Pregnancy, Home Birth, Postpartum & Newborn Care in the times of Coronavirus COVID-19
Update April 1, 2020
Please practice social distancing. Avoid groups of 10 or more people. Generally any person near you is a potential risk. Stay at home (It is healthy to go outside in your yard for a nature walk or hike and enjoy the sunshine but try remain 6 feet away from others). Social distancing means no play dates, less physical contact with others when they are not in your household.
These times can provoke anxiety. Try to incorporate self-care and relaxation into your daily life. Some options are prayer, mediation, yoga, pilates, sun bathing, and walking in nature. Magnesium and chamomile tea can help with stress, anxiety, and sleep.
As your midwives and support team, we and our families are practicing social distancing. We are minimizing our times for being out to essential midwifery visits and necessary shopping. We are sanitizing our equipment and surfaces with anti-bacterial/ant-viral cleaners before and after each client. We are checking our temperatures before client contact and monitoring for symptoms of any sickness, including COVID-19. We are spacing out visits, and offering virtual appointments. We have asked no children and only one support person come with our clients to office visits. We are wiping down anything we come into contact with in our cars on a regular basis.
Before midwifery visits, please do not have visitors In your home. Take your temperature and the others In your home before your visits. If you or others in the home have traveled within the last 14 days or have any of the following symptoms, please let your midwife know.
Symptoms of COVID-10 are:
Midwifery care may look different and we may wear a mask and head cover. We may ask you and others present to wear a mask as well. For your birth, we are suggesting minimal people be there. If you want others to be included in your birth, we can set up for FaceTime, Skype, or video call. Any person present can pose a risk to you, your baby, and your birth team.
We will continue to give optimal care though some home visits will be reduced or postponed. We will be using an option to maintain social distancing by having telehealth appointments replace some of your visits. You will be taught to check your blood pressure with a cuff and listen to the baby’s heartbeat by doppler or fetoscope while having our face to face part of the visit by FaceTime. For our necessary face to face appointments, we will be spacing visits out, so we can sanitize and clean everything between visits. We are always available for texts, phone calls, and emails as well. .
We have modified our prenatal schedule based on WHO guidelines (additional visits can be added as needed) :
Prolonged contact is not recommended, therefore midwifery visits and time at labor and birth may be shortened.
In case of hospital transport, the midwives will not be staying at the hospital with you, in order to avoid exposure, We will, however, be available virtually and we will be sure you are taken care of by transferring records, by communicating with your Dr and nurses, and monitoring at a distance.
If one of us becomes sick or has had a known exposure, another midwife may attend your birth.
Your midwife is trying to be mindful of what is needed for your prenatal and birth care and communication between your midwife and yourself is paramount. Please contact us as needed.
There may be more changes with this developing situation. I am trying to adapt the best practices to keep everyone healthy & safe. This document will evolve as there is so much uncertainty.
All the while please know that we love and care about the health and well being of you, your baby and your family. This is temporary, but will last for an unknown period of time. Please stay healthy and reach out anytime.
Love, Your WBA Team
Please practice social distancing. Avoid groups of 10 or more people. Generally any person near you is a potential risk. Stay at home (It is healthy to go outside in your yard for a nature walk or hike and enjoy the sunshine but try remain 6 feet away from others). Social distancing means no play dates, less physical contact with others when they are not in your household.
- Postpone or space out non-essential health visits including dental, medical, chiropractic, and hair appointments.. Ask if you can avoid waiting in waiting rooms and instead wait in your car for a call from their receptionist to tell you they are ready for you.
- Avoid travel.
- Wash your hands often and at least 20 seconds with soap. Wash your hans after touching any surface that may be contaminated and before eating.
- Consider wearing face masks and/or gloves when you go out of the home.
- Avoid sharing drinks and food with others.
- Avoid toughing your face.
- Avoid handshakes, hugs, and kisses.
- Avoid touching high contact surfaces including doorknobs, handrails, faucet handles, and light switches.
- Frequently wipe down surfaces including your phone, computer and/or tablet.
- Reduce shopping trips for food & essential items. Consider shopping for groceries and essentials online, use grocery pick-up, delivery, or curbside. Prepare by thinking ahead about things that you may need with the next 2 weeks-2months. There is a shortage already of some items and shipping is delayed in general.
- Eat as many nutritious, natural foods as possible, including vegetables and fruits. Keep hydrated and be sure to have extra water on hand if you drink bottled water.
