The goal of this petition is for all the pregnant woman of Hong Kong to be allowed of ONE birth partner during the delivery in a Public Hospital of Hong Kong. Please support if you agree with the cause.
*將在英文版本之後，附上中文版本

For the vast majority of women worldwide, giving birth to a child is one of the greatest challenges faced during one’s lifetime. During this challenging yet rewarding moment, women should be allowed (and have the right) to be supported in the best possible way; emotionally and physically.
However, since February 2020, the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong has banned all accompanied birth partners in the delivery room, due to the COVID-19 crisis.
As we already know, resources in the hospital are already stretched rather thin and so why further strain the system? Whilst nurses and doctors are doing everything to ensure our needs and comfort are met, what happens when several women in enter into labour on the delivery rooms at the same time?
Can these women be given the necessary attention and expertise, guidance and encouragement from nurses’ undivided attention? 

Please find below an extract from the WHO (World Health Organization)
" All pregnant women, including those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections, have the right to high quality care before, during and after childbirth. This includes antenatal, newborn, postnatal, intrapartum and mental health care.
A safe and positive childbirth experience includes:
- Being treated with respect and dignity;
- Having a companion of choice present during delivery;
- Clear communication by maternity staff;
- Appropriate pain relief strategies:
- Mobility in labour where possible, and birth position of choice.
If COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed, health workers should take all appropriate precautions to reduce risks of infection to themselves and others, including hand hygiene, and appropriate use of protective clothing like gloves, gown and medical mask. "

Nevertheless, childbirth Trauma could be caused by many factors such as: a loss of control, loss of dignity, feeling of not being heard or absence of informed consent to medical procedures, the hostile attitude of people around them especially while unaccompanied and incapacitated due to pain or drugs.
This childbirth trauma has the ability to carry over into post natal depression, and as statistics have shown over and over again, an increasing number of women experience post-natal depression these days and this is supported by Hong Kong Hospital Authority’s standard procedure of implementing a routine check up for all women who have given birth to prevent post natal PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Please support the cause, with thanks!

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這份請願書的目的，是希望允許香港的所有孕婦在香港的公立醫院分娩時，可以（選擇與否）有一位伴侶陪伴在側。我們希望得到你的支持。

對世界上絕大多數婦女而言，分娩——把我們的新生命帶到世上，是一生中面臨的最大挑戰之一。在這充滿挑戰性而富有深刻意義的時刻，理應允許婦女（並有權）在情感和身體兩方面獲得最實在的支持。

 

但是由於COVID-19疫情影響，自2020年2月以來，香港醫院管理局已禁止伴侶於分娩室中陪伴進行分娩過程。

眾所周知，本來醫院的資源已經非常有限，雖然醫生和護士都在盡一切努力確保滿足孕婦們的需求和舒適。但奈何因為工作量的關係，總會分心。如果可以讓伴侶陪伴在側，在旁進行非緊急醫療事宜，起碼有多一個人照料孕婦。減輕了護士們的工作，同時亦令孕婦們更安心。

請參考以下WHO（世界衛生組織）的摘錄：

「所有人，包括確診或懷疑感染COVID-19者，都有權在分娩前後和分娩時得到優質的護理。護理包括了產前、產後、產時的整個過程，同時包括心理上的健康護理。

一個安全和理想的分娩過程包括：

受到尊重和尊嚴地對待；
分娩時可以選擇有人陪伴在側；
與婦產人員有明確溝通；
擁有適當的止痛處理；
孕婦本來於其工作上的時間彈性安排；
選擇分娩地點。

如果孕婦被懷疑或確診了COVID-19，醫護人員應採取所有適當的預防措施以減少自身和他人感染的風險，包括手部衛生裝備和個人防護衣（PPE）例如手套、隔離裝備和醫學用口罩。」

與此同時，分娩創傷可能由許多因素引起，例如：不能控制自己、失去應有的尊嚴、感覺不被聆聽或在不知情的情況下進行了分娩的醫療程序、分娩時在旁者的態度。尤其是在疼痛和藥物影響下，產婦身體的不由自主和缺乏伴侶陪伴的情形下，分娩創傷的情況更甚。

分娩創傷有機會延伸成為產後抑鬱症的一種成因。數據顯示患上產後抑鬱症的婦女人數持續增加。對所有孕婦實施例行檢查以及預防產後的創傷後壓力症候群(PTSD) 是香港醫院管理局的標準程序。讓伴侶陪伴在側，減少孕婦產前產後甚至生產期間的壓力。亦可減低孕婦患上創傷後壓力症候群的風險。

感謝你的支持，謝謝。

 

Sources:

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding

https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/navigating-pregnancy-during-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-pandemic?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=boost&utm_campaign=coronavirus&utm_content=pregnancy-page-post

https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/for-parents/what-is-birth-trauma