Women say the uncertainty surrounding maternity services during the coronavirus outbreak is “making a stressful situation harder”.
Some NHS trusts are not allowing home births or partners on a ward following a birth, while others are.
One trust only provides face-to-face postnatal support when it is “absolutely essential”.
The Royal College of Midwives says services may need to be reduced due to Covid-19.
Like many areas in the health sector, staff shortages caused by sickness and workers self-isolating are impacting resources, the college adds.
Nadia Hussein from Leeds is more than a week overdue with her second child.
Due to coronavirus measures, the 33-year-old’s birthing plan is no longer possible and she is anxious her husband can only stay with her for two hours following the birth.
“It’s going to be difficult because it’s going to be different,” Nadia explains. “What a lot of pregnant women are experiencing is a loss of control.
“I understand any decisions that trusts have made are for the benefit of my health and the midwives, but it’s sad because you have an image in your mind of what you would like, and it’s not working out.”
Jacqui Budden gave birth to her first child Evie on Good Friday, more than two weeks after the UK’s lockdown was announced.
Husband Tom was allowed to be present for the birth, but was soon asked to leave the ward.
“It was hard to say ‘bye’ to Tom so soon after Evie arrived,” says the 31-year-old. “The nurses and midwives were amazing, but it’s not the same as having your partner there to give you the emotional and physical support that you need.”
The BBC asked a group of NHS trusts and boards across the UK about the services they are able to provide during the coronavirus pandemic.
Nine trusts in England, five boards in Scotland and one trust in both Wales and Northern Ireland responded.
All 16 bodies said one birth partner could be present during labour, but just over a quarter of those asked are allowing partners on the postnatal ward following the birth.
Around a third of trusts and boards that spoke to the BBC are now allowing home births.
In the weeks after a birth, midwives and health visitors are now heavily relying on virtual communication to provide families with postnatal support.
Home visits are mostly still happening, but one trust in London said it only allows face-to-face contact when it is “absolutely essential”.
NHS Providers – which represents hospital trusts – say maternity services are constantly under review.
Source:Â bbc.com