COVID-19 information for pregnant women and new mums

If you are pregnant and currently have cold or flu symptoms it is important that you are tested for COVID-19 at the earliest possible opportunity. Inform your midwife, and either contact your GP practice who may be offering COVID-19 testing or attend a Community Based Assessment Centres (CBAC) for COVID-19 testing – no appointment is necessary and you do not need to call health line.  More information on testing and locations of CBAC can be found in the link:

https://www.waikatodhb.health.nz/your-health/covid-19-in-waikato/cbac/ 

If you have cold and flu symptoms without a negative COVID-19 test, you will be clinically treated as a suspected COVID-19 case. This will mean your care will be transferred to the team at Waikato Hospital. Your LMC will be unable to provide your labour and birth care.  You will be unable to birth at or have a postnatal stay at a primary birth facility.

We know that the birth of your baby is a very important time for you and your whanau and you may be apprehensive about giving birth at this time. We are working very hard to ensure the c-section (caesarean) theatre environment is safe for you, your baby and support person as well as our staff and other patients.  For us to do this we have made some changes to how things work for planned c-sections.

Support people

• You are welcome to bring one support person with you in theatre. If you have other children at home you can arrange for a family member or trusted adult to be part of your “bubble” and come and care for your children while you come into Waikato Hospital with your partner. The person does not need to live in your household but you will need to ensure they have not had contact with others outside of their household bubble. See this information from Ministry of Health. 
• Your support person cannot be in theatre with you if they have tested positive for Covid-19 or suspect they may have Covid-19, even if they are the baby’s father, as they need to be self isolating. If they come into theatre it will put you, your baby, our staff and other patients at risk.

The day before your c-section

• A hospital staff member will make contact with you the day before your c-section to ensure that you are well and will do a Ministry of Health COVID-19 screen with you and your nominated support person. If this support person is unwell in the morning please nominate another person to support you but they have to be well and under 70 years of age.

The day of your c-section

• You will need to be dropped off the morning of the c-section at B2 entrance and go to WAU/delivery suite reception alone with your belongings. Please do not bring any valuables.
• You support person will need to wait in the car until called by the theatre midwife and this could be as long as 30 minutes and up to 6 hours. This depends on the number of women on the planned c-section list and any issues arising with any other women before you. Please pack some snacks and food for the support person as it is important to remain comfortable.  There is a public toilet at the ERB entrance. If you are not first on the list and if it is possible it may be more comfortable for your support person if they could go home and await a call to return. 
• Once your support person has got the call to come into WAU/delivery suite reception a health care assistant will take your support person to theatre to be with you.

Following your baby’s birth in theatre 

• When you and your baby are ready to leave theatre you will be admitted to the ward for clinical post-operative care.
• Your partner will be unable to come up to the ward with you and stay with you. This is for the safety of women, babies and staff on the ward. This minimises the number of people using the facilities on the ward and therefore the number of contact women on the ward have with other people.
• Once you are clinically ready to be discharged from the ward you can choose to go directly home or move to a primary birth facility for an additional 48 hours postnatal care. Having a postnatal stay in a birth centre you will have a private room and ensuite facilities. This set up enables you to have your partner or support person to stay with you for the duration of your stay at the primary birth facility in your own bubble.

Taking care of your mental wellbeing

We are in uncertain and unprecedented times, and everyone will respond differently to how COVID-19 is impacting them. It’s important not only to look after your physical health but also your mental health. It’s completely normal to be feeling a wide range of emotions, including being worried, anxious and scared. As we are all encouraged to stay at home, it is very important to stay connected with friends and whānau using technology and telephone contact.

• The Ministry of Health has a list of really good resources and contacts if you need mental health and wellbeing support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Aotearoa website has a whole host of information for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, from dealing with uncertainty, building resilience, coping with stress and looking after your mental health  
• Depression.org.nz has information for hapū māmā /pregnant women and new parents.
• If you feel you need professional support for anxiety and distress you can call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• If you are currently getting help with your mental health, continue this – talk to your GP, counsellor, case worker or mental health team about how they can continue to support you over the phone, via email, text or video chat.
• Talk to a trained counsellor on the New Zealand Depression Helpline. Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 to talk about how you are feeling or ask a question.
• Pregnancy Counselling Services is an independent charitable trust offering free a counselling service, emotional support, information and practical help. Call 0800 PREGNANT (0800 773 462) for free, text 021 289 8787 or visit their website to find out more about support in pregnancy.

