Information about coronavirus for pregnant women
This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about the coronavirus regarding your pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period.
Update November 30 2021
The side entrance is closed. Please enter through the main entrance and follow the signs to:
- route 1: outpatient clinic
- route 105: maternity suites
Am I infected with the coronavirus? What are the symptoms of the virus?
You can find the latest advice on the RIVM website. This advice is also relevant to you during your pregnancy. If in doubt, please contact your doctor by telephone. If you are considering visiting your midwifery practice for this, first contact them by telephone for advice.
Pregnancy
I am pregnant and have an appointment at the MMC soon. Will my appointment take place?
If you have symptoms such as a cold, fever, cough or shortness of breath,
- please call the outpatient clinic on +31 40 888 8380 and report your symptoms to the telephonist.
- You will be told whether your appointment will take place. If you come to the clinic, your practitioner will discuss your upcoming appointments with you. If you have symptoms or have had contact with a coronavirus patient, you will receive specific instructions from the telephonist.
It is important that you arrive at the agreed time—not too early and certainly not too late. This way, we work together to ensure that you do not have to wait long and that everyone in the waiting room can maintain the 1.5-metre social distancing. You are required to wear a face mask as soon as you enter the hospital and for the duration of your visit.
MMC has contacted me and my appointment has been cancelled, what now?
Be sure to monitor your appointments. Please contact us if an appointment has been cancelled and you are unsure about the frequency or the time of the next check up.
Can I cancel my appointment?
The hospital will contact you if your appointment is cancelled. If in doubt, please call the clinic. Note: Do not reduce the number of prenatal clinic check-ups independently without consultation.
Can somebody accompany me to my appointment?
Your partner is welcome at the first consult. During this consult it will be discussed to what upcoming appointments your partner is allowed to join you at MMC.
Your partner is welcome at the MMC for the 20-week ultrasound or GUO and for the external cephalic version, provided he or she has no symptoms such as a cold, fever, cough or shortness of breath. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible for someone else to accompany you to all consultations. We encourage the use of video calling for your partner to attend the consultation. If you have a check-up appointment at the gynaecology outpatient clinic we would prefer that you come alone, but your partner may accompany you if he or she has no symptoms such as a cold, fever, cough or shortness of breath. If it gets too busy in the waiting room, we may ask your partner to wait outside the hospital. This is because we need to comply with the 1.5-m distance rule in the waiting room.
You may not bring children. In case of an emergency or during childbirth, one person may accompany you to the hospital. That person should not have a cold, cough, fever or shortness of breath.
I have an appointment for a 20-week ultrasound or GUO (extra detailed pregnancy ultrasound);
Your partner may attend the ultrasound examination again, provided that he or she has no symptoms such as a cold, fever, cough or shortness of breath.
If you have a cold, cough, fever or shortness of breath, please contact us by phone before visiting MMC. We will consult your treating physician to determine whether the examination will be postponed or whether you should come in anyway. You will then receive instructions from MMC.
Is a COVID-19 infection more serious for a pregnant woman?
Based on limited available data, there is no evidence that pregnant women are more susceptible to a COVID-19 infection. It is still not known whether the course of a COVID-19 infection differs from that of women who are not pregnant. From other viral infections, we know that a woman is more likely to have lung problems if she is pregnant.
It is important for pregnant women to adhere to the general rules of social distancing to reduce the risk of infection.
Can the unborn baby become infected during pregnancy or delivery?
The virus has so far not been detected in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, the throat of a newborn or in breast milk. Contamination is possible from mother to child via the normal human-to-human route.
Can COVID-19 cause a miscarriage?
Based on limited available data, there is no evidence that women infected with COVID-19 are more likely to have a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. There might be a slight increase in premature births, but it is not yet clear whether this is spontaneous or whether a pregnancy has ended prematurely on medical grounds.
Childbirth
I have to give birth at MMC
When you go into labour, please call the maternity suites on +31 40 888 95 51. You will be asked if you have a fever, cough, cold, or shortness of breath. If your partner has these symptoms, please report this. You will be given specific instructions from the nurse.
You will deliver your child in the maternity suites. You may bring your partner to the hospital. Your partner may be present at the childbirth, even if he or she has symptoms. In principle, one extra person may be present at the delivery in addition to the partner (with the exception of care providers). This could be, for example, a family member, birth photographer or a doula.
Do I have to wear a mouthmask during labour?
You are required to wear a face mask as soon as you enter the hospital and for the duration of your visit. You do not have to wear the mask during the delivery. However, your partner is required to wear a face mask.
I am having a planned caesarean section
The caesarean has been discussed with you. The rules for visits as described earlier apply here too. You must report a fever, cough, cold or shortness of breath to us.
Waterbirth
Giving birth in a birth pool/bath is only possible if you have no COVID-19 symptoms.
I have a COVID-19 infection and am in home isolation, will my appointment with the midwife or gynaecologist take place?
Consult with your midwife on what to do in this particular case.
I have a COVID-19 infection, can I give birth at home?
Based on limited available data, we recommend a hospital birth with monitoring (cardiotocograph, CTG) of the foetus during the period that you are ill. If the infection was more than 24 hours ago, this advice is no longer relevant.
Can I still give birth at the outpatient clinic?
Yes, this remains unchanged. Birth care is closely coordinated between MMC and primary midwives. Should this change in the future, it will be communicated here and on ZiZo Brabant.
I have recovered from a COVID-19 infection, will I now be referred to a gynaecologist?
In principle, a past COVID-19 infection is not a medical indication. For the time being, however, we recommended you have an ultrasound to check on the growth.
Postnatal care
Can I breastfeed if I have a COVID-19 infection?
Yes, COVID-19 has not been detected in breast milk. It is recommended that you breastfeed with a surgical mask and observe hygiene measures (wash hands before touching the baby or breasts, use your breast pump or bottle and clean the breast pump thoroughly after use). Because it is possible to infect the baby in your vicinity, it is worth considering letting a healthy person feed your baby with expressed milk. You will receive written instructions about this from the hospital. In this folder, you will find separate information about home isolation and breastfeeding if you are a coronavirus patient.
What is the risk to my newborn baby?
The virus is transmissible through physical contact. Hygiene measures are extremely important.
Maternity visit at MMC
We understand that you will want to show your newborn child to the world. Your partner and other children from your family are allowed to visit you. One other visitor is welcome to visit between 16.00-20.00.
Will I receive postnatal care if I have a COVID-19 infection?
This depends on the availability of protective materials. You may not receive postnatal care. The hospital will take this into account upon discharge. In this folder (from postnatal care organisation De Allerkleinste), you can read extra information about the first hours at home with your baby. You will receive specific information from the hospital about postnatal care and home isolation.
Please call emergency number +31 40 888 95 51 in the following cases:
- shortness of breath
- fever > 38 degrees
- reduced fetal activity after 23 weeks of pregnancy
- vaginal bleeding
- amniotic fluid loss
- regular contractions
When more severe symptoms occur or recovery is delayed (more than 6 days), it could be a sign of a more serious infection requiring more care. In that case, you are advised to contact your doctor or gynaecologist if applicable.
If you have an emergency complaint related to your pregnancy but not to the coronavirus, please contact emergency number +31 40 888 95 51.
Source: Netherlands Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (NVOG)