Pregnant Melton MP leads campaign for expectant mums

A campaign aimed at ensuring no women go through pregnancy scans or labour without a partner or close family member present during the ongoing Covid-19 health crisis is being led by Melton MP, Alicia Kearns.
Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns EMN-200209-142310001Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns EMN-200209-142310001
Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns EMN-200209-142310001

Mrs Kearns, who is expecting her second child in January, is heading up a group of more than 60 MPs in calling on NHS trusts across the country to adopt the policy.

She was interviewed on national television over the weekend in connection with the initiative and the campaign featured on the front page of the Mail on Sunday.

Government guidance permits partners to attend both scans and the entirety of labour but many trusts are asking expectant mothers to attend important appointments alone as part of their coronavirus restrictions.

Mrs Kearns, who wrote a letter to chairs and chief executives of NHS Trusts, has also highlighted the traumatic experiences of women who had attended scans alone to find their baby had died or who had undergone traumatic c-sections without any support.

She said in a statement: “Being pregnant is wonderful, but difficult at the best of times and it is truly heart-breaking that women across the country are not being treated equally at this huge milestone in their lives.

“Expectant mothers and their partners or loved ones deserve better, and my colleagues and I will continue to campaign on this most important of issues until it is resolved.”

Ms Kearns, who announced her own pregnancy last month, felt fortunate to be able to have her husband with her at key scans but continues to work with her colleagues in government to ensure women across the country are afforded the same right to support during scans and labour.

All restrictions on partners or family members being present for scans and during labout and birth have been lifted at maternity sites managed by University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust, including St Mary’s Birth Centre in Melton and Leicester Royal Infirmary.

While at Queen’s Medical Centre, in Nottingham, partners may attend scan appointments and birth but must leave soon after the birth of their child if it is not within visiting hours.