Make sure you have your free flu vaccination

Pregnant women are at a greater risk of health complications if they catch the flu. You can have the vaccination at any stage in pregnancy and it is highly effective in preventing flu during pregnancy and for your baby, up to six months after birth, by passive protection passed on to the baby in utero through the placenta.

You can access free vaccination from the following places:

• GP practice - call your GP practice first to arrange
• Local pharmacy - call your local pharmacy to arrange
• If you attend an appointment at antenatal clinic at Waikato Hospital
• If you are admitted to the antenatal ward at Waikato Hospital

More information about the flu is on the NZ Fight Flu website -

• Frequently asked questions
• Information for pregnant women

and on the website set up by Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā – the National Māori Pandemic Group.

Having a smoke-free pregnancy and home

People who smoke are at a higher risk of catching COVID-19 because of the increased hand to mouth movements from picking up the virus on your hands and introducing it into your body by touching your mouth. As smoking impacts on the lungs people who smoke and catch the virus could have a more severe illness.

One of the best things you and/or your whānau can do for your health and your baby’s health is to stop smoking. Waikato Once and For All stop smoking service can help. You can find out more and enrol for help on their website or ask your midwife or doctor to refer you. The service is open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they will support you by phone, text, email or video calling.

We know that your pregnancy journey is a very important time for you and your whānau. We are working hard to ensure you, your whānau, our staff and other patients are safe while you are attending antenatal clinic appointments at Women's Health Clinic. As a result we have made some changes to how the service is run:

Appointments

• Appointments have been changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is to minimise face to face contact and to maximise safety. Depending on your condition and the reason for your referral to clinic, your appointment may be carried out over the phone. We will keep you informed about what will happen.
• If you require a scan/tests/monitoring or if you require an examination, you will need to attend clinic for your appointment – we will tell you.

Attending clinic for an appointment

• Support person/partner
  • You have the option to bring one support person from your bubble to clinic with you. However to help us to manage social distancing in the clinic we ask that you attend alone if you are happy to do so, as this will reduce the number of people physically in clinic at any one time.
  • Please note if you are coming into clinic for a scan, your support person will be required to wait in the waiting room. They will not be able to come into the scan room because of physical space needed for social distancing.
  • If you need to physically see the doctor again your support person will be required to wait in the waiting room, again because of space and physical distancing in our consultation rooms.
  • If you are in clinic and going to have a telephone consultation with your doctor about your test results/pregnancy plan, you and your partner will go into a consultation room together and you will both be able to listen and speak to the doctor over the speaker phone. 
  • Do not bring a support person/partner if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect they may have COVID-19, as they need to be self-isolating and will put you, our staff and other patients at risk.
  • Please do not bring a support person who is over 70 years or who has a health condition. For their own health they are encouraged to remain at home. Please do not bring school age children with you to clinic.

• If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect you may have COVID-19 and you have an appointment to attend clinic please ring 027 208 9018 before your appointment, so arrangements can be made for your safe care at clinic.
• Where to come and what entrance to use
  • Please report to main reception on Elizabeth Rothwell Building Level B3.
  • NOTE: The outside entrance to Women’s Health Clinic (B3) is closed.
  • All arrivals and exits must enter and depart via the Delivery Suite entrance (Level B2, off Pembroke Street) and come down the stairs or lift to Level B3 - Women's Health Clinic.  
  • If you have been driven to the hospital we ask that your driver does not park their car outside B2 Delivery Suite entrance while waiting for you. It is important this area is clear for women arriving in labour, and for women and new born babies being picked up following their discharge from the ward.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have changed how Waikato DHB's diabetes service and clinics are run. We are limiting face to face contact in our diabetes outpatient clinics to ensure you and your whānau, our staff and other patients are safe while you are being cared for.

Women with Gestation Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

• A routine blood test in early pregnancy may indicate you need further screening for gestation diabetes mellitus (GDM). This will take place between 24 – 28 weeks pregnancy. Your lead maternity carer (LMC/midwife) will offer you a test for gestational diabetes, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This will confirm a diagnosis of GDM, which is becoming increasingly common in the population. If you are not diagnosed with GDM you will be informed and your LMC will continue to provide your care.
• If your OGTT is positive for GDM the Diabetes in Pregnancy team will contact you by phone and you will receive a detailed information pack, with meters for checking your blood glucose levels including detailed information and links to videos to support this. We will continue to support you to manage your health via phone and email.
• The Diabetes in Pregnancy team will provide clinical care to support you to manage your GDM along with the Obstetric team at the hospital, but your midwife will remain your lead maternity carer and continue to provide your midwifery care.
• You may also need to come to an antenatal clinic appointment in the hospital. See information in Antenatal clinic appointments section for more information about attending a clinic with the obstetric team.

