Read my Riding the Covid-19 Summer Wave update, and know that I am offering in-person doula care for clients who are vaccinated and following the safety protocols that we have mutually agreed upon. I am vaccinated against Covid-19 (and will obtain the updated vaccine this fall when it becomes available to me), the flu, whooping cough (pertussis), Hep A & B, and shingles. I encourage you to get vaccinated/boosted due to risk of severe illness, long Covid, stillbirth and premature birth. Here are the National Institutes of Health guidelines for treatment of Covid-19 in pregnancy and after delivery.
From 2020: Birthing people and newborns need quality, respectful and compassionate health care, and healthcare workers must be supported to provide that care even in times of crisis. I am committed to offering you birth preparation and doula care virtually via video chat platforms and in-person at your home when San Francisco, the Bay Area region and California public health experts begin to relax coronavirus restrictions and implement measures that minimize risk and keep everyone as safe as possible. These elements include effective testing, diagnosing, contact-tracing, isolating and of course, frequent hand washing, masking and physical distancing. I am happy to have a conversation about how we can best work together under these circumstances.
The White Ribbon Alliance’s Safer Together: Respectful Maternity Care in COVID-19 campaign offers social media messages, graphics, fact sheets and calls to action to protect and support the universal rights of birthing families to have quality care and respect for their choices and preferences. Here are sample messages:
- Giving birth can be tough! Women should be supported to have a birth companion of their choice present regardless of COVID status.
- C-sections should only be performed when medically justified, even during the #COVID-19 pandemic. Birth method should be individualized and based on a woman’s preferences alongside health provider recommendations.
- Mothers and infants are #SaferTogether and should be enabled to remain together and practice skin-to-skin contact, especially immediately after birth during establishment of breastfeeding, whether they or their infants have suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19.
- Even if a newborn is in the neonatal unit, mothers should be supported to express milk, have access to the unit and participate in the care of the baby.
Other pregnancy and childbirth COVID-19 resources:
Evidence-Based Birth offers a free birth class on YouTube, podcasts, webinars, weekly updates on the virus plus a sample informed consent form for parents to refuse being separated from their newborn.
The National Perinatal Association curates a comprehensive list of U.S. and global health pregnancy, birth and postpartum virus guidelines.
UCSF Women’s COVID-19 Health Webinar Series Recordings include supporting your mental health and handling stress during the pandemic.
Infant feeding resources:
California Breastfeeding Coalition
Worries over formula shortages have stirred interest in re-lactation. Here’s what to know.
Parenting resources:
Click hear to read all NYT Parenting coverage on coronavirus. Also, consider subscribing to the weekly NYT Parenting Newsletter which offers evidence-based guidance for new parents and “tiny victory” contributions from readers who share successful tips they learned in their lived experiences as parents. You will need to create a free account to access it. The Washington Post also has an On Parenting section and newsletter, delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays.