The impact of new evidence and changes in policy on the published guidance is reviewed on a weekly basis.
The document above is for healthcare professionals. We have also prepared information for pregnant women and their families, drawn from this guidance:
Please see government advice for pregnant employees during the COVID-19 pandemic published on 23 December. The guidance advises employers to refer to the RCOG/RCM Guidance on Coronavirus infection in pregnancy. The most relevant sections for use in a risk assessment are sections 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6.
Planning for Winter 2020/21: reducing the impact of COVID-19 on maternity services in the UK
Please read the Joint RCOG & RCM Statement - Planning for Winter 2020/21 which outlines the key principles for ongoing service planning and incorporates evidence-based learning from the first wave of the pandemic.
The accompanying guidance products referenced in this statement are also currently under review and will be updated in the coming weeks.
Maternity Care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Maternal medicine/pregnant women with additional co-morbidities
The RCOG guidance on self-monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy has also been updated and can now be found as an appendix within the above document.
Testing
- The RCOG framework for testing and triaging of women seeking maternity care in hospital settings has been archived. Updated guidance to support the provision of maternity care has been published in England by NHS England and NICE, and in Scotland by the Scottish Government.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Perinatal mental health
Read the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ advice on perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Reintroduction of visitors to maternity settings
The RCOG welcomes published advice in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland to help services with re-introducing visitors to maternity services including antenatal and postnatal appointments, and pregnancy scans.
Further guidance on the Reset, Restoration & Recovery of services can be found here.
Guidance for maternity service organisation in areas of high risk prevalence/localised measures during the COVID-19 pandemic
The advice within the following guidance was intended for implementation at the peak of the pandemic, when the risk was highest.
Maternity services are advised to reflect on their local risk and return to providing clinical care as recommended by pre-existing local and national guidance (e.g.
NICE antenatal care schedule screening including for gestational diabetes) as soon as it is safe to do so.
The following guidance remains available for those areas with high risk prevalence and/or localised lockdown measures.
Guidance for antenatal and postnatal services and the provision of midwife-led settings and home birth has been updated to reflect lessons learned during the first wave of the pandemic.
Antenatal and postnatal care
Fetal medicine
Intrapartum Care
Provision of midwife-led settings and home birth
Read our guidance for provision of midwife-led settings and home birth in the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Research studies in the UK
- A number of nationally prioritised UK research studies relevant to COVID-19 are recruiting pregnant and recently postpartum women:
Related information
General COVID-19 information