Re: CORONAVIRUS and YOUR DOULA
3/13/20
Hello Beautiful Mamas and Papas,
I am so sad to say that some of our wonderful hospitals and clinics are limiting birth support to only one person per patient due to the spreading coronavirus.
While the World Health Organization has declared that doulas ARE essential (See Attachments), our state has called for extreme measures to ensure the safety of birthing persons, and will be enforcing limited support.
I ask that you continue to take charge of your birth and start asking questions and making plans now. Call your provider, inform them that you have a contracted doula for birth support, and that you are requesting a physician’s note to ensure my access to your labor and/or operating room. You have a right to continuous birth support for the informational, emotional, and physical trials of labor.
I will continue to do my due diligence as well. I have been calling hospitals and birth centers all morning. Below are the limitations found so far, though they are changing daily, even hourly in some situations. We can continue to do in-person prenatal visits, but if you prefer, I am also open to Skype and FaceTime for virtual visits. As for labor support, I can labor at home with you as long as possible, I can go to the hospital with you to attempt entry, but hospital policy will have authority.
In the event that I am denied access, you will be offered up to 12 hours of postpartum support at home in 2-3 hour increments.
Current Limitations (changing daily and hourly):
As this is a global pandemic, I will make every attempt to support you throughout your pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum, but know that there are no guarantees in birth. If I am restricted in the hospital where you are birthing or if you or your family members are sick, I will offer virtual, text, or phone support, as long as I am able, to make certain your new babe be as healthy as possible as they enter the new world.
Know that this is new territory for us all, and I write this with a very heavy heart. If you have any questions regarding this, or any other birth related topic, please know that I am here for you!
With Love,
Amy
3/13/20
Hello Beautiful Mamas and Papas,
I am so sad to say that some of our wonderful hospitals and clinics are limiting birth support to only one person per patient due to the spreading coronavirus.
While the World Health Organization has declared that doulas ARE essential (See Attachments), our state has called for extreme measures to ensure the safety of birthing persons, and will be enforcing limited support.
I ask that you continue to take charge of your birth and start asking questions and making plans now. Call your provider, inform them that you have a contracted doula for birth support, and that you are requesting a physician’s note to ensure my access to your labor and/or operating room. You have a right to continuous birth support for the informational, emotional, and physical trials of labor.
I will continue to do my due diligence as well. I have been calling hospitals and birth centers all morning. Below are the limitations found so far, though they are changing daily, even hourly in some situations. We can continue to do in-person prenatal visits, but if you prefer, I am also open to Skype and FaceTime for virtual visits. As for labor support, I can labor at home with you as long as possible, I can go to the hospital with you to attempt entry, but hospital policy will have authority.
In the event that I am denied access, you will be offered up to 12 hours of postpartum support at home in 2-3 hour increments.
Current Limitations (changing daily and hourly):
- Abbott: charge nurse says that they are still in a meeting (going on 3 hours) assumes that Doula‘s will still be allowed.
- Methodist: children under 5 restricted, doulas currently welcome, call before coming.
- Fairview Riverside/U of MN: one support person (partner OR doula), no children or visitors.
- United: two support people, no children under 12.
- MN Birth Center: no doula limitations.
- Roots Birth Center: support people limited, doulas welcome, siblings welcome at birth but limited at clinic visits.
- Regions: no one under 5, 1-3 visitors, doulas currently allowed. Meeting scheduled today.
- St Johns: one essential visitor per stay, no medical/nursing students, doulas are not going to be allowed, staff does not support today’s policy
- Southdale: one support person allowed, no swapping.
- Ridges: certified Doula is allowed with proof of certification, no other limitations.
- Other: If you are attending a birth at another location that I have not listed, please feel free to call your provider directly, or let me know the location and I will call them on your behalf.
As this is a global pandemic, I will make every attempt to support you throughout your pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum, but know that there are no guarantees in birth. If I am restricted in the hospital where you are birthing or if you or your family members are sick, I will offer virtual, text, or phone support, as long as I am able, to make certain your new babe be as healthy as possible as they enter the new world.
Know that this is new territory for us all, and I write this with a very heavy heart. If you have any questions regarding this, or any other birth related topic, please know that I am here for you!
With Love,
Amy
