My birth client stood between contractions in the hallway of the labor and delivery unit with her husband, both pausing to watch my conversation with the head-nurse. “I’ll be right behind you.” I reassured them, and shooed them to settle into the delivery room. I sorted through my things and gave the head nurse my client’s contracts and other documents. But the truth was, I had no idea what to expect. COVID restrictions could keep me from supporting my client in-person, the exact opposite of what we had planned for. Thankfully, I had over-prepared for the COVID restrictions and was allowed to accompany my client. This was not the case for many other birth coaches and doulas. While the whole world quarantined against the spread of coronavirus and emergency facilities filled up with COVID patients, the-powers-that-be overlooked an important group of essential workers – birth doulas and birth coaches. For the first few months of COVID restrictions, pregnant people were not al...