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Birth Support During a Pandemic

 


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 allowed any emotional support people (including birth doulas and spouses) to accompany them into birthing facilities due to the risk of spreading the virus further. This contradicted the evidence updated by a Cochrane review proving that doulas are essential for better birth outcomes, a concept supported by both The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) and The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). Birth-workers petitioned, demanded, and advocated for the rights of their clients to have professional birth support at their side during birth.

As of November 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement that supports birth workers and doulas entering birth facilities with their clients, depending on the health severity in that community. The publication also states that during increased risk of virus spread, only one birth support person may accompany their client to the birth facility, requiring people to choose between their spouse or their birth doula.

 

IN-PERSON BIRTH SUPPORT DURING COVID

Because each birth facility follows CDC requirements for COVID differently, it’s good for birth professionals and their clients to be prepared. Here are a few ways:

  • Call the birth facility to find out what kind of restrictions they currently enforce. Remember to write down the name of the person giving the information.

  • Birth doulas should keep their COVID vaccination records up to date and accessible.

  • All client contracts and proof of doula services should be accessible either in paper or digital form.

  • Some facilities only recognize certified birth doulas. Bring a copy of the official birth doula certification or training verification.

  • Wear a medical grade face mask, and bring extra.

  • Birth support should enter the birth facility ahead of or with their client. Entering separately may cause delays.

  • Birth doulas should be prepared to stay with the client the entire time. Most facilities do not allow birth doulas to reenter the labor and delivery unit once they have exited.

  • Stay healthy! – boost immunity with vitamin rich and nutritious foods, exercise, and avoid possible COVID encounters.

 

VIRTUAL BIRTH DOULA OPTIONS

One alternative that many birth doulas have turned to is technology. Virtual support is encouraged by the CDC as a creative way to have birth doulas available during birth. A virtual approach to labor support is obviously less hands-on, but it allows people to connect and listen to their birth doula during labor and birth. A few things to consider:
  • Let the care provider know ahead of time that there will be a virtual birth doula during labor and birth.
  • Emotional support people accompanying the birthing person should attend birth doula prenatal meetings and/or birth education classes to be ready in case hands-on support is needed.
  • Virtual support requires either Wi-Fi or cell phone data. Ask for access to the birth facility’s Wi-Fi during admittance.
  • An extra-long charger and a device stand are helpful! Set up the device in a corner with as much of the room in view as possible.
  • Headphones – preferably earbuds. The birth client can share one earbud with a support person if there is one present, so both can hear the birth doula. If the birthing person is solo, keeping one ear open for the care-provider is important.
  • Stay in contact via text with the birth doula until a video connection is established.
 
Birth-workers continue to find creative and innovative ways to support the health and wellness of birth clients during a pandemic. If you are considering having a birth doula or coach at your birth and are worried about possible restrictions, or you are a birth worker expanding into the virtual field, remember that the rules are constantly evolving. Support birth-work in your state to help keep facilities accessible to doulas, midwives, and other essential birth support.
 
Learn more about how Golden Moon Births works virtually and long-distance here.

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