2. Labour and birth

Abstract

\n This chapter describes the national guidance for care during labour and childbirth in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. The content draws largely on the guidance developed by the Royal College of Obstetricians (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), as well as specific guidance on infection prevention and control measures from Public Health England.\n The key areas addressed are:\n \n • Testing of pregnant women prior to and on admission for labour and birth;\n \n • Overall approaches to intrapartum care for women with and without symptoms of COVID-19;\n \n • Timing, place and type of birth considerations;\n \n • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during labour and birth, for staff, women and birth supporters;\n \n • Use of birthing pools and waterbirth;\n \n • Fetal monitoring.\n \n • Immediate care of the newborn and support for breastfeeding.\n The chapter refers to some of the ways in which the guidance was translated in practice.\n The guidance was developed using a rapid analysis approach to emerging research and evidence, along with evidence from previous experiences of Coronaviruses, combined with consensus expert opinion from all key professions providing maternity care in the UK.\n What is known.\n The UK RCOG/RCM COVID-19 guidance was widely accepted across the UK maternity services and across the world as a reliable and credible source of information to shape care during the pandemic.\n What is not known.\n The full impact of the pandemic on the experiences and outcomes for women and babies of pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting in the UK.\n The impact of the new approaches to intrapartum care on experiences and outcomes for women, babies and families.\n The impact of the changes required to intrapartum care as a result of the pandemic on the professional providing care; in terms of pressure created by rapidly changing approaches to care and restrictions on the ability to provide normal levels of care.\n