Women with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes

• If you have type 1 or 2 diabetes you will be referred to the diabetes in pregnancy service as soon as you engage with a LMC, general practitioner (G.P) or diabetes educator.  
• Women with type 1 diabetes will already be very familiar with diabetes management. The diabetes in pregnancy team encourages contact ASAP to allow for further advice and guidance on glycaemic control to account for the expected physiological changes in your pregnancy.  You will receive a phone call from the Diabetes clinical nurse specialist to discuss this and plan for ongoing care. The diabetes in pregnancy team will support you regularly via phone or email to manage your diabetes and gain control of your BGLs to promote optimal health for you and your developing baby, and to minimise the potential for complications in pregnancy related to your diabetes.
• If you have type 2 diabetes, you may already be familiar with diabetes management but will require further support and guidance from the diabetes in pregnancy team. For those who do not, you will receive a detailed information pack with equipment for checking your blood glucose levels (BGLs), detailed information and links to videos about managing type 2 diabetes in pregnancy. We will support your regularly via phone or email to manage your diabetes and gain control of your BGLs to promote optimal health for you and your developing baby, and to minimise the potential for complications in pregnancy related to your diabetes.
• Regular clinic appointments with the diabetes doctors will occur via phone or virtual consultations.
• You will be referred to the obstetric team early in your pregnancy. See information in antenatal clinic appointments section for more information about attending the clinic for your obstetric appointment.
• You will require midwifery care for normal pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care. It is highly recommended you seek midwifery care early as midwife bookings fill fast.

During the COVID-19 pandemic we are working very hard to ensure that Women’s Assessment Unit (WAU) environment is safe for you, your baby and support person as well as our staff and other patients.  For us to do this we have made some changes to how things work in WAU.

WAU is a service that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week for urgent care for pregnant women. However this is not a drop in service or walk in clinic.

• Your midwife (LMC) or doctor (GP) will contact WAU and arrange for you to attend and we will expect your arrival. If you need to be seen that day, but not urgently, the WAU team will call you and tell you a time to attend.
• If you have an urgent pregnancy related issue, for example bleeding or a change in your baby’s movements and you cannot get hold of your LMC, ring 07 839 8899 so they can advise and make preparations for your arrival at WAU.
• If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect you may have COVID-19 please let WAU know before you attend, so preparations can be made for your arrival and care.
• You can bring one support person to WAU with you from your bubble. Your support person is to stay with you at all times.
• Do not bring a support person/partner with you if they have tested positive for Covid-19 or suspect they may have Covid-19, as they need to be self isolating. If they come into WAU it will put you, our staff and other patients at risk.
• Please do not bring a support person who is over 70 years or who has a health condition. For their own health they are encouraged to remain at home. School age children will not be allowed in WAU.

Information for women who are planning to/or have been recommended to have their baby in Waikato Hospital.

We know that the birth of your baby is a very important time for you and your whānau and you may be apprehensive about giving birth at this time.

We are working very hard to ensure the delivery suite environment is safe for you, your baby and support person as well as our staff and other patients.  For us to do this we have made some changes to how things work in the delivery suite and the ward environment.

• Please advise the LMC if you are feeling unwell with any COVID-19 symptoms. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are a suspect case for Covid-19 (awaiting test results). Your LMC will need to let Delivery Suite know ahead of time before your labour starts and when you go into labour, before you arrive at delivery suite. 

This will enable us to make preparations for your arrival and safe care during labour and the birth of your baby. The Ministry of Health has advised that all women with COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 should be cared for by the hospital team and LMCs must not provide labour and birth care.

When you go into labour 

• When you go into labour ring your midwife (LMC) who will talk to you to assess what stage of labour you are in. Your LMC may also come and assess you at home. Your LMC will make arrangements to meet you in Delivery Suite.
• If you cannot contact your LMC and you feel that your labour is progressing ring Delivery Suite 07 839 8899 and they will assess you, if you need to come in straight away they will make arrangements for your arrival.

