It can be an anxious time in the best of circumstances as the big day draws closer, but expectant parents are facing a whole new challenge in these unprecedented times.
These fantastic mamas have chosen to share their recent birth stories, to hopefully bring some peace of mind and comfort to others – particularly if you are due to give birth at one of the North East hospitals mentioned:
– Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital
– QE Gateshead
– RVI Newcastle
– Sunderland Royal Hospital
– University Hospital of North Durham
Please bear in mind that the specific protocols in place may be subject to change over the coming weeks and months – but the level of support and care from the staff involved is clearly unphased👏👏
Rebecca & Baby Millie
Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, Cramlington
I gave birth to my daughter on Monday 30th March at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, and the care I received there from the midwives and staff was absolutely amazing! I thought I would share my experience to reassure those if you who are due to give birth and let you know what to expect.
I was induced due to preeclampsia at 37+5 and when I was booked in I was told my birth partner was allowed to come with me to the hospital and stay with me the entire time. The rules were that they mustn’t have any symptoms of COVID-19 or would be asked to leave, and if that happened they couldn’t be replaced by another birth partner. The hospital canteen was also closed to the public/patients so we had to take up any food/drink that we required, but I still got my hot meals provided by the hospital once I was on the ward after delivery.
My birth partner was allowed out of the hospital once a day to pop home for things so wasn’t completely stuck there the entire time but they just asked that they were sensible and only left once a day. And of course we weren’t allowed any visitors. Things may have changed slightly as it has been a week since I gave birth but I wanted to share this information as it might help some of you who are worrying about what to expect when you arrive.
If I’m honest I forgot about COVID-19 whilst I was in Cramlington hospital, I was in a little bubble just focused on baby and her safe arrival and getting to know her once she was delivered. I didn’t feel like my birthing experience once I was there was any different to what it would have been had we not been going through this pandemic.
For me the hard bit was coming home with a newborn as a first time mother and not being able to ask my family to pop over to help, but technology is amazing! We FaceTime every day and when I need my Mother’s advice she’s only a phone call away. Family/friends have been dropping off everything I need, and the times I have been a bit concerned I have called the Midwives at Cramlington or 111 and they have given me advice over the phone.
I have still had to go out to attend appointments to have my daughter weighed and her heel prick tests done. I don’t think this is necessary for all babies but as she only weighed 5lb 13oz they asked me to attend the appointments.
I’ll be honest there are times when I sit and cry because it makes me so sad that my parents can’t be here to hold her and watch her have her first bath, and I can’t take her places to introduce her to family, but there’s also something so special about being at home just me and her. Before COVID-19 I was worried about getting post natal depression as I have had miscarriages before and I wanted time to bond with her alone before the world came and invaded our precious time. It was something I was fretting over. So if there is a silver lining in all of this madness, then for me it has been spending time alone with my baby. It is just me and her at home and although it is hard some days, I feel that this is the most precious gift I could have been given.
For those of you who are due to give birth, please try not to worry, I had the most wonderful care at Cramlington and the staff couldn’t have done more for us. And to those Mammys with new babies, I know that this isn’t the world we expected to bring our babies in to and it is hard doing it in isolation but we’ve got each other for support and all of this precious time to get to know our newborns 💗👶🏻💗
Marina & Baby Rosa Penelope
QE Gateshead
I had my daughter via planned C-section on 8th April, and although I was really worried about all the coronavirus restrictions it honestly couldn’t have went better. All staff were amazing, my husband was with my throughout and got to stay with us in recovery, then once I was transferred to the ward he left. I was home the following lunchtime. My husband met me at reception with the car seat, and the midwives walked us down with baby in cot to meet him.
A special mention to a wonderful team, in particular Johnny (assistant in theatre) he was just the nicest person to keep me calm, and a lovely midwife Annie who stayed with me. Postnatal were just as amazing! I had so many people there but they were all fantastic! The ward staff overnight were phenomenal helping me and always checking in.
Would have my next baby there again in a heartbeat x
Sarah and Baby Thomas
QE Gateshead
Giving birth during a global pandemic was not something I could have ever dreamt of in my wildest dreams, however it was a prospect that quickly became very real and very apparent as we approached my due date and the news was announced that the UK was going into lockdown. I wanted nothing more than to be able to keep our little bundle safely tucked up for a few more months until this had all passed.
