Getty Images/iStock photo
As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise around the country, maternity hospitals are cracking down on visitors to protect the health of mothers and theirbabies as well as considering early discharge post-delivery, in line with new national advice.
On Saturday,The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) issued new guidelines,which acknowledged the risk posed to the community, health workers, all patients and pregnant patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How will this affect you?
As well as reducing, postponingand/or increasingthe interval between antenatal visits and limiting routine antenatal visits to less than 15 minutes, RANZCOG also recommended closing access to hospital and maternity units to visitors (excludingpartners).
While there is some variationbetween hospitals, and you will need to check with your own, most have now issued updated visitor requirements.
In an Instagram post, The Mater Private Hospital in North Sydney told patientsthat while partners are welcome, other family members and friends are not permitted to visit.Maternity Tours have also been cancelled.
Meanwhile, the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne has advised patients to "keepvisitor numbers to a minimum" and discourage siblings and other children from visiting. "We remind the community that visitors should not come to the Women's if they are unwell," they note.
While most parents and parents-to-be aresupportive of the move, some have admitted to feeling "heartbroken" and concernedabout the logistics.
"I completely understand this,I really do," one mum wrote on Instagram. "However, I'm due in eightweeks and will be having a c-section and therefore staying for fivenights. Will be heartbreaking to not to be able to see my eldest child for that amount of time. Or for him to be able to meet his sibling for that amount of time. It will also result in my husband not being able to spend time at the hospital due to caring for him at home ... "
New South Wales mum Hayley is currently five days overdue with her fourth child and tells Essential Baby that she's torn about the ban, but also understands that it's warranted. "We'd love people to come and support us and welcome the baby but obviously a bit wary of germs," she says. She's also prepared for a quick discharge from hospital. "I left four hours after birth with my other babies and that'll be the plan this time," Hayley says.
Dr Nicole Highet, Founder and Executive Director of the Centre ofPerinatalExcellence (COPE) tells Essential Baby:"It's understandableto be anxious at the moment and disappointed about not having visitors however it's always better to be safe, and prevention is always the best approach when it comes to public health issues such as this.
"Try to think about way that you can still connect with friends and family through for exampleFaceTimeorSkypefrom Hospital," she says. "Whileit is never going to be quite the same as having a hold of bub, remember, there are many days and years ahead for cuddles, as this too shall pass."
Newborn baby tests positive for COVID-19
The move comes as a newborn baby in London testedpositive for thecoronaviusminutes afterbeing born. The baby's mother had been admitted to hospital suffering frompneumonia but only testedpositive for COVID-19 after givingbirth,reportsThe Sun,who say the baby is the "world's youngest victim".
But questions remain around how the newborncontracted the illness.
"We can't say it happened while the baby was still in the womb," Dr. WilliamSchaffner, a professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, toldLive Science. "The baby could have also contracted the virus during, or immediately after, birth."
What we currentlyknow about the impact on babies and pregnant women:
The news remains comforting for babies and pregnant women.
A recent study of19 pregnant women infected with COVID-19, which was published in The Lancetfound no evidence of mum to baby transmission.
In addition, research published inJAMAon February 14 looked at cases ofcoronavirusin infants under the age of one in China. Nine babies were infected betweenDecember 8, 2019, and February 6, 2020.The youngest was justonemonth old and the oldest was 11 months. All babies were hospitalised. One baby had no symptoms but tested positive for the illness. None of the infantsbecame seriously unwell.
RANZCOG advisesthe followingpreventative measures for pregnant women:
Pregnant women are also advised to avoid all non-essential overseas travel and to report early symptoms to theirmidwife,obstetrician or GP.
Tele-health now available:
The government recently announced thatTelehealth(consultations with doctors via phone)will be bulk-billed forpregnant women and those with newborns.
What else can parents do?
In an article for The Conversation,Karleen GribbleAdjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University andNina Jane ChadResearch Fellow, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney suggest parents of babies prepare for COVID-19 by taking the following steps:
What about breastfeeding?
According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) women can continue to breast feed even if unwell.
"Breastfeeding helps protect babies from a variety of illnesses," the ABA notes. "This is because breast milk contains antibodies and other immune protective factors. If you have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having COVID-19, care should be taken to avoid spreading the virus to your baby while you continue to breastfeed."
If you notice a drop in supply (which can happen during illness) you can contact aAustralian Breastfeeding Association counsellorfor support, see alactation consultantor a medical advisor.
