New mother shares experience of giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak

Like many pregnant women, Charlotte Morgan from Newport felt anxious and concerned about giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak.

Although her experience was different to how she may have planned it, she said it was still a positive one and felt surrounded by love and support.

She told ITV Cymru Wales she wants to reassure other pregnant women that the experience can still be a positive one.

She said "the level of care from the midwives was exactly the same as when I gave birth there two years ago."

The Morgans are adjusting to life as a family of four. Credit: Charlotte Morgan

Charlotte gave birth on 27 March at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

"We rang the hospital at about 1am on Friday and they said they were able to prepare the pool room for us.

"We got to the hospital at about 2am and had two wonderful midwives throughout.

"They were both incredibly supportive and with me and my husband almost the whole time," Charlotte added.

"I gave birth at 11am. We were not rushed to the ward at all. We were able to have our golden hour, doing a feed and having lots of cuddles."

Charlotte says she wants to reassure pregnant women about their birth during this time. Credit: Charlotte Morgan

But Charlotte said getting in and out of the hospital was like a "military operation".

When they arrived, they were immediately asked to sanitise their hands.

When her husband Rhys went to get her bags from the car, to get back into the delivery room she said he had his temperature taken twice - and was asked by several people why he was there.

One of the big changes is that birthing partners are having their time at the hospital limited. Credit: Charlotte Morgan

Hear about Charlotte's birth experience here:

There are some changes at most hospitals in Wales with guidelines and services are changing almost daily.

One of the big changes is that birthing partners are having their time at the hospital limited.

If they are fit and well, they can attend the birth during 'active labour', but they may be asked to leave the site before and after.

Charlotte said when she was on the ward, other women in the same position were very supportive of each other.

"All the midwives are very understanding that it’s hard for the partners not being on the ward.

Charlotte said, "It's hard not having your husband with you the whole time. It was upsetting going onto the postnatal ward without him, but the support and care from the midwives is there.

"I was also able to bond with the other mums which was actually really special."

Pregnant women fall into the extremely vulnerable group as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, meaning anyone who is pregnant has been advised to reduce social contact through social distancing measures.

For more information, visit the Royal College of Midwives website.

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