Support people

• You are welcome to bring one support person with you in delivery suite. If you have other children at home you can arrange for a family member or trusted adult to be part of your “bubble” and come and care for your children while you come into Waikato Hospital with your partner. The person does not need to live in your household but you will need to ensure they have not had contact with others outside of their household bubble. See post from Ministry of Health for more information. 
• Your support person will need to stay with you the whole time, for safety reasons they will not be able to leave delivery suite and return to the delivery room. You cannot have a second person “to take over for them”. Make sure your support person has drinks and snacks with them should they need them.
• Do not bring a support person/partner to delivery suite with you if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect they may have COVID-19, even if they are the baby’s father, as they need to be self isolating. If they come into delivery suite it will put you, your baby, our staff and other patients at risk.
• Please do not bring a support person who is over 70 years or who has a health condition. For their own health they are encouraged to remain at home. School age children will not be allowed in delivery suite.

Following your baby’s birth:

• After your baby has been born and if you or you baby are clinically unwell you will be admitted directly to the maternity ward from delivery suite to ensure you and/or your baby receive the obstetric/neonatal care that you or your baby needs.
• Your partner will be unable to come up to the ward with you and stay with you. This is for the safety of women, babies and staff on the ward as it minimises the number of contact people have on the ward.
• If you and your baby are well, we recommend to that you go straight home or travel to the birth centre of your choice for postnatal care.

If you are clinically well but feel you initially need more midwifery care for example breastfeeding or time to rest from the needs of other children for the first few days etc your best option at this time is a primary birth facility.

Waikato Hospital maternity ward has limited single rooms which will be prioritised for clinically unwell women. Having a postnatal stay in a birth centre you will have a private room with ensuite facilities, your partner will be able to stay with you and your baby in your own bubble.

The following information is for women who are staying on the Waikato Hospital ward for clinical care while they are pregnant and for women who are staying on the ward with their baby following birth.

During the COVID-19 pandemic it can be a very scary time to be pregnant or to have just had a baby. We are working very hard to ensure the ward environment is safe for you, your baby, our staff and other patients.  For us to do this we have made some changes to how things work on the ward.

Antenatal stay on the ward

• You will be staying in the area of the ward for antenatal patients only.
• In order to keep the ward as safe an environment as possible and in line with the hospital restrictions, you will not be able to have a support person stay on the ward with you. This minimises the number of people using the facilities on the ward and therefore the number of contact women on the ward have with other people.
• The current visitor policy means you can have one visitor per day in visiting hours. This person will need to be the same visitor for the duration of your stay.
• Waikato DHB has a free wifi service which will enable you to stay in contact with your wider whanau.
• When you are ready to be discharged from the maternity ward from an antenatal inpatient stay you can phone your partner/support person to collect you. When they have arrived at B2 entrance they can call you and you can then leave the ward and exit the hospital out of the B2 entrance.

Postnatal stay on the maternity ward

• You will be staying in the area of the ward for postnatal patients only
• Your partner/support person who has been with you during your labour and birth in delivery suite, or has been with you in theatre during c-section, will not be able to come up to the ward with you and stay with you. This is for the safety of women babies and staff on the ward as it minimises the number of people using the facilities on the ward and therefore the number of contact women on the ward have with other people.
• The current visitor policy means you can have one visitor per day in visiting hours. This person will need to be the same visitor for the duration of your stay.
• Waikato DHB has a free wifi service which will enable you to stay in contact with your wider whanau.
• When leaving the maternity ward with your new baby:
  • You can call your partner/support person to pick you and your new-born up.
  • When they arrive they are to phone you to let you know that they have arrived. They are to wait at the door with your baby’s car seat.
  • A member of staff will accompany you, your baby and your trolley with your belongings to the B2 entrance. You can collect your car seat and put your baby in the car seat in the hospital and exit the hospital. The trolley and the bassinet will be returned to the ward with the member of staff.
  • If the car seat is fixed in the car you can wheel your baby out and you/your partner can put your baby in the car. Our staff will return the trolley and bassinet back into the hospital.
  • Our staff will assist you when you are leaving but will not fit the car seat or secure the baby into the car seat so please make sure you and your partner/support person are familiar with the car seat.

We know that the birth of your baby is a very important time for you and your whānau and you may be apprehensive about giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary birth facilities are working very hard to ensure the birth centre environment is safe for you, your baby and support person as well as staff and other women and babies in their care.  This has meant changes to how things work in primary birth facilities.

