– It has been absolutely brilliant. We are very pleased that the strict corona rules will continue even after the pandemic. That’s what Vilde Wilhelmsen says, who gave birth to a boy at Nordlandssykehuset in Bodø on 22 August. The boy was born by caesarean section, and Wilhelmsen makes no secret of the fact that she needed some extra time after the birth. She is therefore happy that only her father and older sister are allowed to visit. – I was unable to walk after birth. Then it was good not to have to stress about meeting someone in the corridors. It’s enough to think about when you have a newborn baby. Getting breastfeeding started has been a bit of a struggle. Stricter visiting rules during the pandemic have had such a positive effect that many hospitals across the country are continuing the visiting rules. At Nordlandssykehuset, only fathers or co-mothers – and siblings – are allowed to visit. – I think it has been absolutely brilliant. It was something we thought about before the birth as well, that we hoped the rules would be continued after the pandemic, says Vilde Wilhelmsen. Photo: Lise Forfang Hagen / news Midwife Helene Kristoffersen at Nordlandssykehuset in Bodø experiences that many mothers are happy that they do not have to deny family and friends visits. – It is very important to be calm for both mother and child in the first days after birth, she says. And adds: – Some may be a little afraid to tell their mother or mother-in-law that they may not really have the energy or desire to visit. Then the feedback is that it is nice to be able to refer to the visitor rules. The Midwives’ Association: – A good measure Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, St. Olav’s Hospital Helgeland Hospital, University Hospital Northern Norway and Oslo University Hospital are also tightening the visiting rules even after the pandemic. This is how hospitals practice visiting rules after birth Oslo University Hospital HF: In our maternity units, we ask that only fathers and siblings come to visit. This has also been the case since before the pandemic. If other visitors come, we recommend that the visit is taken outside the unit. In the maternity units, the women are in multi-bed rooms, so this is to ensure mother-child connection and peace for everyone. At the maternity hotel at Ullevål, the women are in private rooms, so there are no restrictions on visitors. St. Olav’s hospital: Companions can be with you during the entire stay. No siblings or other visitors can join. Stavanger University Hospital: Healthy partner/companion and healthy siblings of the newborn can visit the maternity ward. Visiting time for partner: at 09.00-21.00 every day. Visiting hours for siblings: at 17-18 on weekdays and 14-15 at the weekend. Nordlandssykehuset: Bodø: In order for you to get the best start with as much peace as possible, visits are initially limited to father/partner mother/partner with older sibling. Stokmarknes, Vesterålen: We do not have visiting times, as all inmates have their own room. When you are admitted, however, only your partner and siblings can visit, as the focus at the maternity ward should primarily be on getting to know your baby and gathering strength after the birth. Gravdal, Lofoten: Visiting hours are between 17.00–19.00. The child’s father/partner/partner and the child’s siblings are also welcome outside these times. Helgelandssykehuset: Father/partner/companion and siblings can visit mother and child after birth. Haukeland University Hospital: Partners are welcome from birth and can be present at the maternity ward during the day, if they do not have a family room. Partners are welcome to stay in the multi-bed room at 09-21. Partners can only stay overnight if they have a family room, as we want to reduce the time when there are many people present at the same time in the most cramped rooms. Healthy siblings of the child are welcome daily at 17-18. Other visitors must wait to visit the mother and child until they come home. UNN: Department of Maternity Tromsø: If the new mother is in the maternity ward after the birth, only the partner and the child’s siblings can visit. Finnmarkssykehuset: The maternity/maternity wards in Hammerfest and Kirkenes are only open for visits by partners and siblings. Mother/child can accept another visit to the canteen if they wish. Unit manager Line Olufsen-Mehus at the maternity/gynecology ward and outpatient clinic at Hammerfest Hospital elaborates: This is to give mother, child and partner the peace of mind they need to recover after birth and to establish breastfeeding and attachment to the child. The staff must offer guidance and training, and there will be more peace and opportunity for this when there are visiting restrictions. These were good experiences that we and other maternity units made during the pandemic and therefore we have decided to take it with us further. The maternity ward at Klinikk Alta has opened up to visitors as before the pandemic. The Midwives’ Association thinks that might be a good idea. – It should be up to each individual maternity ward how they want to practice this. The Association of Midwives will not set any overarching guidelines, but we think it is positive that maternity women are listened to, says Hanne Charlotte Schjelderup, who is the leader of the Association of Midwives. Photo: Kristin Henriksen – We who work in maternity care see that both mother, child and partner need time and peace together in the first few hours. For women, it can be difficult to set boundaries if people are eager and want to come to visit and congratulate, says Hanne Charlotte Schjelderup, who is the leader of the Midwives Association. However, there are long traditions for the extended family to step in after a birth. But in the past it was also common for women in labor to stay in the maternity ward for a long time after giving birth. Now the woman spends an average of only two days in the maternity ward. Schjelderup says that women who have just given birth have often been awake both before and during childbirth, and need to recover with enough rest and calm around them. – We think it’s very nice. We notice that there is more calm in the ward, says midwife Helene Kristoffersen at Nordlandssykehuset. Here with Vilde Wilhelmsen and her newborn son. Photo: Lise Forfang Hagen / news – They have challenges with, for example, milk leakage, tears that bleed and painful wounds from caesarean sections. It is not certain that they know that it is okay to have so many people there other than their partner. Increased calmness will give mother, partner and baby better conditions in a demanding newborn-newborn period to get to know each other, at the same time to rest and recover both physically and mentally, she adds. Get started with breastfeeding faster Pernille Aune is assistant unit manager at the maternity ward in Bodø. She says that the hospital made several good experiences during the pandemic. – The absence of visitors and disturbances also meant that breastfeeding started faster, says Pernille Aune. Photo: Lise Forfang Hagen / news The parents had more time and peace to get to know the newborn child. The absence of visitors and disturbances also meant that breastfeeding started faster. It has also been easier for the staff to provide guidance and information. – Everyone has been understanding that visitors are initially welcome when the parents are ready for it at home. But this is certainly not a rule without exceptions. We look at each individual situation and adapt.
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Maternity departments continue with strict rules for visits – news Nordland
