COVID-19 And Bereavement Care

COVID-19 AND BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

If your baby has died, making arrangements following their loss is even harder right now as we continue to live with Covid-19. However, if your baby or babies have died during this period, you should still receive the same level of bereavement care from your hospital even though some services and supports might be offered in a slightly different way due to the Covid-19 virus. Please be reassured that bereavement midwives in each of our 19 maternity units throughout Ireland will do everything they can to help and support you during this time.

You should still be able to spend precious time with your baby or babies who have died and be given opportunities to make treasured memories with them for example taking photographs, taking hand and foot ink prints, bathing and dressing your baby, taking a lock of their hair, and creating a memory box.

We have issued a statement on bereavement care for parents during Covid-19 which offers guidance for nursing and midwifery staff in the neonatal units and maternity hospitals in Ireland.

Click here to access the statement

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has also issued Covid-19 Guidance for Maternity Services.

https://hse.drsteevenslibrary.ie/Covid19V2/maternity/women/infants

The guidance states that bereavement care should continue as much as possible in line with the National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death  https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/3/maternity/bereavement-care/ during Covid-19.

YOUR PREGNANCY AND COVID-19

The HSE has produced information about pregnancy and Covid-19  https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus-and-pregnancy.html) which reminds expectant mothers that it’s important to continue to attend check-ups and scans and to phone their hospital helpline for advice if they have any concerns about their pregnancy and their baby’s movements.

The anomaly scan usually happens between 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. Birth partners can usually go with you to this scan, but it will depend on the hospital and current Government restrictions, and it is best to check with your hospital in advance.