Delivery room and Swine flu

[hannah.e.law]

I'm overdue by three days right now and am very concerned about my husband not being able to be with me. I'd heard they had shortened visiting hours as well. I hope not because my mother is here from the US to see her firstborn grandson! I guess we'll wait and see. Afterall, I still have to go into labor before anything can be done! Arrggg!

I'm delivering in the public hospital (Pamela Youde) and will let you gals know what they do or do not allow. I'm going to try to not stress about it and just accept whatever comes along, although I will try to see if my husband can come in.

 

[sherwes]

I have confirmed with the Matilda - they don't yet have this policy. Hopefully they won't decide to implement it in the next week (I am due next week).

 

[chrissy2]

I wish I choose Matilda instead of the Baptist Hospital I only went with the baptist because its closer to my home (I live on Lantau) and was worried that Matilda is too far from me!

 

[Peachstyle]

Just wanted to let you girls know that Queen Elizabeth confirmed to me today that the policy is still in place for not allowing husbands to accompany labour/delivery (due to swine flu fears). My midwife there completely disagrees with the policy but said there's nothing she can do.

I guess I have to focus on going it alone now rather than getting stressed, but I'm just so disappointed. She said that it's a recommendation from the Hospital Authority and is ultimately decided upon by individual hospital managers. Good luck to all the mums-to-be out there who are affected by this.

 

[mumto2]

this is such bull$%%, I just feel so badly for you mums who really want your husbands there. What an absolute load of nonsense since they will allow the husbands there directly after giving birth! Ridiculous. I'm really sorry this is happening for you all...

 

[mama-to-be]

Does anyone know if this "policy" applies to Princess Margaret Hospital?

 

[hannah.e.law]

I have birth to my son at Pamela Youde public hospital yesterday and although they have shortened visiting hours to 6-8pm, my husband was allowed in the delivery room with me the entire time. Hope that reassures some of you who are due soon!

 

[Nashua852]

Hannah, Congratulations!!! How's your little guy doing? And that's very reassuring - thank you for taking time out of the torrent of exhaustion to tell the rest of us . Did he have to put up a bit of a fight to be allowed in? Congrats again!

 

[rani]

The story was covered in today's Standard

Up in arms

Nickkita Lau

Monday, June 01, 2009



If you expect to give birth to a bundle of joy this summer, don't count on your loved one being there to hold your hand.

It's not that he'll be down the nearest bar celebrating, but a Hospital Authority directive may keep him out of the delivery room.

The move, part of the fight against human swine flu (H1N1), has worried mothers-to-be and they have flooded an online parenting forum with complaints.

Those due to give birth in private hospitals also fear restrictions may be applied to them.

One medical expert yesterday described a delivery room ban as an overreaction.

When approached by The Standard, health chiefs said arrangements are either left to individual hospitals or subject to general policies that may be reviewed at any time.

Expectant moms told the forum on Hong Kong Baby, Pregnancy and Parenting Community - For Parents and Hong Kong Babies of their fears.

One, due to give birth at the private Baptist Hospital,is devastated.

"I have been so upset about this and have even cried because it's my first baby. I'm all alone here in Hong Kong already. I really need him there for me," she said.

Another said Queen Elizabeth Hospital confirmed that such a policy is in place. She described it as a Hospital Authority recommendation to be decided upon by individual managers.

However, an authority spokesman denied this.

He said loved ones have never been automatically allowed into delivery rooms at Queen Elizabeth.

"In general, the husband or other relatives may not be allowed to accompany [the patient] through labor if the ward is too busy, even though they [may] have attended the antenatal classes."

The Women's Health Centre at Baptist Hospital said husbands are allowed to accompany their wives during natural birth but not by cesarean section. The policy is subject to change depending on the swine flu situation.

A spokesman for the private St Teresa's Hospital said as long as the husband has no flu symptoms and has a satisfactory travel and occupational history he will be allowed in. He did not rule out the possibility of a stricter policy if a community outbreak occurs.

Infectious diseases expert Lo Wing- lok said the risk of swine flu transmission inside the delivery room is extremely low. A ban on the presence of loved ones would be an overreaction, Lo said.

"Husbands will be fully covered with protective gear anyway. Their presence offers tremendous psychological support to their wives, and this has been a practice widely encouraged by obstetricians in recent years."

The Standard - Hong Kong's First FREE English Newspaper

 

[qilin]

I am giving birth at Matilda in a week or two. I spoke to my OB last week and she said that Matilda does not have this policy. Public hospitals on the other hand, may. They are usually less agreeable to having partners in the delivery room anyway, whether there is an issue with disease control or not.

I totally agree that not allowing birth partners in during delivery is completely IDIOTIC. Giving birth is already pretty stressful. To be denied having your chosen birth partner with you would be horrible for many women. We're already feeling pretty darn vulnerable and nervous, especially for first timers. Besides, where's the logic? Attending staff could as easily pass on the virus as a birth partner. Are all staff/ doctors screened and quarantined prior to being allowed to attend a birth?? What about all the nurses/midwives in the nursery? It just doesn't make sense.