Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 4 Jan 2021
PARTNERS WILL NO longer be allowed to attend the 20-22 week pregnancy scan, the Rotunda Hospital has announced.
The Rotunda, one of the main maternity hospitals in Dublin, made the announcement today.
A spokesperson said the “very difficult decision” was made “due to the surge in community-acquired Covid-19 infections & the move to Level 5 restrictions”.
The change in visiting policy will come into effect from tomorrow onwards.
Partners were not allowed to attend the 20-week anatomy scan for most of 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions before this position was reversed by many hospitals.
However, due to a recent spike in cases of the virus, more maternity hospitals are also expected to update their visiting policy.
A spokesperson for the National Maternity Hospital said there are “currently no visitor restrictions in place” for partners attending 20-22 week scans at the hospital on Holles Street in Dublin. However, they said this position may change.
“Given the current public health context, the need for restrictions is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Any changes to current policy are published on the hospital’s social media channels,” they added.
Women attending the Coombe Hospital are required to go to their appointments alone. A spokesperson said the hospital’s Covid Executive Committee “reviews the situation on a daily basis each morning”.
Pregnant people attending Cork University Maternity Hospital for their 20-week scan can bring one nominated companion but that situation is “under review”, a spokesperson said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
No it’s Not the right call! Safety comes first but the father should be there it’s an important scan! My wife on Stephens day was told I couldn’t come in after being told my baby had died at 36 weeks! I had to sit in a car and wait whilst her heart was broken on her own.
@Simon Gregory: I’m so sorry for your loss. Cruel for both of you.
@Simon Gregory: I am so sorry for your loss. And I am so sorry that your wife had to go through this alone. I agree, it’s a cruel measure and one we shouldn’t be imposing. Your the same house hold and pose the same risk.
@Simon Gregory: that is absolutely heartbreaking, so so sorry for you and your wife’s loss.
@Simon Gregory: I am so sorry.
@Simon Gregory: my condolences of the loss of yer baby ❤️
@Simon Gregory: my condolences on the sad passing of yer baby ❤️
@Simon Gregory: that is shocking I could not have imagined being on my own receiving that news. Have nothing but empathy for you and your wife, thoughts with you both.
@Simon Gregory: jesus. Im so so sorry. Thats so sad. Heartbraking.
@Simon Gregory: I disagree, and think in most cases, it’s the right call. We’re trying to limit the number of people in any given building.. that’s why, imo, it makes sense to NOT have the partner there in MOST cases.
There are, however, exceptions to every rule.. In your case, an exception should absolutely have been made. But for someone who is going through a relatively uncomplicated pregnancy (because face it, no pregnancy is ever 100% uncomplicated), the partner currently, should not be allowed in, unless things take an unexpected turn.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: I’d give you the reply you deserve but I’m not allowed type it here
@Simon Gregory: I’m so sorry for your loss. Yes I think in certain circumstances partners should be allowed to be there. Your awful situation certainly called for it. Take care of each other xxx
@Mirabelle Stonegate: you were doing so well with your other comment. Shame you turned into a sociopath
@Mirabelle Stonegate: as a father to a still born child at 38 weeks I can certainly disagree with this.
Every scan has the chances of turning a pregnancy on its head. This stance is wrong.
@Simon Gregory: so so sorry . I cant imagine what yous are going threw . Heart ❤ broken for yous .
@Jonny Doyle: so sorry .I had complicated pregnancies babies both induced at 36 w cannot imagine your heartache. You’re so right tho i was scanned every week cannot imagine doing any of them without my husband there. Hope u guys are okX
@Mirabelle Stonegate: yours is an utterly nonsensical comment. Scans are to determine whether the pregnancy is healthy or not. There’s obviously no way of knowing if the pregnancy is uncomplicated or not until the scan is performed, so how to you suggest the HSE makes this distinction before the scan?
As someone who was told their baby had severe birth defects at 20 weeks I can confirm that the distress of that is greatly increased by being alone. As others have stated, generally partners are of the same household as the pregnant woman and don’t greatly increase the risk of infection. History will look on these decisions as a cruel overreaction.
A tough call but sounds like the right one overall
@Sean Ryan: I know it makes sense but as an expectant mother I’m really worried about delivery and the days in the hospital after.
