Pregnancy can be a stressful experience at the best of times, but with Covid restrictions remaining tight for maternity appointments, many are feeling more isolated and lonely than ever.

With the upset of partners and loved ones being banned from vital appointments, women across the country have joined the campaign #ButNotMaternity – raising awareness of the challenges faced by pregnant women due to the strict maternity guidance.

And Egremont woman Danielle Trembath is one of those feeling let down by the Government’s restrictions, and found pregnancy a “very scary” time due to the measures in place.

“I think when pubs opened and dads still weren’t allowed to come to scans, or stay after the baby was born, incensed myself and my pregnant friends,” the 33-year-old said.

“It showed that the government cares more about money than the wellbeing of people.

“I understand that NHS staff need to be protected, but then don’t open the pubs.”

She added: “I didn’t have any antenatal classes or breastfeeding classes, and while it’s not the Government’s job to tell me how to look after my baby, these classes are on for a reason and I was deprived of them.”

The full force of the Covid restrictions were felt by the first-time mum after her caesarean, when she was left feeling lonely and pressured to leave the hospital due to the

She said: “I was really unwell afterwards, and was expected to look after this little baby largely on my own.

“My husband found it really upsetting leaving me in that state only a couple of hours after surgery.

“Because of all this, I made sure I got out the next morning, which was probably too soon.”

Commenting on the #ButNotMaternity campaign, Mrs Trembath said it’s a key issue – and another example of women being left behind.

She said: “The pandemic still dominates my maternity leave, and there is waiting lists for any of the classes I could normally take my baby to, or most of them haven’t started back up at all.

“I think it’s another example of a female issue being put on the backburner for the government, and it feels like people only care about issues that affect them [directly].”

A spokesman at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “We understand how important and special it is having a baby, particularly during the times we are facing.

“As such, we have taken appropriate steps to involve partners of pregnant women as fully as possible while ensuring this is in line with national guidance.

“Since September we have allowed partners of pregnant women across north Cumbria to attend all antenatal scans taking place at West Cumberland Hospital, The Cumberland Infirmary and Penrith Birthing centre.

“Birthing partners are also able to be there during the birth to provide support. Partners are being supported to visit post-delivery through an appointment system on both our postnatal wards.

They continued: “All visitors must adhere to infection control measures, which includes wearing of face masks in accordance with Trust Infection Prevention Control guidance.

“Scan rooms will continue to be cleaned thoroughly between all women attending at present in accordance with Infection Prevention Control measures.”