Coronavirus: frequently asked questions for people using maternity services. If you are worried about your health or the health of your baby, please call 111, your midwife or maternity unit. In an emergency, dial 999.

Devon Local Maternity System supports women and families who are pregnant or have had a baby recently. This includes the four providers of maternity care in Devon:

It also includes Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting), Devon Maternity Voices Partnership who represent people who use maternity services and NHS Devon who plan and buy local services.

We want to make sure you and your baby are well during the coronavirus pandemic and we are committed to providing safe and personal maternity care.

It is important that you have the right information to help you to make informed decisions about your maternity care.

For more information, please visit the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the NHS coronavirus and maternity web pages.

Please check with your provider to see what measures are in place following the lifting of restrictions on 19 July 2021.

All providers of maternity care in Devon regularly update their websites and social media channels to reflect changes to services.

We are also publishing frequently asked questions that are specific to Devon that are reviewed on a regular basis (see below).

What should I do if I have symptoms of coronavirus?

If you get any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste):

Stay at home (self isolate) – you and anyone you live with should not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone in your support bubble should also self-isolate if you’ve been in close contact with them since your symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started.

1. Book a test – get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, should also get a test if they have symptoms.

2. Speak to your midwife or maternity team – they will advise you what to do. You may need to rebook some of your pregnancy appointments or have them online, by phone or as a video consultation.

Important – If you’re worried about your symptoms or not sure what to do, get advice from the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. More information can be found here.

Will I be offered antenatal education?

To reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading, face to face antenatal classes are not taking place. However, people who live in Devon have access to free online antenatal education to help prepare for pregnancy, labour, birth and looking after your baby.

For more information go to www.inourplace.co.uk and apply the access code TAMAR for FREE access.

Will there be a roadmap out of hospital restrictions?

This is under constant review and is based on risk assessments undertaken by each provider to ensure social distancing in line with Government guidelines.

Please check with your providers to see what restrictions are in place following the lifting of mandatory restrictions on 19 July 2021.

Updated guidance about how providers are supporting pregnant women and families was published by NHS England on 8 December 2021.

In line with this updated guidance, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) relating to the lateral flow antigen tests (commonly called LFTs) for women and their support people attending any maternity-related appointments and, where LFTs are used for support partners and parents whose babies require neonatal care.

What antenatal appointments will I be offered?

Please check with your provider to see what restrictions are in place.

If you are self-isolating or you have symptoms of coronavirus, please speak to your midwife or maternity unit to get their advice on attending routine antenatal appointments.

Your local health visiting team may also contact you to offer you an antenatal contact, so that you understand what support they can offer you and your family now and after your baby’s birth.

Will I need to wear a face covering for any of my care?

You will need to wear a face covering when you come to a hospital.

Face coverings can be cloth and/or homemade, and advice on how to wear and make one can be found on the GOV.UK website.

If you come into hospital to have your baby or you are an inpatient on the antenatal or postnatal wards, you will not need to wear a face covering. However, we do ask that you wear a face covering on your way in and out of the hospital.

Anyone attending any care with you including birth partners will be asked to wear a face-covering at all times. This is to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus if people who are infected but do not yet have any symptoms.

Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3 or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly.

Can I have someone with me at my antenatal appointments?

Please check with your provider to see what restrictions are in place.

National guidance about how providers are supporting pregnant women and families was published by NHS England on 15 April 2021 and is updated regularly.

Access and visiting in Devon are dependent on:

  • The facilities in each hospital and area
  • The ability to maintain social distancing in each hospital and area
  • The local prevalence of the virus, where this is known to be high visiting may need to reduce
  • Ensuring there are enough staff for continuity of service

Each maternity area will undertake ongoing risk assessments to see how access and visiting can be safely managed and there will be regular reviews.

These risk assessments are very important as some people who have coronavirus do not have symptoms. Our priority is the safety of all service users. However, we also recognise the importance of facilitating access for partners/supporters where safely possible.

Please see below for links to each of the four maternity providers for their latest updates on access and visiting.

Can my partner attend my scan appointments with me?

Please check with your provider to see what restrictions are in place.

At any scan appointments your partner attends, they will be requested to socially distance and wear a face covering.

Please speak to your midwife or contact your local maternity unit to check the scans that are available for your partner to attend with you.

If my partner will not be attending all my scan appointments with me, can I film it or take live footage?

To ensure the best conditions for your scan, you will not be able to film or take live footage.

Ultrasound examinations are time consuming, require great concentration, and any disturbances will reduce the effectiveness of the scan and communication with you.

Will my birth plan be affected?