@Emma Smith: full empathy with you Emma and I hope it all goes well
@Emma Smith: Good luck Emma. My son and his partner also due new baby.
@Emma Smith: the very best of luck to you. You will be absolutely fine. It won’t come to this for you, but my second baby came along before my husband could get there. Was just me and the midwife and you know what? You manage when you have to. And thankfully, the hospitals don’t want to keep anyone in longer than necessary so you’ll be home in your family unit before you know it x
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: thank you
@Emma Smith: good luck Emma – I’m sure he will be there for the delivery and that’s all that matter really. My baby is one year old, so I escape the covid restrictions. I understand your situation but you need to be strong and rest in days after delivery. In hospital is the best place for that, and you can focus on you and baby. X
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: that’s a lovely reassuring comment x
@Emma Smith: I had my first baby in July in the Rotunda. Was worried like you are and was so upset at having to go in for an induction. I was given the best care. I ended up having a c-section but was discharged two days later. My husband was allowed visit between 5-7. It was hard but the staff were great. You will be fine, all the other women will be in same situation and will look out for each other too. Best of luck
@Emma Smith: try not worrie to much . Hopefully all will go well . And if all goes well you will be out the next day xxx .
@Emma Smith: Partners are allowed in for labour well most of it. I had my second baby last September in the Coombe, they are allowed when you are 3 to 4 cm . The Retunda I believe is the same.
@Sean Ryan: wrong call all day the father or whomever the lady wants to help her through while having the baby should be there wear the mask and the protective gear
I’m not sure this will really make a difference. All it does is ramp up the anxiety that women feel as they go through pregnancy in an already difficult time.
@Adam Conroy: and stop the spread of the virus.
@Cosmos20202020: how many people do you imagine go for scans every day? Not that many. It’s unnecessary.
@Cosmos20202020: It doesn’t stop the spread of the virus, it limits it ever so slightly.
So disappointing for all those expecting. Luckily, my husband was allowed in for our 20wk scan in October when they’d just changed their policy to allow partners in and it genuinely made the world of difference. We both hadn’t let on just how nervous we were until afterwards but just having his hand to hold made me feel more at ease. I can’t even begin to imagine getting bad news alone and having to relay it to him afterwards. It really doesn’t make sense that the pregnant woman is let in but her partner isn’t, they should be treated as a unit/pod – if one of them has it then it’s likely both have it and vice versa. I know a good few expectant parents at the moment who have all said if they had to be tested in the run up to the appointment/birth and even had to wear full PPE to attend they wouldn’t hesitate. Wonder why this isn’t an option…?
I sincerely hope people start really adhering to the guidelines soon, more routine hospital appointments have been cancelled this week too because of the surge. I feel so sorry for the people who have been on waiting lists for ages, needing tests/procedures who now have to wait even longer :(
My wife has our 20wk scan tomorrow, we were both looking forward to it but both fully understand.
Just hope the fools out there start copping on, big fines out of their social welfare would be a great start
@Darren: is everyone on social welfare then? Or just the pregnant people ?
@Darren: and fines out of their wages too – why only fine people on social welfare?
@Darren: Your comment started so well but deteriorated rapidly
@SprintFitz: no no just fools I think!
@Darren: You do make a point although it could have been worded better.
To compound what you said, most people I know that are flouting the rules are those on welfare payment. They don’t work and use covid as an excuse not to even try and get a job. They spend all day drinking and socialising with their brethren.
And before anyone tries to mount their 20 hands horse. I am not saying everyone on welfare is a layabout. Just a certain element of society that can barely tie their shoelaces.
@Celtic Spirit: Wording things better has never been my forte, it’s annoying me immensely lately, how some people just do nothing and get everything, I’m having to work mad hours just to keep our heads above water because I refuse to lay about all day and claim.
@SprintFitz: not all pregnant people are on welfare. The pregnant men are in the pub.
@Darren: my husband lost his job directly because of covid. He is claiming now (pup tho) this has nothing to do with the surge..I understand your frustration. Hell I didn’t even get a 20 week scan! But people being in welfare isn’t the cause of the rise in cases..perhaps you meant a certain type in society are.