Do you have symptoms of COVID-19, waiting for test results or with a positive test for COVID-19?

• Please advise the LMC if you are feeling unwell with any COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. any cold or flu symptoms),or if you have tested positive for COVID-19.
• If you havecold or flu symptoms. It is important that you are tested as soon as possible. Contact your GP or attend any Community Based Assessment Centres (CBAC), no appointment is necessary.
  Open this link for information about locations and opening times 
  https://www.waikatodhb.health.nz/your-health/covid-19-in-waikato/cbac/.
• The Ministry of Health has given guidance to all midwives for women in their care who have confirmed or symptomatic for COVID-19 to transfer care to the nearest hospital for labour and birth. As a result you will not be able to birth at primary birth facility. Waikato Hospital is set up to have all the equipment required to care for you while protecting staff and other birthing women becoming exposed to COVID-19.

When you go into labour 

• All Waikato primary birth facilities are open for labour and birth care provided you are not symptomatic for COVID-19 (any cold or flu symptoms) or have tested positive for COVID-19.
• Please do not arrive at a birth centre in labour before contacting your LMC first. Your LMC will talk to you to assess what stage of labour you are in. Your LMC may also come and assess you at home. Your LMC will make arrangements to meet you at the birth centre.

Support people in primary birth facilities during birth and for postnatal stay

• Please see the list below of primary birth facilities in Waikato and the number of support people welcomed to be with you during labour and birth.
• In all facilities one support person who was with you during your birth can remain with you for all your postnatal stay. Please ensure your support person has also packed a bag.
• If you have other children at home you can arrange for a family member or trusted adult to be part of your “bubble” and come and care for your children while you come into to primary birthing facility with your partner.
• Please do not bring a support person/partner to the birth or for your postnatal care if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect they may have COVID-19, even if they are the baby’s father, as they need to be self-isolating. If they come into the primary birthing facility it will put you, your baby, maternity staff and other women and babies at risk.
• Please do not bring a support person who is over 70 years or who has a significant health condition. For their own health they are encouraged to remain at home. School age children are not allowed in any of the primary birth facilities at this time.
• The kitchen and common areas in all primary birth facilities will be closed. Your support person will need to stay in the postnatal room with you. Please check with the primary birth facility or ask your LMC about options for bringing/purchasing food for your support person while they stay with you.

Primary birth facilities in Waikato

• Birthcare Huntly– (One support person for labour and birth)
• Waterford Birth Centre, Hamilton - (Two support people for labour and birth)
• River Ridge East Birth Centre, Hamilton - (Two support people for labour and birth)
• Pohlen Hospital Birth Centre, Matamata - (One support person for labour and birth)
• Te Awamutu Birthing- (Two support people for labour and birth)
• Waihi Lifecare Birthing Centre- (One support person for labour and birth)

Waikato DHB rural birthing units

Waikato DHB has three rural birthing units, located in or next to our rural hospitals.

• Taumarunui Hospital Birthing Unit- (One support person for labour and birth)
• Thames Birthing Unit- (One support person for labour and birth)
• South Waikato Primary Birthing Unit, Tokoroa - (One support person for labour and birth)

Following your baby’s birth

• All Waikato primary birth facilities are open for postnatal care following birth within their facility with the exception of Taumarunui Hospital Birth Unit. 
  Taumarunui Hospital Birth Unit is providing limited postnatal care by exception at the moment. They are encouraging all women to plan to return home following birth. Please discuss with your LMC if you feel you require/need inpatient postnatal care.

Transfers in from Waikato Hospital to primary birth facilities for postnatal care

• All Waikato primary birth facilities are accepting women transferring in from Waikato Hospital Delivery Suite or Waikato Hospital ward (e.g. following c-section care), with the exception of Taumarunui Hospital.
  Taumarunui Hospital is providing limited postnatal care by exception at the moment. Please discuss with your LMC if you feel you require/need inpatient postnatal care in Taumarunui.

Visitors to primary birth facilities:

• Please contact the primary birth facility for information about visitors

Maternity care of women who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, suspected case of COVID-19 (awaiting test results) or have symptoms of COVID-19

If you have a COVID-19 diagnosis, suspect you have COVID-19 or have symptoms, we know that you may be very apprehensive about your pregnancy, labour and birth at this time. Be assured that you will continue to be provided with pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care to meet your and your baby’s needs during this time.

