Re: Coronavirus and Your Doula
3/26/20
Hello Again,
I wanted to touch base with you as your due date inches nearer while the coronavirus shows no signs of slowing it’s spread and the hospitals continue to add restrictions to birth support all over the country and state.
While it is true that having a hospital birth with the support of a doula was once thought of as having the best of both worlds, the current limitations are making this nearly impossible. People fear that hospitals are the last place they want their baby to spend any time because they may contract the virus, or lieu of that, be taken away from their mothers for isolation for two weeks. OR, they fear that their doula or partner will not be allowed and they will be left unsupported. This breaks my heart. How is this good for the birthing person, the newborn, or the family as a whole? How is it good for their physical, emotional, and physiological health?
The better question: How can we plan for the best outcome for your labor, birth, and postpartum period, for both your child and yourselves?
Some options:
While these options sound scary, I promise that I will be with you every step of the way; if you need help finding the right birth location, provider, or help navigating insurance, I will do my very best because that’s what you deserve. Birth centers and home births are incredibly safe, they often considered much more comfortable than hospitals, and are currently allowing partners and doulas as birth support! Talk about win-win!
At this point, the plan for hospital birth clients is as follows (same as previous email):
The last thing I wanted to touch on is the fact the NYC hospitals have put limitations on birth support people including partners, meaning that no one may attend or visit the birthing person aside from the hospital providers. Another sad truth we could face in Minnesota if things continue on in that direction, but have faith and make a plan. Myself, as well as other doulas, birth workers, birth advocates, nurses, midwives, MDs, OBs, and labor department managers are doing everything possible to give you the support you need. I wanted to include a list of books that I recommend for new families expecting so that you can dive into this educated, confident, and calmly despite the chaos.
Recommended Reads:
That’s all for now. If you'd like to schedule a virtual visit just to see how it works before your birth, prenatal visit, or postpartum visit, let me know! We can practice with Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc.
For anyone wanting to see past emails, I'm keeping all my correspondences on my website, here.
Peace and Love,
Amy the Doula
3/26/20
Hello Again,
I wanted to touch base with you as your due date inches nearer while the coronavirus shows no signs of slowing it’s spread and the hospitals continue to add restrictions to birth support all over the country and state.
While it is true that having a hospital birth with the support of a doula was once thought of as having the best of both worlds, the current limitations are making this nearly impossible. People fear that hospitals are the last place they want their baby to spend any time because they may contract the virus, or lieu of that, be taken away from their mothers for isolation for two weeks. OR, they fear that their doula or partner will not be allowed and they will be left unsupported. This breaks my heart. How is this good for the birthing person, the newborn, or the family as a whole? How is it good for their physical, emotional, and physiological health?
The better question: How can we plan for the best outcome for your labor, birth, and postpartum period, for both your child and yourselves?
Some options:
- Transfer to a birth center.
- Many are taking on transfers up to 41 weeks as long as mom and baby are healthy.
- Doulas and partners are still essential and allowed in for birth support.
- Minnesota Birth Center, Roots Birth Center, Willow Birth Center, and Health Foundations Birth Center are some of my favorites!
- Transfer to a homebirth midwife.
- Birth in the safety of your own home with a certified midwife and the birth team of your choice including your family and your doula.
- I can help you navigate the many options of Homebirth Midwives!
- Stay at the hospital and get special permission to have your doula present for support.
- It’s your right and your well being on the line to have a birth team and the support you need.
- Stay at the hospital and opt for virtual support.
- Video, phone, and text support are proving to be an amazing source of comfort, guidance, evidence based information, suggestions for birthing person as well as the partner.
- Allows you to ask questions that can help you make informed decisions that you can be proud of long after baby is born.
- Have doula support at home as long as possible before transferring to your birthing location.
- I am open to supporting you at home as long as everyone in your household is healthy.
While these options sound scary, I promise that I will be with you every step of the way; if you need help finding the right birth location, provider, or help navigating insurance, I will do my very best because that’s what you deserve. Birth centers and home births are incredibly safe, they often considered much more comfortable than hospitals, and are currently allowing partners and doulas as birth support! Talk about win-win!
At this point, the plan for hospital birth clients is as follows (same as previous email):
- I will come to your home or provide virtual support until you need to transfer to the hospital.
- I will come to the hospital (if permitted) or provide virtual support intermittently or continuously as needed until Baby is born!
- I will continue in-person or virtual support for up to two hours after baby is born just as I normally would.
- I will still plan to do in-person or virtual postpartum support as agreed up or as an extra service should you like additional support following birth (within first 2 weeks).
The last thing I wanted to touch on is the fact the NYC hospitals have put limitations on birth support people including partners, meaning that no one may attend or visit the birthing person aside from the hospital providers. Another sad truth we could face in Minnesota if things continue on in that direction, but have faith and make a plan. Myself, as well as other doulas, birth workers, birth advocates, nurses, midwives, MDs, OBs, and labor department managers are doing everything possible to give you the support you need. I wanted to include a list of books that I recommend for new families expecting so that you can dive into this educated, confident, and calmly despite the chaos.
Recommended Reads:
- Birth Without Fear: The Judgment-Free Guide to Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum
- We're Pregnant! The First Time Dad's Pregnancy Handbook
- The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality
- The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
- By Emily Oster - Expecting Better: How to Fight the Pregnancy Establishment with Facts (7/21/13)
- Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds
- Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide
- The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Baby's First Year (Sh!t No One Tells You (1))
- We're Parents! The New Dad Book for Baby's First Year: Everything You Need to Know to Survive and Thrive Together
- On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep "2019 edition"- Interactive Support
- Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth: The New Mom's Guide to Navigating the Fourth Trimester
- The Happiest Baby on the Block; Fully Revised and Updated Second Edition: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
That’s all for now. If you'd like to schedule a virtual visit just to see how it works before your birth, prenatal visit, or postpartum visit, let me know! We can practice with Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc.
For anyone wanting to see past emails, I'm keeping all my correspondences on my website, here.
Peace and Love,
Amy the Doula
