I just went to Queen Elizabeth for my initial appointment today (May 23rd), and asked at what point husbands could join their wives in the delivery room. I was told that right now, husbands are not permitted because of the Swine Flu. I am not due until October, but was concerned and asked the nurse if she thought they would be permitted by October. The nurse said she had no idea, that they will permit it when they are told they can. How long after SARS was over did they allow men in the labor/delivery room again in public hospitals? Is there no hope this ban will be lifted by October? Thanks for any insight.
Delivery room and Swine flu
- Thread starter acjacj
- Start date
Nashua852
Registered User
That's increasingly worrying..Im due in October too with my second baby, and I hope this changes before then. I went private for my first baby and my husband was allowed into the labour and delivery ward however, he was unable to hold our son since those first few minutes of life until we left the hospital 'due to harmful outside bacteria/infection' - this was apparently implemented at that private hospital since SARS. I hope to deliver at POW - I'll make sure to check with them too.. fyi my son was born in dec 2007! I appreciate everything the HK government is doing but I feel this is taking it too far - I cannot imagine giving birth without my husband there.
Hi everyone, I just had my doctor appointment check up on Friday, and my doctor said that as of now all hospitals in Hong Kong Private or non Private are not allowing the husbands in the delivery room because of the swine flu. They will be allowed with you before you go into the delivery room but thats it! I have been so upset about this, and have even cried because its my first baby and Im all alone here in Hong Kong already and i really need him there for me and now Im told he wont be allowed unless the government changes the rule. Im due in 4 weeks! Just try not to think about it, but I must say if your not due till October theres better hope for you!
mama-to-be
Registered User
Oh dear that's very worrying!!!! I'm due in mid July and as I live in Tung Chung I've been assigned to Princess Margaret Hospital (where unfortunately both Swine Flu patients have been hospitalized in). Then again my friend just gave birth at the Matilda Hospital 2 weeks ago and her husband was allowed in. So do you think that if husbands are very insistent that the doctors/midwives will let them into the delivery room? What about the newborn? Are they allowed to sleep next to their mums?
Peachstyle
New member
I'm due very soon too (5 weeks). This is really upsetting, but I simply can't understand the reasons behind it - can anyone shed any light?
How is keeping husbands out of the delivery room going to stop the spread of swine flu? The babies will be home a couple of days later anyway. How soon will the husbands/partners be able to see their child if they are kept out of the delivery room? If they can still come in visiting hours, then what is this supposed to acheive?
Can everyone with clinics this week please question their midwives so we can learn more about this ridiculous setup...
How is keeping husbands out of the delivery room going to stop the spread of swine flu? The babies will be home a couple of days later anyway. How soon will the husbands/partners be able to see their child if they are kept out of the delivery room? If they can still come in visiting hours, then what is this supposed to acheive?
Can everyone with clinics this week please question their midwives so we can learn more about this ridiculous setup...
Hi,
I had a check up today as due in a week and asked the midwife about this (I'll be delivering at QMH). She didn't know anything about it and just kept saying that husbands can only stay for two hours (I think she meant visiting time). I desperately hope that this isn't true.
I had a check up today as due in a week and asked the midwife about this (I'll be delivering at QMH). She didn't know anything about it and just kept saying that husbands can only stay for two hours (I think she meant visiting time). I desperately hope that this isn't true.
Hi ladies like I said before I saw my doc, on Friday and this is what he has told me.....I live in Tung Chung and I will be delivering at the Private Baptisit Hospital, and he told me that he had to tell me this! He couldnt tell me much and I dont think he agrees with it either, he said that they may lift this rule by the time I go in which is 4 weeks but he really cant say. He also said that teh same rule applies for c-section as well. My husband said he was going to push being with me for the delivery if they dont let him, but i dont think he will get anywhere with that. I was also told that if you go to your private hospital and if you have a fever, cough or runny nose that the hospital now wont take you in and that they will send you to a public hospital (I think he said Princess Margaret cant remember for sure) which I dont mind that hospital its just to be at your hospital already in labour and to be turned away just sucks! My husband and I are really up set about this and we think that the government is going a little too far over board with the Swine Flu. I see my doc again this Friday, so I will ask him for an update and let you ladies know whats going on.