I gave birth at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead on the 4th April. I was booked in for an induction at 38+ 2 days due to baby weighing on the larger side. Our induction was decided and booked in just before lockdown was announced. As we entered lockdown and the news was announced that hospitals were significantly reducing the number of visitors, it soon became apparent that I may have to go through induction alone.
This was my final and 4th pregnancy, I had previously been induced with 2 of my other pregnancies so I knew what to expect. However, my biggest worry throughout my pregnancy was my hubby missing the birth. When my body decides to get moving, I labour quickly and as a result my husband Chris had missed the birth of our 2nd by a few minutes. This was something that played heavily on my mind. So many ladies up and down the country were saying that they had to go through induction alone, with partners only allowed in once in established labour. I won’t lie but this upset me greatly, however a few days prior to my induction I rang the wonderful team at the QE maternity ward and found out that as long as we were in one of the induction suites he would be allowed to stay throughout the induction process, and he would only have to leave if I was transferred to the post-natal ward.
We arrived at 8am on Friday the 3rd April to start the induction process. The labour ward was very quiet and it remained that way all day. We were a million miles away from what was happening in the outside world. The staff were amazing and although they had to wear more PPE then they normally would prior to covid-19 it soon became normal, it never took away from the personal and 1st class care we received. The induction suite was spacious with access to an ensuite bathroom with shower and a bath. The room was also equipped with a TV and tea/coffee making facilities.
My waters were broken just before 6pm and we were transferred to the labour ward. This was my first induction where I ended up needing to have the drip to try and get my contractions more regular. At about 10:30am it was established that my waters weren’t fully broken and so they were broken a second time. This got things moving and our son was born at 12:36am on the 4th April. He weighed in at 7lb 8ozs, the same as they had estimated he’d weighed at a growth scan at 36 weeks. The wonderful Charlotte and Gill took care of us with Gill finally delivering him. It was lovely to see Gill again as she had delivered my 2nd born at the QE back in 2015 too.
At around 5am, I was transferred to the postnatal ward and my husband had to leave. The ward was a lot quieter than previous births but the staff were wonderful and there to help with any questions or support with breastfeeding if needed. We were finally discharged at around 5pm, as Thomas’s temperature was a little low when born so we needed to be monitored for a little while.
Claire & Twin Boys – RVI, Newcastle
I gave birth at the RVI on Wednesday 1st April to my twin boys, before that I was on the antenatal ward (including on Tuesday the week before) when they announced that there were to be no visitors (partners included) allowed on the postnatal wards… this floored me completely. I had a week to try to mentally prepare myself to go it alone so to speak.
To have to look after two new babies on my own straight after major surgery, without the support of my other half, petrified me. I had already lost the physical support after the birth as my mother was meant to have flown in from South Africa to stay with us for a few months, with the pandemic that isn’t going to happen for who knows how long. With social distancing and isolation I had lost my local tribe of heroic woman around me that would usually be my harbour in emotional storms like this. It was all becoming too much.
Fast forward to the day of the birth, an elective c-Section. It was the most amazing gentle surgical birth. Daddy was there and stayed with us through enhanced recovery (about 4 hours), sharing skin to skin time, starting our breastfeeding journey. Special thanks to all the midwives, theatre nurses and doctors for bringing my babies safely into the world!
The midwives on the delivery suite were nothing short of angels, especially when it came to having to say goodbye to daddy for who knows how long. It was heartbreaking, to say the least and no amount of preparation prepared me for how visceral the parting would be. But the compassion and encouragement these ladies showed me was everything I needed to help me walk away with just my new babies.
