Guidance for women regarding swab testing for COVID 19 in pregnancy

In line with Public Health England recommendations, BSUH maternity is now offering ALL patients requiring admission (those who do and do not have symptoms) a swab for COVID 19. This is a national recommendation to enable expansion of screening for COVID 19 infection, isolate and safely care for anyone affected and where possible, contact trace those who have been in contact with COVID 19. This guidance may change frequently according to new developments and Government policies.

This swab will be offered to ALL women admitted to the antenatal and postnatal wards, the delivery suite and to women having an elective caesarean section.

Your midwife will take the swab from the nose and back of the throat.

The swab will be taken on admission to the department. If you are having an elective caesarean, we will take the swab at the pre op assessment: please note the pre op assessment will be moved to occur 48 hours ahead of your scheduled procedure.

For swabs taken during admission / in labour, we hope to have the results on the same day. Results should be within 24 hours.

If you are having the test pre operatively one of the team will contact you with the result and confirm the next steps. A positive result may require delaying your procedure: but not if this would cause harm to you or your baby. Each case will be considered and the safest plan discussed and agreed.

Between your test and result you should maintain social isolation at home: even if you have been discharged home.

If you are found to be positive for COVID 19 your care will remain mostly unchanged: but you will need to be cared for in a single room or specific bay throughout your stay.

We would not be able to support a waterbirth following a positive result for COVID 19.

You would be offered close fetal monitoring in labour and according to any other indications.

If your swab is positive your baby will be swabbed, if your baby is well they can stay with you.

If your swab is positive but your baby needs admission to the neonatal unit, your baby will swabbed and cared for in an isolation nursery on the neonatal unit.

If your baby needs admission to the neonatal unit your baby will be swabbed.

Undertaking the swab test is recommended, but remains your choice.

You are always welcome, and we encourage all women to attend for their required care. Your care will not be affected, we will care for you with the recommended infection control precautions. If you develop symptoms for COVID we would again encourage a swab test.

Potentially yes dependent on development of any symptoms or time frame from your previous swab.

Yes we very much encourage you to breastfeed if you and your baby are well. If you have a cough you may be encouraged to wear a mask whilst feeding and hand hygiene is important to protect you and your baby’s wellbeing.