Naomi Long: Maternity rules should be relaxed so expectant mothers can have support of birth partners

East Belfast MLA Mrs Long was speaking after receiving a response from Robin Swann to a letter she sent asking for current restrictions to be relaxed in order to allow the pregnant person to be accompanied to all pre-natal appointments and throughout their time in hospital by their chosen birth partner.

She said the Minister’s reply reiterated the decision to allow birth partners to accompany pregnant women to scans and during active labour, as determined by the midwife, and to visit in antenatal and postnatal wards for up to an hour a week, with the decision to permit visitors into a facility on a day-to-day basis still lying with the midwife in charge, and based on a risk assessment concerning social distancing and the safety of patients and the visitor.

Mrs Long said: “There is no doubt we are in uncertain times and COVID-19 has changed the way we live beyond recognition. I also appreciate the Minister is working hard to protect patients from contracting the virus, however, despite recognising in his reply this is not the experience he would have hoped for expectant mothers, little progress in terms of improving that experience has been made.

“The answer does not provide clarity for parents-to-be, instead indicating the situation could vary hospital to hospital and shift to shift, depending on the view of the midwife. It is a stressful enough time, without this added uncertainty.”

Mrs Long said she wants the Health Minister to take heed of the “impact on both parents and newborns at such an important time in their lives.”