What You Need to Know About Giving Birth During COVID-19
All the stories you hear on the news and across social media are making it hard not to think about COVID-19. It's natural to be scared in a situation like this, and we're sure you have plenty of questions. The good news is we're here to give you some peace of mind.
In this post, we're going to answer some of the most common questions women have about giving birth during COVID-19. That way, you can keep your growing family safe and focus on the excitement for the newest member of your family.
Is It Still Safe to Give Birth at a Hospital?
One of the first questions that may come to mind when you're pregnant during COVID-19 is if the hospital is still safe. According to healthcare experts, the hospital is still the safest place to give birth.
Birthing rooms, like the ones at King's Daughters' Health, are private. This means you won't have to worry about any unwanted contact. Plus, the risks of giving birth at home are still there. Every birth is unique and being at home can make any complication more dangerous, requiring emergencies services that could be delayed due to increased COVID-19 care.
What Precautions Are Being Taken at Hospitals?
Hospitals all across the country are taking extra precautions. When you go to the hospital to give birth, you can expect:
- All visitors and patients to be screened when they enter the hospital
- All common areas of the hospital to be disinfected and cleaned regularly
- Any patients in the hospital with COVID-19 to be quarantined away from other patients
- You and any visitors to be given face masks to wear during your stay
Be Prepared for Visitor Restrictions
It's natural to want to share the wonderful experience of giving birth your family. But to help protect you and your baby from COVID-19, many hospitals have visitor restrictions in place.
Most hospitals will only allow one visitor during your stay to help keep you and your baby healthy and safe. Of course, you can still use video chat services like Facetime to stay connected to family and friends during this amazing experience.
Is My Baby at Risk for COVID-19?
Once the newest member of your family has arrived, it's normal to have more questions. Babies are a high-risk group for COVID-19. That means all the hospital staff caring for your family will take extra precautions during your stay. You can expect:
- Nurses and Doctors to wear masks around your newborn at all times
- Your baby to be closely monitored by staff to ensure their health and safety
- Your newborn to stay the night with you to limit their exposure to germs
- Early release from the hospital to limit your risk of contracting COVID-19, depending on how much the virus has spread in your area and if your newborn is healthy enough to leave
Can I Still Breastfeed?
There is no current research that states breastfeeding your child increases their risk for COVID-19. In fact, there have been no cases of a baby contracting the virus from breast milk. So, you can breastfeed your baby or pump breast milk with peace of mind.
Can My Family and Friends Visit My Baby Once I'm Back Home?
While it's understandable that you want all your family and friends to meet your newborn in person, it is recommended to keep all visits virtual. It's possible for your family and friends to be carriers of COVID-19 even if they don't show any symptoms. To keep your bundle of joy as safe as possible, it's best to limit their exposure to other people.
Discover Maternity Care You Can Trust at King’s Daughters’ Health
At King's Daughters' Health, we know that COVID-19 can add extra fear and uncertainty to the miracle of childbirth. But the good news is you won't have to go through it alone. The expert maternity care staff at King’s Daughters’ Health can help give you peace of mind about giving birth during this unprecedented time.
We're taking extra precautions for patient and staff safety without compromising the quality maternity care that our hospital is known for. Having a baby is a joyful event and our staff is here to help ensure that notion stays true, despite COVID-19. Contact us today by calling (812) 801-0856 to learn more about how we can help support your family during childbirth.
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