HUS allows support persons in the Family Nest Hotel after child delivery

The Family Nest Hotel is located adjacent to the Women’s Hospital but separate from the hospital, which makes it a safe location to start lifting the restrictions. The Family Nest Hotel is in the Scandic Hotel Meilahti. 

“Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to allow support persons in the maternity wards in HUS hospitals even if other hospital districts are lifting those restrictions from the start of June. We have to keep in mind that more than 70 percent of all coronavirus cases in Finland have occurred within the HUS district. The epidemic is not over yet,” states Seppo Heinonen, director of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 

“We monitor the epidemic situation daily. Our goal is to lift the rest of the restrictions as soon as the situation is safe for the mothers giving birth, newborn babies, and our staff,” Heinonen continues. 

Compared to maternity wards in hospitals, the Family Nest Hotel offers more privacy although care staff is available as needed around the clock. The Family Nest offers post-partum care for healthy mothers whose pregnancy and delivery took place without any major problems. The Family Nest's criteria also requires that the mother be in good general health, intoxicant-free, and able to communicate fluently in Finnish, Swedish or English. The newborn must be born full term and healthy.

“Families should mainly remain in their own rooms in the Family Nest Hotel and avoid unnecessary movement in the common areas. Proper hand hygiene is very important as well,” says Katja Koskinen, nurse director of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 

Women’s Hospital delivers about 25 babies every day. The maternity wards hold 65 beds. The Family Nest Hotel has 19 rooms. The majority of mothers are discharged from hospital within 1 or 2 days from the delivery. 

On 16 March, the Finnish Government banned all visitors from hospitals due to the coronavirus epidemic. Following that, on 2 April, HUS restricted the presence of support persons in maternity hospitals. According to HUS policy, a support person is allowed present in the delivery room during a vaginal birth. The support person is not allowed to accompany the mother during the induction of labor, during a caesarean, or at the hospital's maternity ward after the delivery. The general ban on hospital visitation is in effect until further notice. 

See previous press releases:

• HUS sets new restrictions on support persons in maternity hospitals (in Finnish) (2 April 2020)
• Frequently asked questions about restrictions on support persons in HUS maternity hospitals (in Finnish) (3 April 2020)
• Restrictions on support persons in maternity hospitals discussed in a video meeting (in Finnish) (19 May 2020)

See also:

• Restricted visitations to units at HUS’s Gynecology and Obstetrics during the coronavirus epidemic​ (updated 29 May 2020)