- Aim for ample sleep, at least 7 hours nightly.
- Vit. D 4000IU daily
- Fish Oil (discontinue at 37 weeks)
- Garlic (always a great immune booster)
- Zinc 5-10mg daily
These times can provoke anxiety. Try to incorporate self-care and relaxation into your daily life. Some options are prayer, mediation, yoga, pilates, sun bathing, and walking in nature. Magnesium and chamomile tea can help with stress, anxiety, and sleep.
As your midwives and support team, we and our families are practicing social distancing. We are minimizing our times for being out to essential midwifery visits and necessary shopping. We are sanitizing our equipment and surfaces with anti-bacterial/ant-viral cleaners before and after each client. We are checking our temperatures before client contact and monitoring for symptoms of any sickness, including COVID-19. We are spacing out visits, and offering virtual appointments. We have asked no children and only one support person come with our clients to office visits. We are wiping down anything we come into contact with in our cars on a regular basis.
Before midwifery visits, please do not have visitors In your home. Take your temperature and the others In your home before your visits. If you or others in the home have traveled within the last 14 days or have any of the following symptoms, please let your midwife know.
Symptoms of COVID-10 are:
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Runny nose
Midwifery care may look different and we may wear a mask and head cover. We may ask you and others present to wear a mask as well. For your birth, we are suggesting minimal people be there. If you want others to be included in your birth, we can set up for FaceTime, Skype, or video call. Any person present can pose a risk to you, your baby, and your birth team.
We will continue to give optimal care though some home visits will be reduced or postponed. We will be using an option to maintain social distancing by having telehealth appointments replace some of your visits. You will be taught to check your blood pressure with a cuff and listen to the baby’s heartbeat by doppler or fetoscope while having our face to face part of the visit by FaceTime. For our necessary face to face appointments, we will be spacing visits out, so we can sanitize and clean everything between visits. We are always available for texts, phone calls, and emails as well. .
We have modified our prenatal schedule based on WHO guidelines (additional visits can be added as needed) :
- Initial visit after 12 weeks
- Prenatal visits at weeks 20, 28, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40 & 41 weeks
- Postpartum visits will be performed in person at 24-48 hours, week 1, and will be mutually determined as needed as in person or virtual.
- As a reminder you will still have the same visits but some will be done virtually.
Prolonged contact is not recommended, therefore midwifery visits and time at labor and birth may be shortened.
In case of hospital transport, the midwives will not be staying at the hospital with you, in order to avoid exposure, We will, however, be available virtually and we will be sure you are taken care of by transferring records, by communicating with your Dr and nurses, and monitoring at a distance.
If one of us becomes sick or has had a known exposure, another midwife may attend your birth.
Your midwife is trying to be mindful of what is needed for your prenatal and birth care and communication between your midwife and yourself is paramount. Please contact us as needed.
There may be more changes with this developing situation. I am trying to adapt the best practices to keep everyone healthy & safe. This document will evolve as there is so much uncertainty.
All the while please know that we love and care about the health and well being of you, your baby and your family. This is temporary, but will last for an unknown period of time. Please stay healthy and reach out anytime.
Love, Your WBA Team
March 15, 2020 WBA Letter COVID-19
We would like to address the COVID-19 Pandemic. Wichita Birth Assistance is and has been closely monitoring the WHO, CDE, and KDHE recommendations as well as communicating with the local medical community. Yesterday, our team participated in an online training by the CDC regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to maternal and child health.
We know we cannot completely prevent the spread of COVID-19 but we can reduce the spread by practicing social distancing. Social Distancing involves limiting exposure to others by avoiding travel, public events, large crowd, and other public places where you could e exposed to the virus. We have removed toys and children's books from our office and we discourage children from coming to appointments with you at this time. If you are unable to do this, please reach out to your primary midwife to make other arrangements.
First, It Is Important to know the symptoms of COVID-19:
*Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure
If you have pregnancy related issues listed on your handout titled "Know your Baby", then please contact your midwife as usual.
For the time being we will offer care as described:
1. Normal visits In the office for healthy women who are not exhibiting any signs of illness nor have been in contact with anyone sick (that they are aware of) for the previous 14 days. This includes both children and adults exhibiting stomach illness.
******When you arrive for your appointment, please call from your car to let us know you have arrived. When you come in please stop and wash your hands. ******
2. Virtual Visits (phone or video calls) are a great way fro healthy patients to review lab results or conduct follow-up appointments relating to their healthcare. We are currently reaching out to patients to change appointments from office visits to virtual visits when appropriate. Please let us know if you would like this option. We can discuss supplies and equipment you may want to have on hand to participate in your care.
