When Sarah Cragg gives birth to her first child she will do so without her mum Rosie by her side.
While partner Steve Howarth will be there, ACT Health's tightening of visitor restrictions at Canberra Health Services to contain the spread of coronavirus mean the soon-to-be nanna will wait at home.
"She broke down this week," Miss Cragg said. "You can't get back the chance to be there for the birth of your first grandchild."
With the due date set for Easter Sunday, Miss Cragg's stepdaughter Kasey will also wait a bit longer to meet her new sibling. Like all expectant mums due to give birth in the coming months, Miss Cragg will nominate one single visitor.
The new measure went from a request on Thursday to a regulation on Friday, with Canberra Hospital, the University of Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital all ramping up restrictions to limit numbers on their campuses.
Canberra Hospital executive director Katrina Bracher said administration was doing everything it could to keep new mums safe.
"We are doing everything we can to keep them safe and their babies safe and to keep them and their babies together," she said.
Ms Bracher said the maternity ward at the hospital was made up of staff who were committed to positive outcomes for families.
"The coronavirus has added a huge challenge to their workload and we know it will continue to evolve," she said.
ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith made the announcement on Friday that while routine antenatal appointments will continue, antenatal classes will begin to be provided in an online format.
A pregnancy and parenting phone line was being established to support with early pregnancy, maternal and child health, breastfeeding and emotional wellbeing concern, according to the announcement.
Amber Harnisch gave birth to twins Addie and Arlen eight weeks ago, she said because of coronavirus and the resulting social distancing they had lost their support network.
"It has slowly sunk in that we're going this alone for the next however many months," Mrs Harnisch said.
She said when her due date was approaching two months ago she'd been more concerned about air quality from the bushfires.
"While we'd heard the news of an emergency response to coronavirus in China, it wasn't on my radar too much," Mrs Harnisch said.
"It never occurred to me it would get to this stage."
Both her father, a nurse, and her husband Andrew's father, who travels for work, have taken had to stop visits to their grandchildren.
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"He said because of his job it was just too risky," Mrs Harnisch said. "He's so in love with them already, that's been really hard."
Mrs Harnisch said on Saturday she had not been contacted by Maternal and Child Health nurses about a move to online classes.
While Miss Cragg, one of six siblings, said it was going to be a strange time for the whole family.
"It's difficult enough not sleeping because you've got this massive bump, let alone not knowing what's going to happen," she said.
"Everyone is so excited for this baby as it's the first nephew. I don't want to have that conversation that they can't come over and meet him."
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the ACT Health website or the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
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