Women's views on the visiting restrictions during COVID-19 in an Irish maternity hospital

The coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, formally known as SARS-CoV-2, was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Due to the pandemic, visiting restrictions were implemented in all hospitals throughout Ireland and were recommended by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2020) and the WHO (2020). Only partners of women in labour were permitted to attend all maternity hospitals in Ireland. No other visiting was permitted; however, exceptions were made for bereaved parents and in extenuating circumstances. At all times throughout the pandemic, women were facilitated to have one nominated person with them in the labour ward and for the birth of their baby, including births by caesarean section. Women had to attend all outpatient visits alone and no visitors were permitted during admission to the antenatal or postnatal wards in this hospital.

While pregnant women do not appear to be more likely to contract COVID-19 than the general population (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2020), visiting restrictions were required to protect the safety of mothers, babies and staff working in the hospital (Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2020; WHO, 2020). Furthermore, given space restrictions within the hospital, social distancing would not be possible if partners and children were to attend with women for appointments and visiting women on antenatal and postnatal wards. As COVID-19 is a new virus, there is limited information about the impact of these visiting restrictions. Anecdotal information regarding women's experience of visiting restrictions has been mixed. Some women appear to feel safer knowing there are fewer people in the hospital. On the other hand, women appeared to find it difficult to attend appointments alone and missed having their partner and other family members visit while they were admitted to hospital.