Faced with many controversial testimonies, the National College of Obstetrician Gynecologists (CNGOF) issues official recommendations, in order to supervise deliveries in times of Covid-19.
- The CNGOF issues official recommendations to supervise deliveries with Covid-19.
- During expulsive efforts, wearing a mask is desirable because it protects caregivers and the woman herself. It cannot be imposed.
During childbirth, “Wearing a mask is recommended in the presence of caregivers. During expulsive efforts, wearing a mask is desirable because it protects caregivers and the woman herself. It cannot be imposed.” Faced with the controversy raised by testimonies of women recounting having had to give birth in masks, the National College of Obstetrician Gynecologists (CNGOF) has just issued official recommendations, which will be addressed to birth professionals.
“We can propose the use of a visor adapted to the face”
The experts complete: “we can propose the use of a visor adapted to the face in order to facilitate efforts and communication with the healthcare team. If the patient has neither a mask nor a visor, the mask worn by the staff must be an FFP2 mask of in such a way as to provide maximum protection to healthcare personnel (+ protective goggles)”. The idea is also to warn the patients upstream of the conditions of childbirth, so that they are not presented with a fait accompli.
Concerning the spouse, the presence of the father is desirable as much as possible, including during a possible cesarean section (under cover of a visitors’ charter, the search for symptoms compatible with a COVID, the respect of barrier measures and the effective limitation of travel) .
Maternity visits should be limited
With regard to visits to the maternity ward, they must be limited in order to restrict the wandering of people in the hospital and the maternity ward. “There is a broad consensus to only let the co-parent or an accompanying person into the maternity ward. Visits from siblings are not recommended”,specify the CNGOF, which concludes: “we must encourage the rapid return home”.
Under the hashtag #StopMaskedBirth , numerous testimonies, sometimes going so far as to denounce gynecological violence, are relayed on the web. “I gave birth vaginally. Surgical mask imposed, I did not breathe well enough according to the midwife: put under oxygen 4 L by glasses and always mask above. Bah believe me, it was horror when pushing, I could not find my breath”, can we read.
“It’s inhumane!”
“I gave birth during confinement, I was not forced to wear my mask during the entire stay. I don’t understand why we are forcing moms to do it! It’s inhumane!” Melike tweets again. “Shame! The medical world is becoming more and more ruthless. How to impose the mask in such a moment? How, as professionals, impose that the first thing the newborn will see is his masked mother?Judge for her Carnet d’une Ch’ti.
In a press release, the members of the CNGOF respond to the dissatisfied: “if the professionals understand the excitement aroused, they had to arbitrate between the safety of mothers, caregivers and healthcare teams and the hardship, for some women, due to wearing a mask during childbirth. The continuity of care provided by teams spared from disease is at this price”.
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