'Stressing me out beyond belief': Government clarifies advice on maternity visits - The Age

The position was confirmed by Ms Mikakos' department after the media conference with a statement saying that ''on the day of the birth, once the mother and newborn move to the postnatal ward, a partner or support person can stay for up to a further two hours.

''A partner or support person can then visit once per day for a maximum of two hours every subsequent day the mother is in hospital."

However, late on Thursday night, Ms Mikakos said partners can stay as long as required on the day of the birth, but visits on the days after the birth will be capped at two hours.

"The only thing that’s changed is a pregnant woman giving birth can now have one visitor when before it was two," she wrote on Twitter just before 11pm on Thursday.

"Her partner/support person can stay for as long as they wish during labour and birth and after the baby is born."

Elena Bruno-Scott, who is 41 weeks pregnant and expecting the arrival of her first-born any day now, said the changing advice was stressful.

Elena Bruno-Scott and her husband Gideon Scott feel confused by the advice on birth rules.Credit:Joe Armao

"It's definitely concerning, the contradicting and fluctuating information. That's definitely not helping," she said on Friday morning.

"I think it's a good thing, I don't think someone should be kicked out of the birthing suite."

Ms Bruno-Scott is booked to give birth at the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg but wants to see if she can be sent home early, instead of spending the majority of her first days as a mother alone.

Because her family are all overseas, Ms Bruno-Scott's husband Gideon - who also has no relatives in Melbourne - is her only support in Melbourne.

"These confusing and frantic changes to hospital regulations ... I struggle to see the value. Aside from stressing me out beyond belief," she said.

"Pregnancy is already exhausting, we really don't need to be messed around with, not at this stage."

She said she had "recurring anxiety" that the rules could change again in the next few days.

'There doesn't seem to be a great deal of thought and consideration. People should not be frantically checking the news at 7.30am in the morning when they are literally due to give birth any second to know if the hospital is going to let their partner in."

Visiting restrictions will be tightened across Victorian hospitals and aged care facilities as case numbers continue to rise among healthcare workers, nursing home staff and residents.

Only one person can visit hospital patients and aged care home residents for one hour a day, but there will be exceptions for parents with children in hospital and visitors of patients in palliative care.

Other exceptions include nominated mental health supporters, people providing language support and people visiting patients in life-threatening situations.

"This addresses some of the concerns we have seen in relation to at least one health service I'm aware of in the past week," said Ms Mikakos on Thursday. "We ask for Victorians' understanding at this challenging time."

At least 450 healthcare workers have tested positive since the pandemic began, and the number of infected aged care residents and staff has risen rapidly in recent weeks.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijwFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL3N0cmVzc2luZy1tZS1vdXQtYmV5b25kLWJlbGllZi1nb3Zlcm5tZW50LWNsYXJpZmllcy1hZHZpY2Utb24tbWF0ZXJuaXR5LXZpc2l0cy0yMDIwMDcyNC1wNTVmMDYuaHRtbNIBjwFodHRwczovL2FtcC50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL3N0cmVzc2luZy1tZS1vdXQtYmV5b25kLWJlbGllZi1nb3Zlcm5tZW50LWNsYXJpZmllcy1hZHZpY2Utb24tbWF0ZXJuaXR5LXZpc2l0cy0yMDIwMDcyNC1wNTVmMDYuaHRtbA?oc=5

2020-07-23 22:13:00Z
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