Birthrights charity write to government urging change to maternity visiting hours policy
NEW mums and a maternity charity are calling for changes to regulations which limit visits to see newborns to just two hours a day.
The Birthrights charity have written to Health Minister Eluned Morgan calling for visiting hours to be altered “to ensure that the human rights of service users are protected”.
Current guidance in Wales leaves the majority of decisions to Local Health boards. The University Hospital of Wales (UHW) falls under Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s jurisdiction.
An update in April 2021 to maternity visiting means new mums are allowed two-hour visits from their designated ‘birth partner’ but before this, some partners did not see their baby for weeks if mum and baby needed to stay in hospital.
This was the case for Branwen Llewellyn and husband Rhodri Lewis, of Grangetown, whose son was born on August 14, 2020 after an emergency caesarean. Their baby got an infection that kept mother and son in at UHW for a fortnight.
Mrs Llewellyn said: “I was wheeled out of theatre at about 11.45am with our new baby Gwyddno, and by 2pm Rhodri was back at home.
“He didn’t see Gwyddno again until two weeks later on August 28. It was heart-breaking knowing that Rhodri couldn’t come and see his newborn.
“Particularly as this was when things had started to open up. I knew about friends doing The Eat Out To Help Out scheme and Rhodri wasn’t allowed to see his boy.
“We were using FaceTime all the time when the doctors came, to make sure Rhodri was up to date.
“The midwives were really good, and I made friends with the two other mums in the ward with me. If I needed a shower or anything they’d keep an eye on him – but I really didn’t want to leave him for very long.”
Mrs Llewellyn, 34, added: “It was really weird because I found out I was pregnant well before Coronavirus and then having our firstborn in conditions like that was surreal. There’s no guidebook for giving birth during the pandemic.”
There must be something that can be done to allow for more support
In May 2021 Hollie Cahill, of Penarth, experienced similar difficulties. Despite only being allowed visits for two hours a day from her husband Owen Cahill, she said: “I consider myself one of the lucky ones.
“This was our second child so it was kind of easier for me because I knew what to expect. I really feel for the first-time mums.
“That did make it difficult though; knowing what it’s like normally in non-covid times when I could have Owen with me the whole time. Having that first 24 hours with someone there post-birth is a really important time.
“I think there’s going to be a huge impact on mental and physical wellbeing for new mothers that will only be realised later. There must be something that can be done to allow for more support.”
Current protocol for maternity visiting hours at UHW can be found here. The standard appointment times are from either 10am-12pm or 2pm-4pm, depending on the mother’s bed number.
Visiting is only allowed by the nominated ‘birth partner’ who was present at the birth.
In Birthrights letter to the Health Minister they said: “Given the availability of other measures to reduce the rate of transmission we now urge you to review this guidance as a matter of urgency.”
Maria Booker, Programmes Director for Birthrights said: “Families in Wales have suffered disproportionately and it is time for this to end.”
UHW refused to comment.