This is absolutely and completely ridiculous. I am due in 11 days and I am just so upset to think that this could be true. It just makes no sense - even if your husband had swine flu why is he any more likely to pass it on in the delivery room as opposed to in your hospital room after the delivery??? If the hospital genuinely suspects that a person has a communicable disease they should by all means isolate them but this blanket ban on having husbands in the delivery room is just baseless!
I am delivering at the Matilda. I will email the admissions person at the Matilda now to check their policy.
I am delivering at the Matilda. I will email the admissions person at the Matilda now to check their policy.
I agree that it seems baseless, especially since the husbands are allowed during visiting hours before and after delivery. It just doesn't make any sense, and no medical professional has been able to explain it at all. Probably because there is no plausible explanation. Are the staff being tested every single day for the swine flu? Probably not, because it is ridiculous--and the disease has been thought to be even less harmful than the normal flu strain. If staff are not being tested, they are just as much a "risk" (if you can even call it that) than husbands in the delivery room. If anyone has any information or updates for either public or private hospitals, please let us all know.
hannah.e.law
Registered User
I'm overdue by three days right now and am very concerned about my husband not being able to be with me. I'd heard they had shortened visiting hours as well. I hope not because my mother is here from the US to see her firstborn grandson! I guess we'll wait and see. Afterall, I still have to go into labor before anything can be done! Arrggg!
I'm delivering in the public hospital (Pamela Youde) and will let you gals know what they do or do not allow. I'm going to try to not stress about it and just accept whatever comes along, although I will try to see if my husband can come in.
I'm delivering in the public hospital (Pamela Youde) and will let you gals know what they do or do not allow. I'm going to try to not stress about it and just accept whatever comes along, although I will try to see if my husband can come in.
I only went with the baptist because its closer to my home (I live on Lantau) and was worried that Matilda is too far from me!Peachstyle
New member
Just wanted to let you girls know that Queen Elizabeth confirmed to me today that the policy is still in place for not allowing husbands to accompany labour/delivery (due to swine flu fears). My midwife there completely disagrees with the policy but said there's nothing she can do.
I guess I have to focus on going it alone now rather than getting stressed, but I'm just so disappointed. She said that it's a recommendation from the Hospital Authority and is ultimately decided upon by individual hospital managers. Good luck to all the mums-to-be out there who are affected by this.
I guess I have to focus on going it alone now rather than getting stressed, but I'm just so disappointed. She said that it's a recommendation from the Hospital Authority and is ultimately decided upon by individual hospital managers. Good luck to all the mums-to-be out there who are affected by this.
mama-to-be
Registered User
Does anyone know if this "policy" applies to Princess Margaret Hospital?
hannah.e.law
Registered User
I have birth to my son at Pamela Youde public hospital yesterday and although they have shortened visiting hours to 6-8pm, my husband was allowed in the delivery room with me the entire time. Hope that reassures some of you who are due soon!
. Did he have to put up a bit of a fight to be allowed in? Congrats again!
rani
Administrator
The story was covered in today's Standard
Up in arms
Nickkita Lau
Monday, June 01, 2009
If you expect to give birth to a bundle of joy this summer, don't count on your loved one being there to hold your hand.
It's not that he'll be down the nearest bar celebrating, but a Hospital Authority directive may keep him out of the delivery room.
The move, part of the fight against human swine flu (H1N1), has worried mothers-to-be and they have flooded an online parenting forum with complaints.
Those due to give birth in private hospitals also fear restrictions may be applied to them.
One medical expert yesterday described a delivery room ban as an overreaction.
When approached by The Standard, health chiefs said arrangements are either left to individual hospitals or subject to general policies that may be reviewed at any time.
Expectant moms told the forum on Hong Kong Baby, Pregnancy and Parenting Community - For Parents and Hong Kong Babies of their fears.
One, due to give birth at the private Baptist Hospital,is devastated.
"I have been so upset about this and have even cried because it's my first baby. I'm all alone here in Hong Kong already. I really need him there for me," she said.
Another said Queen Elizabeth Hospital confirmed that such a policy is in place. She described it as a Hospital Authority recommendation to be decided upon by individual managers.
However, an authority spokesman denied this.
He said loved ones have never been automatically allowed into delivery rooms at Queen Elizabeth.
