This pandemic has caused a lot of setbacks and adjustments for many people. But for expecting mothers, it has caused some extreme adjustments. A lot of them have involved making special preparations for their labor with their doctor during this pandemic.
I was listening to a WebMD podcast that touched on this topic. It was an interview with WebMD medical editor Neha Pathak, MD, who is an expecting mother. She shared a lot about what new parents should know about delivery in a hospital or other setting, what happens when the expecting mother or their birth partner tests positive for coronavirus, and how mothers can keep their newborns safe. Here are some of the key takeaways from that podcast.
Is it even safe to give birth in a hospital now?
According to Pathak, it depends on the amount of COVID-19 cases in the area you live and depending on what they are seeing. “A lot of hospitals are doing whatever they can to proactively protect their pregnant patients and their newborns,” she says. She even says that some places are limiting visitors and just allowing the birth partner with the expecting mother only. They have been screening expecting mothers and their partners for symptoms before entering the hospital. Expecting mothers must be screened 24-48 hours for symptoms before entering.
But what happens when an expecting mother is tested positive for coronavirus? She says a lot of hospitals have been separating COVID-19 positive pregnant mothers from non-positive pregnant mothers. “If the pregnant person is tested positive for COVID-19, a lot of hospitals have been trying to create separate areas on the labor and delivery floor,” she says.
How have doctors and mothers been staying safe while delivering?
Of course, doctors are expected to wear proper PPE while performing deliveries. But can you imagine a mother having to wear a mask while being in labor? That is what Pathak mentioned in the podcast. “Hospitals are requiring expectant mothers who are tested positive to wear personal protective equipment,” she said. “It is likely that they will need to wear a face mask while in labor.”
Most hospitals have also been cutting down on pregnant women and their partners wandering the hallways. “Previously before COVID-19, you would see pregnant women and their partners wandering the hall. “You’re not going to see that anymore,” she said.
What about other options for childbirth?
Pathak also addressed whether mothers should consider other places for giving birth if they don’t want to take the risk of being in a hospital. Some of these options include birthing centers or at-home births. But before you start making those plans, there are certain things you have to consider. “If you haven’t been planning or preparing for a home birth, it’s probably not the best time to consider switching to one,” she says. “It could be really hard to switch towards the end or the middle of your pregnancy.” The position of the baby also plays a role in whether it’s okay or not to consider a home birth. As for birthing centers, if you also haven’t planned to give birth in this area, it may not be such a good idea to consider this.
There were a lot of great takeaways I got out of this podcast episode. It requires careful preparation to safely have a baby during this pandemic. For more information on how you could keep your newborn safe, check out the episode, “Pregnancy in a Pandemic” on WebMD today.
