labour
Our labour ward is still open and staffed with midwives who are
waiting to care for you throughout your birth. Please call
our triage number on 01702385261 if you think you are in
labour.
For those of you who have opted for a homebirth we are currently
still running this service. However please bear in mind this
may change. For any women experiencing signs and symptoms of
covid-19 the recommendation is to attend the hospital when in
established labour as additional monitoring may be required for you
and your baby.
Postnatal care
Once you have had your baby, the way we provide your care has
also changed. This is to ensure we are maintaining a safe
service for all and ensure safety for our staff.
Telephone consultations will occur when we cannot visit you at
home. Following your discharge from the hospital a midwife
will call you on your first day home. Either a midwife or a
Midwifery Support Worker (MSW) will come to your home on day 5, as
long as you or any one within the household are not
symptomatic. At this appointment we will weigh your baby and
perform the New Born blood spot test. We will then phone you
again on day 10. Depending on individual circumstances you
may be seen be more during this time if deemed necessary.
In the meantime there is a free app for all pregnant women and
for those who have just had a baby called 'MUM and BABY' which you
can download from the app store. This has a lot of
information about all aspects of pregnancy and the first few weeks
of caring for yourself and your new-born baby.
Following your birth If you have any concerns about yourself or
your baby please call the postnatal ward on 01702 385130.
Further information
We are aware that there are many questions and this situation is
causing lots of anxieties and worries for all. Please bear
with us - your safety and the care we provide to you and your baby
is of paramount importance and despite our service running
differently in the coming months, safety remains at the heart of
this provision, ensuring those who absolutely need to be seen can
remain our priority.
We are in the process of setting up more telephone triage
numbers which we will update you with. We are also looking at
a way of delivering antenatal classes in a more visual way.
Thank you for your understanding during this difficult period of
time. In the meantime please stay safe, keep washing
your hands.
Southend Maternity Unit