As the COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving issue, for more resources and up to date information, visit:
RANZCOG
Centre of PerinatalExcellence (COPE)
PANDA Helpline:1300 726 306
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Continue reading here:
Coronavirus crackdown: only partners allowed to visit maternity wards - Essential Baby
- UNM researcher is advancing HIV Prevention and Health Equity for Native Americans - Albuquerque Journal - November 16th, 2024
- CVS Health expands access to primary care services at select MinuteClinic locations - CVS Health - November 16th, 2024
- Decrease in syphilis diagnoses among gay men most likely linked to preventive antibiotic use - NBC News - November 16th, 2024
- Breakthrough T1D Leads Effort to Make Screening for T1D Part of Recommended Preventive Services in the US - cnhinews.com - November 16th, 2024
- Pakistan Has The Worlds Highest Diabetes Prevalence - And Lacks Focus On Prevention - Health Policy Watch - November 16th, 2024
- Herbal medicine shows great potential in treating and preventing dementia - Earth.com - November 16th, 2024
- Health and Wellness Market to Grow by USD 1.93 Trillion (2024-2028), Driven by Rising Focus on Health Programs, AI-Powered Report Highlights Market... - November 16th, 2024
- Care for body and mind. And important prevention. - KODA Storyboard - November 16th, 2024
- The 8th World Integrative Medicine Congress - Preventive Care as a Priority, Universal Health for All - openPR - November 16th, 2024
- World Pneumonia Day 2024: 6 symptoms of pneumonia in the elderly - Health shots - November 16th, 2024
- Mercks Clesrovimab (MK-1654), an Investigational Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Preventative Monoclonal Antibody, Significantly Reduced Incidence... - October 22nd, 2024
- New Strategies to Extend the HIV Treatment Cascade for CVD Prevention - Infectious Disease Special Edition - October 22nd, 2024
- Shea fights breast cancer with family support - nwestiowa.com - October 22nd, 2024
- Cancer hospitals' cancer prevention plansand what's foiling them - Newsweek - October 22nd, 2024
- The Wright Medicine: Breast Cancer Awareness Month a time to tout preventive measures - Valley Advantage - October 22nd, 2024
- Prevention and Management of Urolithiasis With Parsley and Barley Among the Hail Population, Saudi Arabia: Is It Fact or Not? - Cureus - October 22nd, 2024
- Leveraging Patient Data for Early Healthcare Interventions: Insights from Gerard Hanratty of Browne Jacobson - Healthcare Digital - October 22nd, 2024
- Why Wes Streetings prevention agenda is sinister - The Spectator - October 22nd, 2024
- An injectable HIV-prevention drug is highly effective but wildly expensive - NBC News - September 13th, 2024
- Top preventive health tips your internist wants you to know - American Medical Association - September 13th, 2024
- National Falls Prevention Week: Turning awareness into action - McKnight's Long-Term Care News - September 13th, 2024
- UToledo Health Mobile Clinic Takes Preventative Care on the Road - UToledo News - September 13th, 2024
- Twice-Yearly Injection Cuts HIV Risk by 96%, But Will Cost Cut Access? - The Mercury - Manhattan, Kansas - September 13th, 2024
- Von der Leyen to ramp up EU healthcare union and focus on preventative treatment - MedWatch - September 13th, 2024
- Kate Middleton's preventative chemotherapy explained: The gruelling drugs that are proven to stop disease retu - Daily Mail - September 13th, 2024
- Personalised prevention in England - The Health Foundation - September 13th, 2024
- Stay on top of your fur baby's health: the importance of scheduling routine vet visits - FoxReno.com - May 17th, 2023
- Preventive healthcare - May 9th, 2023
- What Is Preventive Health and Why Is It Important? - May 9th, 2023
- What Is Preventive Medicine & Why Do We Need It? | AUC - February 16th, 2023
- Preventive Medicine | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier - December 3rd, 2022
- Migraine - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic - December 3rd, 2022
- Functional Medicine of Idaho | Preventative Root Cause Medicine - December 3rd, 2022
- These 2 Staten Island nurses believe IV hydration drips and vitamin shots are key to long-term health - SILive.com - December 3rd, 2022
- CNBCTV-18 and IIM-K's India@2047 Leadership Series: Challenges and opportunities in the fintech and healthcare sectors - Forbes India - December 3rd, 2022
- As N.W.T. mulls health coverage changes, petition calls for preventative HIV drug to be free - CBC.ca - September 20th, 2022
- EU regulator backs wider use of AstraZeneca COVID therapy - Reuters - September 20th, 2022
- Choose integrative medicine for health and wellness - Technique - September 20th, 2022