@Celtic Spirit: *raises hand* I’m on welfare.. not pushed about looking for a job atm. Not really trying, tbh. But that’s because I spent most of 2019 looking, and was left jaded, when less than 1% of the hundreds of CVs I was sending out were being looked at, I got 5 interviews the whole year AND the two job offers I did get fell through because the companies offering the jobs both messed up… Ended up homeless for a few months as a result of it all..
Now, I’m back living with my parents, at 33… BUT I’m also doing an online full-stack web development course, as well as experimenting with cooking. I cooked 3 indian dishes from scratch for our Christmas day dinner. A couple of days ago, I baked my first ever loaf of bread. I make a mean pizza base – from scratch… So.. yeah, with the lack of job hunting, I do get I look like a layabout… BUT I’m being active and productive in other ways.. ways I didn’t have time for previously. As a result, my mental health is better than it has been in YEARS!
My socialising is very limited. I saw one other household twice in december. Other than that, it’s just my parents. Before that, I don’t think I’d seen anyone outside my household since September. And that was maybe 2 households, a total of 3 times between them.
So, yeah… this pandemic *has* been a nice excuse to not get a job… BUT it has also meant I can finally learn the subject I want (web development) with an aim to working in that field, even freelance/part time..
@Mirabelle Stonegate: ALL the clapping hands emojis!!!. Well done.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: so your parents and the state pay for you to realise your dream? Nice.
@Darren: While I could turn a blind eye to it before, it is really getting to me now. People that have no interest in working and expect handouts from everyone else. I didn’t have a joint b to go back to after the first lockdown. Conveniently in first lockdown my job was “automated” and I had to go elsewhere for employment.
People that say there is know work out there are talking through their posterior. I have been turning down jobs for the last few months and have had my pick of jobs. Just before Christmas I landed my dream job and all going well I am set up until retirement. Just 41 now.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: there are plus points that every negative. And well done on progressing your mental health.
There are jobs out there. I have been turning down jobs for the past four months. It could be location or certain skill sets that you have that aren’t in demand locally. But it’s a perfect time to upskill and learn new skills. Best of luck to you.
@Gareth Keenan:
Sadly we need a poverty security net, whether it’s paid by parents or state. Capitalists are happy to push down wages while pushing up the cost of housing/living.
Pity we don’t have a wealth limit, which could be recirculated to alleviate worker poverty.
Wealth is created collectively by workers, but owned privately by a boss.
Also, people who had higher salaries won’t go into low paid jobs as “they can’t afford too”.
@Gareth Keenan: I spent my first year of unemployment with ZERO assistance. Ended up having to beg in order to afford food etc,because the welfare crowd decided i was a scammer, due to delaying making a claim a number of years back, when i was last unemployed. It took 3 months for me to learn I was eligible to claim and in their eyes, that meant I was trying to scam the state out of money. This time, i was working almost 8 years before ending up unemployed.
And did you miss the bit where i said i sent out hundreds of cvs, with less than 1% even looked at? Can you blame me for getting jaded at that?
My parents get half my welfare every week. The other half goes towards saving for things like a rent deposit in the future, or the new laptop I need.
@Gareth Keenan: And presumably when she does realise that dream, she’ll be paying taxes, no? So what’s the issue?
@Mirabelle Stonegate: Fair play for using the time you’re unemployed wisely! As a software engineer myself, it can be a very rewarding career path if you do decide to follow the full-stack course and become a web developer. I did the same thing many years ago. Best of luck to you!
@Mirabelle Stonegate: you’re using this downtime to reskill and set yourself up for the future. I applaud you and wish you the very best!
You will get expectant mothers, maybe a minority, but still some, who will not go to these appointments without the father/partner.spouse.
@Cork Truck Driver: well thats just ridiculous then isn’t it.
Are they allowed attend contraception?
@gavin meade: What’s that? Never heard of it
The scan is called an Anomaly Scan & not Anatomy Scan as stated in the article
@Liz Luke: they are the same scan!!
@Sarah Whyte: they arent. It’s not a gender scan and should not be referred to as such
@Denise Ní Cinnseala: anatomy doesn’t mean gender. The 20 week scan is referred to by both terms.
@Denise Ní Cinnseala: Ive had the 20 week scan twice. Neither time did I think it was to find out the gender of my baby. The 20 week scan is called both. Tomato/tomahto!!
She’s looking rotund in that picture did you see what I did there
have your say