It is important that you inform your midwife (LMC) of your COVID-19 diagnosis, symptoms or isolation status. It is important that the hospital maternity services are also aware. This will allow them to prepare for your appointment/visit attendance, by ensuring that you are cared for away from other patients and the health professional can put on personal protection equipment (PPE).

The COVID-19 virus is new and there is very little information about whether COVID-19 virus can pass to the baby during pregnancy or delivery. To date the virus has not been found in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk. From international research, it seems unlikely that you will pass the virus to your baby during birth. We also know in the few cases where a baby has become infected with the virus after they are born, these babies do not seem to have become very unwell, and seem to have recovered easily.

Antenatal care at Waikato Hospital Women’s Health Clinic

• If your LMC refers you to be reviewed by the obstetric team at the antenatal clinic in Waikato Hospital the doctor may review your history and phone you to discuss your case and your care, rather than you needing to travel into Waikato Hospital. (This applies to all women referred during this time.)
• If you require tests, monitoring or scans you will come into Women's Health Clinic to have these. The doctor may then phone you to give you your results and talk about your treatment plan. You may see the doctor if they need to review you in person.
• It is important that the hospital clinic knows that you have or are suspected to have COVID-19 so they can ensure that you are given a mask and taken straight into a consultation room on arrival. The doctors and midwives in clinic who are caring for you will wear full personal protection equipment (gloves, surgical mask, disposable apron and eye protection) during your visit.

Labour and birth care

• The Ministry of Health has given guidance to all LMCs for women in their care who have confirmed or suspect COVID-19 to transfer care to the nearest hospital for labour and birth. As a result you will not be able to birth at primary birth facility. Waikato Hospital is set up to have all the equipment required to care for you while protecting staff and other birthing women becoming exposed to COVID-19.
• The Delivery Suite hospital team will care for you during your labour and birth. Your LMC will be kept updated on your care.
• You may have one support person for labour and birth support.
  • This person must be from your own bubble and be symptom-free.
  • They will be required to wear a mask, which the hospital will provide, at all times.
  • Your support person must stay in your room; if they leave they will not be permitted back in.
• Other than having COVID-19 if you are well and have no other obstetric complications you can have a normal birth. You will not need a c-section just because you have COVID-19. The World Health Organisation advice is that caesarean sections should only be performed when medically justified.

Postnatal care

• If you and your baby are well following birth you can transfer directly home as soon as you are clinically ready to leave. You will still be able to care for your baby if you have COVID-19. You will be given education about precautions to take to minimise the risk of passing the virus to your baby.
• Or you may choose for your baby to be cared for by a well caregiver (your partner or another support person in your whānau or a friend), until you have recovered from your COVID-19 infection.
• If you and your baby are admitted to the postnatal ward because your baby requires further monitoring or you require clinical care, you can have your baby with you on the maternity ward. In this situation, you would be given advice for ways to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to your baby.
• Alternatively if you wish to have someone else to care for your baby until you have recovered from your COVID-19 infection, your baby will receive care from maternity staff in a separate space to your own room until you have recovered from your COVID-19 infection, or your baby can be discharged home to a well caregiver.

If you baby is unwell and needs to be cared for in NICU

• Your baby will be taken to a special area in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). You will not be able to visit, however the staff will take photos and share these with you. We appreciate this is very difficult for new mums and the staff will do their utmost to keep you connected and informed of your baby’s progress.

Feeding your baby

• Women with COVID-19 can breastfeed if they wish to do so. It is believed that you cannot pass on COVID-19 through breast milk. You will be given education about precautions to take to minimise the risk of passing the virus to your baby.
• If you decide that you wish for your baby to be cared for by another caregiver (your partner or another support person in your whānau or a friend) until you have recovered from COVID-19 virus – then they can feed your baby with your expressed breast milk or formula.
• If you are too unwell to breastfeeding your baby due to COVID-19 or other complications, and you want your baby to have breast milk, you will be supported to express milk for your baby.

Video messages for pregnant women during COVID-19

Video message from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for pregnant women and their families

For up-to-date trusted online information about COVID-19

• Waikato DHB COVID-19 page
• Unite against COVID-19  (NZ Government website)
• New Zealand Ministry of Health
  • Advice for breastfeeding mothers
  • Information for pregnant women and those who have recently given birth
• Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā – National Māori Pandemic Group
  • Information for hapū māmā, unborn pēpi and newborn pēpi
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: A message for pregnant women and their families: (English, te reo Māori and Samoan versions)