3. If you have an active illness or suspect COVID-19 please call your primary doctor. Treating pregnant women with COVID-19 is out of scope of practice. We are here for our clients and we are happy to collaborate with your primary care physician as needed.
4. All clinic areas, Including exam rooms, will be reserved for healthy patients only. We will not see any sick clients In our office.
5. If you have an office visit scheduled and you become Ill prior to that appointment, please call and speak to your midwife for consultation.
6. Please do not go to the ER for COVID-19 testing. Patients should only go to the ER if they are in need of a higher level of care or their primary doctor has sent them to the ER. It is best if you can let the ER know you will be coming in with symptoms of COVID-19.
FOR THE SARETY OF YOU, YOUR BABY, OUR WBA STAFF, ANYONE WHO IS EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS CANNOT BE PRESENT IN THE BIRTH ROOM OR HOM OR COME TO THE BIRTH SUITE (INCLUDING WAITING IN THE WAITING AREA) DURING LABOR OR THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD FOLLOWING A BIRTH.
We are dedicated to the wellbeing of your patients, our team, our families, and our community. We are taking this outbreak seriously and are doing everything we can to minimize the spread of this virus. We ask that our patients do the same by practicing social distancing and avoiding crowds and unnecessary risks of exposure. This is a very fluid situation so our procedures and recommendations may change as we continue to monitor new information. we will do our best to provide updates and additional communication, when needed.
We would like to address the COVID-19 Pandemic. Wichita Birth Assistance is and has been closely monitoring the WHO, CDE, and KDHE recommendations as well as communicating with the local medical community. Yesterday, our team participated in an online training by the CDC regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to maternal and child health.
We know we cannot completely prevent the spread of COVID-19 but we can reduce the spread by practicing social distancing. Social Distancing involves limiting exposure to others by avoiding travel, public events, large crowd, and other public places where you could e exposed to the virus. We have removed toys and children's books from our office and we discourage children from coming to appointments with you at this time. If you are unable to do this, please reach out to your primary midwife to make other arrangements.
First, It Is Important to know the symptoms of COVID-19:
*Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath
If you have pregnancy related issues listed on your handout titled "Know your Baby", then please contact your midwife as usual.
For the time being we will offer care as described:
1. Normal visits In the office for healthy women who are not exhibiting any signs of illness nor have been in contact with anyone sick (that they are aware of) for the previous 14 days. This includes both children and adults exhibiting stomach illness.
******When you arrive for your appointment, please call from your car to let us know you have arrived. When you come in please stop and wash your hands. ******
2. Virtual Visits (phone or video calls) are a great way fro healthy patients to review lab results or conduct follow-up appointments relating to their healthcare. We are currently reaching out to patients to change appointments from office visits to virtual visits when appropriate. Please let us know if you would like this option. We can discuss supplies and equipment you may want to have on hand to participate in your care.
3. If you have an active illness or suspect COVID-19 please call your primary doctor. Treating pregnant women with COVID-19 is out of scope of practice. We are here for our clients and we are happy to collaborate with your primary care physician as needed.
4. All clinic areas, Including exam rooms, will be reserved for healthy patients only. We will not see any sick clients In our office.
5. If you have an office visit scheduled and you become Ill prior to that appointment, please call and speak to your midwife for consultation.
6. Please do not go to the ER for COVID-19 testing. Patients should only go to the ER if they are in need of a higher level of care or their primary doctor has sent them to the ER. It is best if you can let the ER know you will be coming in with symptoms of COVID-19.
FOR THE SARETY OF YOU, YOUR BABY, OUR WBA STAFF, ANYONE WHO IS EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS CANNOT BE PRESENT IN THE BIRTH ROOM OR HOM OR COME TO THE BIRTH SUITE (INCLUDING WAITING IN THE WAITING AREA) DURING LABOR OR THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD FOLLOWING A BIRTH.
We are dedicated to the wellbeing of your patients, our team, our families, and our community. We are taking this outbreak seriously and are doing everything we can to minimize the spread of this virus. We ask that our patients do the same by practicing social distancing and avoiding crowds and unnecessary risks of exposure. This is a very fluid situation so our procedures and recommendations may change as we continue to monitor new information. we will do our best to provide updates and additional communication, when needed.
