Opinion: Expectant mums need support

We are all becoming acclimatised to the ‘new normal’ and ‘restrictions’ are now part and parcel of our daily working and social lives. And so it should be as long as Coronavirus continues to spread in our country and threaten the lives of elderly people and those with underlying health conditions.

Restrictions in a hospital environment are something that we have long since been familiar with – well before COVID-19 arrived on our shores. Visiting restrictions are regularly reviewed, for example, if there are outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug at the hospital.

Hospital management, of course, must put rigid measures in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus among its staff – frontline healthcare workers – and its patients – some of whom may already be quite ill and vulnerable. That is a given.

What makes no sense, however, are the current rules around partners at ante-natal appointments and during labour/delivery. As it stands in Cavan General Hospital, partners or birthing partners are not permitted to be with labouring mums until the later stages of labour or delivery. So they are allowed in, but not until the very end.

In the vast majority of cases, partners would be from the same unit/household. They are in a hospital environment – so can adequately sanitise and wear a gown and mask. And surely, they would be happy to undergo a temperature check, if needs be.

Birthing partners are an important support to labouring mums – giving them emotional support and encouragement, putting them at ease and helping them to relax. This is most important in the early stages of labour and is proven to advance labour more quickly and reduce the need for any interventions.

Fathers too surely have the right to be part of the experience – the birth of their child – a major life event.

Cavan is currently on level two of the new five-level framework of guidelines approved by the government last week. That stipulates that a maximum of 50 people are allowed at ‘major life events’ such as weddings and funerals.

It appears that different rules are in place for different hospital groups. The level-five framework should have covered the area of maternity care.

A person can go and have a meal in a restaurant or pub/restaurant and sit with five other people at a table, not necessarily all from the same unit; yet a partner cannot stay with an expectant mum, whose most likely from the same household, during labour?

It beggars belief.

Traditionally pubs that don’t serve food were permitted to reopen from Monday of this week – yet a woman is expected to go through labour (or early labour at least) without her significant other by her side? It seems almost cruel.

Bear in mind that many of these women have had to attend most of their ante-natal appointments and scans on their own throughout their pregnancy. How many women had to sit alone in a clinical environment only to be told that their baby had no heartbeat? It’s horrendous. Yet you can go and meet a friend for a quiet pint?

They are separate issues of course and it’s welcome news that so-called ‘wet pubs’ are serving once more, for the moment at least. Rural pubs are a vital part of the social fabric of rural Ireland and provide a life-line to many living alone. They play a huge role in combating rural isolation and promoting positive mental health, provided people drink in moderation that is.

The situation in relation to labouring mums in Cavan General, as it stands, is causing unnecessary stress on women and their partners at what is an already anxious time. This should be a happy event.

It’s understood that the RCSI Hospital Group, which takes in Cavan, is currently reviewing the restrictions and that is welcome news but the government must give some clarity or direction in this regard. Partners would move heaven and earth to be by their loved one’s side and help them through this experience. Let’s clear the path in order for them to do so. There is no greater symbol of hope for the future than a new life coming into this world. We can, and will overcome this pandemic but let’s not make things more difficult for our expectant mothers who are, quite literally, carrying all of our hopes for the future.