However, while variation is necessary, ongoing dialogue between hospital systems is crucial both to minimize the utilization of health care resources in creating novel policies and to ensure fairness and transparency across hospitals. Pregnant patients who travel in pursuit of a hospital system that has a less restrictive visitor policy increase their risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes given the lack of continuity of care and increase the risk of viral transmission to another community.
Unique clinical situations will require flexibility and individualization in application of policies. Implementing a labor and delivery unit visitor policy necessitates balancing risks and benefits in the face of uncertain and evolving information. Ideally, such policy making balances the benefits and risks to the patient, the visitor, the community, the health care team, and perhaps above all, to the infant, in an evidence-based, nonreactionary, and compassionate manner.
Published Online: May 22, No other disclosures were reported. Disclaimer: This article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the National Institutes of Health.
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Save Preferences. Privacy Policy Terms of Use. Twitter Facebook. This Issue. Views 40, Citations View Metrics. Research Letter. Back to top Article Information. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Considerations for inpatient obstetric healthcare settings. Published April 4, Accessed April 22, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Published March 23, Some pregnant women in New York City will have to deliver babies alone. New York Times. March 24, Accessed April 7, New York Department of Health. Published March 21, Your nurse will show you how to call out to the nursing desk if you have questions or need anything. After delivery, you can only have 1 of the 2 people with you at a time. They can switch out once a day. This is part of our overall efforts to reduce the risk of infection and make your birth the safest it can be.
Your care team will wear masks at all times and take other steps to prevent spreading the infection during and after delivery. UVA Health has taken several steps to protect all of our patients and team members. You can also have a virtual visit. Call your provider for details. You can stay healthy by following the usual pregnancy recommendations, stopping the spread of germs , and managing your stress and anxiety. Steps you can take include:. The final weeks before your delivery are an important time to continue social distancing.
This means limiting contact with people outside your immediate family. If you have symptoms, call your provider. Recent studies have suggested that the coronavirus can cause pregnant women to become very ill very quickly. Ask your care team for the latest information.
Talk with your care team about this possibility. Most likely. See our breastfeeding FAQs. You can call your usual OB clinic. After hours, call our labor and delivery unit. In This Section. Need help? If alternative arrangements are needed your maternity care provider will help you make these decisions. This is important to help us plan your care. If you begin to feel unwell have a fever or shortness of breath, cough or a respiratory illness or are concerned about your baby such as a change in fetal movements while in self-isolation seek immediate medical attention, even if you have been diagnosed with COVID Call ahead to your GP or emergency department or maternity care provider and tell them you are in self-isolation due to COVID before you arrive.
If you go into labour, call the hospital, or your maternity care provider. They will tell you what to do in this situation, and where and when to come to hospital. Our hospitals take great care to limit the spread of infection. If you have symptoms but have not been tested, we will offer you the test when you arrive at the hospital.
You will be looked after in a single room. While there continues to be transmission of COVID in the community, it remains important that we keep our hospitals safe now and into the future. The number of support persons in the birthing room should be decided by each facility. This decision will depend on individual circumstances, the size of the birthing room and transmission of COVID in the local community. Compassionate and cultural considerations will be taken into account by your hospital to help best support you at this important time.
These considerations are best discussed with your doctor or midwife before you go into labour, so that there is a clear plan in place. During the COVID pandemic, most healthcare facilities have put in place ways to enable regular visiting for patients and families. The number of people who can visit patients in the hospital is decided by each facility.
This decision is based on the local situation such as available space in each ward to allow physical distancing and transmission of COVID in the local community. Limits to the number of visitors at any given time may apply as per normal visiting conditions. Visitors may have additional screening, education and supervision about using correct personal protective equipment and other infection prevention practices such as hand hygiene and physical distancing.
During flu season everyone in the family should have the seasonal influenza flu vaccination when it becomes available. Babies can have the seasonal influenza vaccine from 6 months of age - the vaccine is free for all children aged 6 months to less than 5 years of age. Make sure vaccinations are up to date.
Routine vaccination is the safest, most effective way to protect babies and children from illness. After birth if you are unwell you may be moved to a specialised area within the hospital which is caring for patients with COVID infection.
If you and your baby are well the baby can stay with you in a single room on the postnatal ward. You will both remain in isolation for a minimum of 14 days after the birth, either in the hospital or at home. This may be either at home or in the hospital depending on your condition and that of your baby.
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