Corona current: No support for births at Bonn University Hospital

Most women would like the loving accompaniment of a trusted person of their choice to give birth to their child. However, the current developments in the corona crisis in Germany are now also leading to restrictions in obstetrics, which can result in women having to do without an accompanying person in the near future. In addition, the visit options are limited to postpartum wards.

"Visiting ban indefinitely"

The University Clinic Bonn confirms that escorts are no longer permitted at birth and sends the following comments to the Brigitte.de editorial team:

"In view of the current and worsening corona crisis, we in the obstetrics and prenatal medicine clinic have had to decide on a step that is very difficult for us: To keep the risk of infection for patients and staff as low as possible, we are now banned from visiting enact. Only expectant mothers are allowed to enter our clinic building. Unfortunately, this means that expectant fathers are not allowed to accompany or visit their pregnant women before, during or after birth. This applies to spontaneous as well as Caesarean section births. A visit to the postpartum ward is no longer possible for fathers or other relatives. "

The clinic is aware that this step means a great disappointment for the expectant mothers and fathers. "Many of us are parents ourselves and we can therefore understand what this decision means emotionally for the young families. In the current situation, however, the health of mothers, children and patients must be the top priority. That is why we see it as difficult Heart forced to take this step and to impose an indefinite ban on attending obstetrics. "

There are also restrictions in other clinics

As reported, among others, by the Tagesspiegel in Berlin, there are other clinics that are currently restricting the options for childbirth support and visits for hospitals and thus also for postnatal wards. Accordingly, the Klinikum Süd in Rostock initially prohibited the presence of the partner in the delivery room. In the meantime, however, a symptom-free companion may be present at birth. In the DRK clinics in Berlin, an accompanying person may still be with the birth and the fathers may also go to the postpartum ward, but further visits from friends and family are not permitted. In the Helios Clinic Berlin Buch, an accompanying person is also allowed in the delivery room, but only one person per day is allowed to visit after that and family rooms are no longer offered for the time being.

Explore in time according to current conditions

Such news naturally causes great uncertainty among pregnant women and their families. "Mother Hood eV", the federal parents' initiative to protect mother and child during pregnancy, childbirth and the first year of life, which has long been committed to safe births in Germany, has therefore reacted quickly to the topic and gives tips on dealing with it on its website this particular situation. The article by Mother Hood e. V. is continuously updated.

There is no legal basis on the basis of which a pregnant woman can request the accompaniment of a symptom-free confidant, however, based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the recommendations of various professional societies, "involuntary childbirth without a partner is prohibited".

Since pregnant women with an impending due date now have to prepare for possibly special birth circumstances, the association gives the following tips, among other things, on how to deal with the possible guidelines of the clinics:

  • Call the clinic in good time before the birth and ask how many accompanying persons are currently admitted and under what circumstances.

    "A timely call in the delivery room (BEFORE the beginning of the birth) clarifies whether an accompanying person can be brought along with the partner. They should be free of suspicion of the virus (see Contact suspected cases / affected persons). It is also important, as with the onset labor or after a bladder jump.

    Attention: Some clinics prohibit the presence of the partner during the birth. This requirement is not permitted. It contradicts the recommendations of the World Health Organization and those of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), to which the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) also refers. "

  • Also ask if and how many visitors will be admitted to the postpartum ward.

    "For safety reasons, visits to the postpartum ward, including that of the partner, are very limited or not possible at all in some clinics. This also applies in the case of childbirth induction, where pregnant women have to wait 'on the ward' for the birth to begin. "

  • The association also recommends urgently clarifying whether escorting is permitted.

    "So far, unfortunately, we have not been able to find any clear information about accompanying the partner in the event of a caesarean section. However, we strongly recommend that the clinic staff also discuss the possibility of accompanying the patient in the operating room."

  • If a pregnant woman or partner is suspected or has a corona infection, the clinic must be informed in advance so that appropriate safety measures can be taken
  • In general, all pregnant women are recommended to "intensively exchange information with their midwife and gynecologist about the regional conditions".

    At best, these confidants can also help you to mentally prepare for a birth that may be different than what is desired and hoped for.

Midwives currently provide a lot of personal information about the situation directly on their social channels, such as here on the Instagram channel "vonguteneltern".

"The specialist staff must stay healthy"

The Tagesspiegel has also asked the German Midwives Association for a statement on the restrictions in obstetrics and quotes the spokeswoman Kathrin Stephan in the following words: "We are in an incomparable exceptional situation due to the corona virus. For clinical care, it is extremely important that the specialist staff stays healthy and that the risk of infection is kept as low as possible."

This also applies to obstetrics staff. "This may mean that some clinics choose to limit childbirth care to one person or not to provide guidance."

"We don't like that"

The Hamburg Midwives Association commented on the incidents on its Facebook page and wrote there: "Dear colleagues, parents, doulas and motherhood, in some clinics there are stricter visiting regulations due to CV19. Sometimes this goes so far that no person of trust is allowed to give birth. We don't like that. But this is NOT a decree or similar. the Authority for Health and Consumer Protection. Each carrier decides for themselves. We are on the subject. Please no more emails to us and to the BGV. A newsletter for the midwives will only be available tomorrow, as we are waiting for decisions by the SHI ".

Would you like to exchange information on the subject of coronoa virus? Then check out our BRIGITTE community. You can find a personal report from a mother on the subject here: Pregnant in times of Corona – how we can remain optimistic.

Sources used: mother-hood.de, tagesspiegel.de, statement University Hospital Bonn, Instagram