The team on the postnatal ward are superb, they are working under extreme circumstances and restrictions, emotions no doubt running higher than ever in an already stressful environment. They are just fantastic, the nursery nurses- outstanding! The support, the help… it was like they intuitively anticipated what I needed, and most of the time just came to help before I even needed to ask. So incredibly empathetic in such a difficult situation and yet so positive, and attentive in their care. They have made this experience full of amazing memories for me to take forward and reflect on that, their unwavering commitment to helping and caring, rather than that I gave birth in a time when the world outside became isolated and disconnected. They made me feel the complete opposite. 🌈💖😊 👏👏👏
Rosie & Baby Micah – RVI, Newcastle
Our baby boy Micah arrived on Tuesday evening on 7th April, after I was induced at 38 weeks due to having been on blood thinners after a DVT (blood clot diagnosed at 35 weeks). Micah was born at the RVI and I can’t praise the staff enough – everyone was amazing and I felt so well supported and cared for during the whole process.
I had been so scared of the prospect of going through any part of the labour alone, but didn’t need to worry at all – my husband was able to come with me when I went in to get induced, stayed with me on the ward until I was moved to a delivery room, was with me until baby was born and the midwife gave us as long as possible (about 5 hours – maybe about 4 hours after they had finished stitching etc) before transferring me onto the postnatal ward and my husband had to leave.
My labour ended up being traumatic as Micah decided he was coming very very fast and I ended up giving birth with basically no pain relief (had gas and air but soon gave up on that and progressed too fast for them to manage to give me anything else). At every point I felt safe. Staffing levels felt high and as though I was getting excellent care, like I would even outside of the current craziness.
No visitors or birth partners were allowed on the postnatal ward, but the staff were so caring and always on hand for anything I needed, to settle me into being a first time mum with baby care and feeding. The staff are working hard to help get people home as quickly as is possible safely, and mums are happy to leave – a relief to me as I was expecting a longer stay because of the blood thinners and traumatic delivery. The midwives went out of the way to make us feel comfortable in this crazy time – for example showing us their faces from a distance when we first met rather than us only seeing them masked up. All in all an amazing job done by the staff at the RVI and I hope that sharing this can set peoples mind to rest a bit. 💖
Sarah – RVI, Newcastle
I had my baby girl Thursday 2nd April at the RVI in the birthing centre. This is my second baby; my first I had at 33+4 due to severe pre-eclampsia via emergency section under general anesthesia. My baby spent 4 weeks in SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit). Her birth and the dramatic end to my pregnancy gave me slight PTSD which I worked through with hypnotherapy and I did hypnobirthing this time around.
Up until just over a month ago, I was having a dream pregnancy; I had a maternity photoshoot, booked newborn photos, had a baby shower – all things I never got to do with my first. I decided to try for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Caesarean), I was feeling so positive and excited to have my baby.
*Enter covid 19*
I cried daily; I became convinced I was never destined to have a normal pregnancy (I also had a miscarriage early last year) or birth. I started to second guess all of my decisions, I had been fighting to give birth in the birthing centre, which the consultants didn’t want as I was “high risk”. Suddenly I was thinking maybe I should just go upstairs. I was unable to have my mam as my birthing partner so this made me anxious. There was talk of no birthing partners, no visitors, potential of birthing centre closing. All I wanted was my baby out, I was trying everything.
I went into spontaneous labour at 39+4, with my waters breaking on Wednesday night. I went into the RVI, hubby had to wait in the car whilst I was assessed (this took an hour as they wanted me on the CTG machine first, plus my maternity partnership plan hadn’t been “documented properly” so I had to have another chat with another consultant to be allowed to birth downstairs). I was only 3cm but they said they would give me a room for 4 hours to see if I progressed. Hubby was allowed in at this point.
As soon as we were in that room, all thoughts of anything covid 19 were irrelevant, it no longer existed. The midwives were fantastic; yes they had PPE on but I wanted a hands off birth and that was very much respected. My birth plan was read, I felt listened to, understood and at ease. I was able to labour in the pool, use gas and air. I had my baby girl at 7.23am on the Thursday morning. I had an epesiotomy and 2nd degree tear so needed stitching but the doctor that came down to do it was fab, the midwives were there saying how well I’d done.
We were asked what we wanted to do regards discharge, I said home ASAP. Yes hubby was only allowed to stay for 4 hours after delivery but in all honesty, we were able to make the most of those 4 hours bonding just us 3 and then I could bond with my baby waiting for discharge. We were home by 5.30pm that day.
