Working around limitations on hospital visitors
Quote from Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLC on March 15, 2020, 8:25 pmSome educators are also doula so I would like to start this thread to see how we can continue to support our clients.
San Francisco put out a Order from the Public Health Department to "restrict physical contact between Hospital patients, Visitors and Non-
Essential Personnel." This includes family members of patients and authorized decision-makers in the definition of non-essential personnel. Social distancing is an important way to help flatten the curve. So we understand the theory but birth is a one-in-a-lifetime event. So it is frustrating too.In Section 11 of the Order it does give the hospital Administrator or their designee to allow a "Necessary Visitation" based on urgent health, legal or other issues that can not wait the seven (7) weeks that this order is in place. It does not mention doulas as other documents have done so it is unclear what the possibility is for a doula to stay and offer care to the birthing mother. See the full order below.
This issue is happening starting yesterday in San Francisco but it may be coming to your neighborhood too. Being prepared can be a benefit.
I will be offering virtual doula services to a client due to unrelated reasons and I see that it may be necessary to do that for Corona virus too. Have you done this in the past? Will you do it now? I am offering the 2 prenatal appointments as always but I will be going over very different things. So far my client can continue to have her husband with her but we need to make sure we have communication in place with me also.
Please share if you are or have offered virtual doula birth consultation.
Some educators are also doula so I would like to start this thread to see how we can continue to support our clients.
San Francisco put out a Order from the Public Health Department to "restrict physical contact between Hospital patients, Visitors and Non-
Essential Personnel." This includes family members of patients and authorized decision-makers in the definition of non-essential personnel. Social distancing is an important way to help flatten the curve. So we understand the theory but birth is a one-in-a-lifetime event. So it is frustrating too.
In Section 11 of the Order it does give the hospital Administrator or their designee to allow a "Necessary Visitation" based on urgent health, legal or other issues that can not wait the seven (7) weeks that this order is in place. It does not mention doulas as other documents have done so it is unclear what the possibility is for a doula to stay and offer care to the birthing mother. See the full order below.
This issue is happening starting yesterday in San Francisco but it may be coming to your neighborhood too. Being prepared can be a benefit.
I will be offering virtual doula services to a client due to unrelated reasons and I see that it may be necessary to do that for Corona virus too. Have you done this in the past? Will you do it now? I am offering the 2 prenatal appointments as always but I will be going over very different things. So far my client can continue to have her husband with her but we need to make sure we have communication in place with me also.
Please share if you are or have offered virtual doula birth consultation.
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