- The high hospital bills we make victims of rape and sexual violence pay - Vox.com - September 20th, 2022
- 4 Anti-Aging Products Youre Using All Wrong, According To Skincare Experts - SheFinds - September 20th, 2022
- Why Now is the Time to Double Down on Virtual Care - HIT Consultant - September 20th, 2022
- Tell Giselle: The price of good help is priceless - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - September 20th, 2022
- Heron Therapeutics Announces U.S. FDA Approval of APONVIE (HTX-019) for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) - BioSpace - September 20th, 2022
- Pickleball injuries are on the rise: 5 preventive tips to keep you on the court - The Manual - September 20th, 2022
- The next big social movement and other takeaways from our regular meeting - POLITICO - September 20th, 2022
- 15 Mushrooms and How to Use Them in Vegan Cooking - VegNews - September 20th, 2022
- Use of honey in the management of Chemotherapy | CMAR - Dove Medical Press - September 20th, 2022
- Celebrity Strategy Consultant Predicts What Will Be The Most Impactful Area In The Pharmaceutical Industry - Forbes - September 20th, 2022
- C2C Care Course The Preservation of Our Global Photographic Heritage: Here, There and Everywhere - aam-us.org - August 3rd, 2022
- Loneliness: Causes, Effects And Prevention Forbes Health - Forbes - August 3rd, 2022
- Prevention and wellness is the new model, a leader from Henry Ford Health System says - Becker's Hospital Review - August 3rd, 2022
- FACT SHEET: White House Summit on Building Lasting Eviction Prevention Reform - The White House - August 3rd, 2022
- Getting Back to Employer Health and Wellness Programs - Cone Health - August 3rd, 2022
- Do ICDs Still Work in Primary Prevention Given Today's HF Meds? - Medscape - August 3rd, 2022
- Alzheimer's-defying brain offers clues to treatment, prevention - Harvard Gazette - August 3rd, 2022
- Wind-fanned lightning fire prompted precautionary evacuation notices near Medical Springs Sunday evening - Baker City Herald - August 3rd, 2022
- Experts discuss importance of cancer screenings and early detection - Merck - August 3rd, 2022
- King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research to test samples for monkeypox - The Hindu - August 3rd, 2022
- Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations - World - ReliefWeb - August 3rd, 2022
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta: While monkeypox cases rise, why are we waiting for the cavalry to rescue us? - CNN - August 3rd, 2022
- SCYNEXIS Announces U.S. Food and Drug Administration - GlobeNewswire - August 3rd, 2022
- Governor Whitmer declares August 2022 as Breastfeeding Month, highlights additional breastfeeding observances - Michigan (.gov) - August 3rd, 2022
- New student education program supports drug and alcohol abuse prevention - The Ohio State University News - July 25th, 2022
- Suicide prevention training for health care providers a first step in longer-term efficacy - University of Washington - July 25th, 2022
- Pharmalittle: Congress may miss deadline to pass FDA user-fee bill; ViiV is urged to lower price for its HIV prevention drug - STAT - July 25th, 2022
- Prevention of Bipolar Disorder Episodes: Is It Possible? - PsychCentral.com - July 25th, 2022
- GAO Found Gap in Dirty Bomb Prevention - Government Technology - July 25th, 2022
- Florida man in apparent medical distress crashes car through beach crowd before hitting the water - CNN - July 25th, 2022
- Study: Preventive care scarce in LGBTQ+ community - - Medical Marketing and Media - July 25th, 2022
- The rise of preventive insurance purchases in India - ETHealthWorld - July 25th, 2022
- Why Are My Feet Always Cold? Cold Feet Causes and Treatment - Prevention Magazine - July 25th, 2022
- Agency looking to open overdose prevention site in Saint John amid 'poisoned' drug supply - CBC.ca - July 25th, 2022
- UVA Expert Offers Insight on the Use of Dietary Supplements for Cancer Prevention - UVA Today - July 25th, 2022
- Alzheimer's: Targeting key protein in blood may slow progression - Medical News Today - July 25th, 2022
- NPPC, FAS focused on ASF prevention in the Philippines - MEAT+POULTRY - July 25th, 2022
- Implementation of IPT in people living with HIV | RMHP - Dove Medical Press - July 25th, 2022
- NL starts preventive vaccination against monkeypox in Amsterdam, The Hague - NL Times - July 25th, 2022
- Precautionary measures you can take against brain haemorrhage - Times of India - July 25th, 2022
- Acid Reflux and Liver Disease: Signs, Symptoms and Prevention - Healthline - July 25th, 2022
- What to do if you get an allergic reaction: symptoms, causes, and prevention - Fox News - July 25th, 2022