"In general, the husband or other relatives may not be allowed to accompany [the patient] through labor if the ward is too busy, even though they [may] have attended the antenatal classes."
The Women's Health Centre at Baptist Hospital said husbands are allowed to accompany their wives during natural birth but not by cesarean section. The policy is subject to change depending on the swine flu situation.
A spokesman for the private St Teresa's Hospital said as long as the husband has no flu symptoms and has a satisfactory travel and occupational history he will be allowed in. He did not rule out the possibility of a stricter policy if a community outbreak occurs.
Infectious diseases expert Lo Wing- lok said the risk of swine flu transmission inside the delivery room is extremely low. A ban on the presence of loved ones would be an overreaction, Lo said.
"Husbands will be fully covered with protective gear anyway. Their presence offers tremendous psychological support to their wives, and this has been a practice widely encouraged by obstetricians in recent years."
The Standard - Hong Kong's First FREE English Newspaper
Up in arms
Nickkita Lau
Monday, June 01, 2009
If you expect to give birth to a bundle of joy this summer, don't count on your loved one being there to hold your hand.
It's not that he'll be down the nearest bar celebrating, but a Hospital Authority directive may keep him out of the delivery room.
The move, part of the fight against human swine flu (H1N1), has worried mothers-to-be and they have flooded an online parenting forum with complaints.
Those due to give birth in private hospitals also fear restrictions may be applied to them.
One medical expert yesterday described a delivery room ban as an overreaction.
When approached by The Standard, health chiefs said arrangements are either left to individual hospitals or subject to general policies that may be reviewed at any time.
Expectant moms told the forum on Hong Kong Baby, Pregnancy and Parenting Community - For Parents and Hong Kong Babies of their fears.
One, due to give birth at the private Baptist Hospital,is devastated.
"I have been so upset about this and have even cried because it's my first baby. I'm all alone here in Hong Kong already. I really need him there for me," she said.
Another said Queen Elizabeth Hospital confirmed that such a policy is in place. She described it as a Hospital Authority recommendation to be decided upon by individual managers.
However, an authority spokesman denied this.
He said loved ones have never been automatically allowed into delivery rooms at Queen Elizabeth.
"In general, the husband or other relatives may not be allowed to accompany [the patient] through labor if the ward is too busy, even though they [may] have attended the antenatal classes."
The Women's Health Centre at Baptist Hospital said husbands are allowed to accompany their wives during natural birth but not by cesarean section. The policy is subject to change depending on the swine flu situation.
A spokesman for the private St Teresa's Hospital said as long as the husband has no flu symptoms and has a satisfactory travel and occupational history he will be allowed in. He did not rule out the possibility of a stricter policy if a community outbreak occurs.
Infectious diseases expert Lo Wing- lok said the risk of swine flu transmission inside the delivery room is extremely low. A ban on the presence of loved ones would be an overreaction, Lo said.
"Husbands will be fully covered with protective gear anyway. Their presence offers tremendous psychological support to their wives, and this has been a practice widely encouraged by obstetricians in recent years."
The Standard - Hong Kong's First FREE English Newspaper
I am giving birth at Matilda in a week or two. I spoke to my OB last week and she said that Matilda does not have this policy. Public hospitals on the other hand, may. They are usually less agreeable to having partners in the delivery room anyway, whether there is an issue with disease control or not.
I totally agree that not allowing birth partners in during delivery is completely IDIOTIC. Giving birth is already pretty stressful. To be denied having your chosen birth partner with you would be horrible for many women. We're already feeling pretty darn vulnerable and nervous, especially for first timers. Besides, where's the logic? Attending staff could as easily pass on the virus as a birth partner. Are all staff/ doctors screened and quarantined prior to being allowed to attend a birth?? What about all the nurses/midwives in the nursery? It just doesn't make sense.
I totally agree that not allowing birth partners in during delivery is completely IDIOTIC. Giving birth is already pretty stressful. To be denied having your chosen birth partner with you would be horrible for many women. We're already feeling pretty darn vulnerable and nervous, especially for first timers. Besides, where's the logic? Attending staff could as easily pass on the virus as a birth partner. Are all staff/ doctors screened and quarantined prior to being allowed to attend a birth?? What about all the nurses/midwives in the nursery? It just doesn't make sense.