This page gives information on your maternity care with us during the pandemic. It includes who you can bring to appointments and the birth.  

If you are coming into the hospital, please also see the Attending our hospitals and Who can visit pages.

If you or a member of your household has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 3 days you must let us know before coming to hospital (unless you are in labour or it is an emergency).

If you are COVID-19 positive or isolating but have an appointment or need to be seen at the hospital for any reason, please contact the clinical area you are due to visit and notify them of the positive result and you will be advised accordingly.

Please be aware that the following arrangements could change in response to local or national COVID-19 prevalence or new Government guidance.

Stay up-to-date

Throughout your pregnancy, your maternity team will do all they can to provide you with information, guidance and support. You can also stay up-to-date with the BadgerNet Maternity Notes Portal online or on the Maternity Notes App. The portal is available to everyone who has registered with King’s to have their baby. Please check it for all the latest information and guidance about maternity services during this time. If you have any queries about accessing the portal, please speak to your community midwife or email kch-tr.kingsmatnotes@nhs.net for support.

Antenatal care

Your antenatal care will include both in-person and virtual appointments. This helps make sure you get the care you need, such as scans and blood tests, while also avoiding unnecessary visits to hospital. For non face-to-face appointments, we will ask you if would prefer phone or video calls. Please ensure you answer calls from a private number around the time of your virtual consultation.

Our antenatal classes are taking place online to ensure you don’t miss out on vital information and preparation. Ask your midwife for details on how to sign up or visit the King’s Maternity Eventbrite to register.

Partners or companions attending antenatal scans

We understand the importance of having a partner or companion with you during your antenatal scans. Currently, one companion or partner is welcome to attend hospital-based antenatal clinics (Orpington Hospital, Beckenham Beacon, Queen Mary’s Hospital, Windsor Walk, Venetian building, Community Midwives Centre, and Midwives House) with you.

Children should not routinely attend antenatal appointments or scans. However, if they must, please discuss with your midwife at least two days prior to your appointment.

Giving birth

Currently we continue to offer the following options on where to give birth, based on your preferences and level of risk:

• at home
• in our midwife-led suite at King’s College Hospital
• at the birth centre at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH)
• on a labour ward

Our aim is to offer the same choice you would normally have, however, this will depend on how our service and staffing is affected by the changing local and national situation.

Birth partners during and after labour

Two birth partners can be with you throughout your labour and can be present when you are receiving one-to-one care from a midwife in a labour room and during inductions of labour, elective cases, or High Dependency Unit care.

On the postnatal and antenatal wards, one support person is welcome for the duration of your stay. You will not be able to swap this person and they should stay at bedsides as much as possible during their visit.

On the Neonatal unit, you and your baby are treated as one, which means the other parent of the baby can visit.

For more information

See our maternity service page

Follow @KingsMaternity on Twitter

See NHS Coronavirus information on pregnancy care

Visit the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) website