The hardest part for me was bringing the baby home and my mam having to stand at the other end of the hallway and then leave without holding her grandchild (we made the decision for her to come look after our eldest as she has been properly self-isolating for over 2 weeks). Other family members have now met her through the window or Facetime. It’s not the same, but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Sometimes I really enjoy our little bubble, being able to chill in a nursing bra and pj bottoms with my post partum belly out.
I know I will continue to grieve parts of this newborn stage that baby girl will miss out on; the newborn photoshoot isn’t happening, she won’t have photos being held teeny by her family like her sister did, she won’t get to go to groups. But mamas, that’s okay. We’re the women who are giving birth and looking after babies during a global pandemic. This is literally history. However you are feeling right now, however far along you are, YOU HAVE GOT THIS 💪💖💖
Kirsty and Baby Olivia
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Just last week I was sat so worried at the thought of giving birth in this crazy world with everything going on at the minute. Lots of tears and wondering how it would be. Was I going to be alone? What about my unborn child, would she be ok? The atmosphere in the hospital and how safe it would be at a crazy time like this.
Then on Thursday night my time came, it was time to make that journey to the hospital to give birth. My husband had to leave me at the doors outside out the hospital and wait in the car park. I made my way to the delivery suit alone. After a little while a midwife came in to check me over, yes she had a mask on throughout but apart from that this lady was calm as can be, which was so reassuring. Then it was all system go my baby was on her way into this crazy world. I made the phone call to my husband to come onto the ward. The midwife said he must remember everything we needed as once he was on the delivery suit there was no leaving. If he left the room once that was it, no coming back in.
Then on Friday morning at 4.36am 3rd April, our gorgeous baby girl came into the world weighing a very healthy 7lb 6oz. Everything was so calm and straight forward. I couldn’t thank the staff at Sunderland Royal Hospital enough they were all fab. Once all of her checks were done that was it, home time. This is us leaving a very calm maternity ward at 1.20pm that same day. Not even 9 hours old! My husband didn’t have to leave until we left, he stayed until home time.
The only downside to it was my sister who was also meant to be a birthing partner couldn’t be there to share our special time….. she was however on the phone all night😂. Olivia hasn’t had cuddles off any of her family yet, but they’ve been for lots of window viewings. We can’t wait for her to meet everyone properly once this crazy world calms down. So don’t worry mammas everything will be just fine🤰!!
Helen & Baby Robyn
University Hospital of North Durham
Baby girl arrived on Saturday 18th April at Durham University Hospital. The whole team on the delivery suite and recovery ward afterward were great, I cant recommend them enough. My partner was with me from when I was admitted until 4 hours after the birth, and then I was transferred overnight to the recovery ward with baby.
My partner wasn’t allowed onto the ward, so once I had been given the all clear and so had baby he was called, and we met him at the hospital entrance with the car seat and headed home. All in all we didn’t feel the virus made much impact on the experience, and the hospital staff were all extremely supportive for the times when I was alone with new baby for the first time.
I hope this helps others about to go in, remember it’s all about you and your little family the rest of the world can wait! 🙂 xx
Thanks so much to Rebecca, Marina, Sarah, Claire, Rosie, Sarah, Kirsty & Helen for their inspiring stories. If you’d like to share your own positive birth story please get in touch here (mums AND dads!)
Useful Links
You may find the groups below useful for online support during and after pregnancy, and of course check out the virtual classes & support pages on Gateshead Mumbler for all sorts of activities from local North East providers – including pregnancy yoga, postnatal fitness, baby massage, baby yoga, music & sensory & a whole lot more!
Antenatal and Postnatal Education and Support North East:
Facebook group with information and videos to help pregnant women and new mums in the current unusual and stressful circumstances.
Lockdown Babies: Support for Pregnant and New Mums: North East:
Facebook group for mums-to-be and new mums to share experiences and help and support each other along the way.
Babba Club (The Nest Low Fell):
Facebook group for new mums – for current, past and future Babba Club parents! Being a new parent during lockdown is tough. Instead of the weekly Babba Club at The Nest, you can get to know other parents in the same boat as you. Chat, advice and trying to keep each other sane.
If you have a recommendation to add to the list, please get in touch here
If you’d like to keep up to date when new resources are added, please click here and like the Gateshead Mumbler Facebook page 🙂