All maternity providers in Devon are offering the full range of services including home birth.

If you have any queries, please contact your midwife or maternity unit.

Can I have someone with me with me when I go into labour?

Yes, you are always encouraged to have a birth partner with you during labour and birth.

If you or your birth partner have coronavirus symptoms you should contact your midwife or maternity unit as soon as possible.

You may want to have a back-up birth partner in case your planned birth partner is unwell.

If you have any concerns or questions about birth partners, please do talk to your midwife.

If I have a C-section (caesarean), how long can my partner stay with me afterwards?

A risk assessment is carried out in each case and so it is difficult to give certainty to all women.

In general, we keep the women on the labour ward, but once moved to a ward there is a visiting restriction.

As with all other hospital restrictions, this is under constant review. Please see the information about access and visiting above.

Fertility, pregnancy or breastfeeding

The latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is that COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant women at the same time as the rest of the population, based on their age and clinical risk group.

Research information about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy was published by the Government in November 2021.

Women should discuss the benefits and risks of having the vaccine with their healthcare professional and reach a joint decision based on individual circumstances.

  • You should not stop breastfeeding in order to be vaccinated atainst COVID-19
  • Women trying to become pregnant do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination and there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines will affect fertility.
  • Having a COVID-19 vaccine will not remove the requirement for employers to carryout a risk assessment for pregnant employees: see the government guidance
  • Read the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) statement in response to change in guidance around the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine.
  • The latest guidance from the ROCG on vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding is also available.
  • UNICEF and ROCG have published a range of advice and resources to support people and healthcare professionals.
  • A webinar was held on 5 July 2021 with Devon experts offering advice and answering questions. You can watch it back here.

If you have concerns or questions, please speak to your midwife.

Can someone visit me if I am admitted to a maternity ward?

Please see the information above about access and visiting for antenatal and scan appointments and links to each maternity provider with the latest update on visiting.

If there are times during your stay that you do not have a visitor, staff are here to support you emotionally and practically.

Will staff be wearing personal protective equipment?

To help to reduce the spread of coronavirus, all maternity and health visiting staff in the hospital and community will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

This may include masks, aprons or gowns, gloves, and face visors.

Will I be offered a test for coronavirus?

If you need to be admitted to hospital for any reason, for example when you are in labour, or if you are coming in for induction, you will be offered a test for coronavirus. You’ll also be offered a coronavirus test for your baby if either parent has symptoms or has tested positive.

If my baby is on the neonatal unit who can visit?

Please check with your provider to see what restrictions are in place following the lifting of restrictions on 19 July 2021.

Both parents are able to visit in all units, however, in some units this may be limited to person one at a time.

Please check the local arrangements with your midwife or neonatal unit.

What postnatal visits and support will I get?

When you have had your baby, the midwife will discuss your plan of care for the postnatal period with you.

The midwifery service is providing some home visits, while some postnatal assessments will be provided from a local hub or community service.

They will talk to you about local arrangements when you return home.

Between 10-14 days after you have had your baby your health visitor will contact you to discuss how they can support you postnatally.

What do I need to do if a midwife or health visitor is due to visit me at home?

If you or anyone in your home has symptoms of coronavirus, please ring your midwife or health visitor before the visit.

Please open the window of the room you will be in to ensure it is well ventilated and open doors to limit surfaces that are touched by the midwife.

Please make space so the visit can be with just the mum and baby and ask other family members to keep the 2-metre safe social distance.

Where can I get help if I need support with my mental health or emotional wellbeing?

Many services are available to support your mental health and wellbeing.

For more information, please talk to your midwife or health visitor.

Will my family be able to visit my baby when I return home?

People are advised to follow the government guidance on visiting arrangements and social distancing.

Will I be offered a whooping cough vaccine when I am pregnant?

Young babies with whooping cough are often very unwell.

All women are being encouraged to help protect their babies from getting whooping cough by getting their free whooping cough vaccination when they are pregnant.

Women who are between 16 to 32 weeks pregnant should contact their GP practice or midwife to make an appointment.

For more information, visit the NHS website.

Are pregnant women advised to have the flu vaccine?

It’s recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whichever stage of pregnancy they’re at.

The flu jab will help protect both you and your baby.

Contact your midwife or GP surgery to find out where you can get the flu vaccine. For more information, visit the NHS website.

If you would like to talk about how this information affects your individual circumstances, please contact your midwife or maternity unit or health visitor.

This information was co-produced with Devon Maternity Voices Partnership who represent people who use maternity services:

Page last reviewed: 16 December 2021