Pregnancy and Childbirth During COVID-19

We know that families probably have some questions or concerns about being in a hospital right now.

• When you arrive at the hospital, you’ll be asked a few questions, then given a mask.
• Your temperature will be taken. Only one support person will be allowed to stay with you.
• You’ll notice staff, patients and visitors are wearing masks in the hospital for everyone’s protection.

• Sutter hospitals are testing moms who have scheduled deliveries and those who arrive in labor for COVID-19.
• Check with your provider to see if you should get tested before coming to the hospital during your pregnancy.
• Knowing your COVID-19 status will help your team make informed decisions about the level of maternal and newborn care you and your baby may need. They’ll also wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment).
• You are invited to take part in the Maternal CARE Study, a study to help understand, manage and fight COVID-19. If you participate, an additional test will be used to determine if you have been exposed to COVID-19 in the past — not if you have the disease now. This test is different from the COVID-19 swab test. Learn more about the Maternal CARE Study.

• Providers are altering prenatal appointment schedules so you don’t need to leave home as often.
• Tours, prenatal classes and lactation support are being offered online.
• With these adjustments, our teams can safely provide prenatal education and postnatal support.

• Pandemic or not, we follow strict guidelines to keep the hospital clean and safe.
• The Labor & Delivery staff take precautions when caring for patients each day, so these procedures are not new.
• You’ll get more information about arriving at the hospital from your care team. Always feel free to ask them any questions you have about coming to the hospital to deliver your baby.

One person can stay with you for support, whether it’s your partner, a doula, a family member or friend. This support person must be the same individual throughout your stay. They’ll need to be healthy to enter the hospital and must wear a face mask.

• To help limit the spread of COVID-19, patients and visitors must be masked while at the hospital. For expectant mothers and their support person, this means you’ll both be masked when you arrive at the facility.
• Expectant moms and their support person don’t need to be masked while they are in their room, unless healthcare workers are present.
• The same masking protocols apply during postpartum and newborn care.

• You may bring personal items such as sweats/pajamas and your favorite pillow.
• Your support person should also bring in personal items such as medication and toiletries.
• Parents are encouraged to bring in their car seat (leaving the base secured and fastened in the car) upon arrival, so you won’t have to leave the building to retrieve it later.
• You may also want to bring a cooler with any special snacks/foods you’d like to have in your room.

• Our teams are available to provide you postpartum support. Some resources may be online rather than in person.
• Your care team will share resources, including lactation support, postpartum classes and referrals for pump rentals.

• If you test positive for the virus, precautions will be taken before, during and after delivery.
• Your provider will be notified and will discuss care during your pregnancy. If you’re close to delivery, your provider will discuss the plan for your admission to the hospital.
• Watch for symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath (seek care right away if you have difficulty breathing), fever (over 100.0 F or higher), chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue (tired, weak), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite.
• Report any illness or changes to your provider.

• Though pregnancy can put you at higher risk for developing complications from similar illnesses, like the flu, there’s no evidence so far of that with COVID-19.
• At this time, there’s no indication that pregnant people are more likely than non-pregnant people to contract the virus or suffer severe infection.

• The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly by close contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets. Limited data suggests that the COVID-19 virus does not cross the placenta.
• Few cases of COVID-19 have been reported in newborns.
• The majority of pregnant people with COVID-19 have given birth to healthy babies.

• We recommend family members who have been in close contact with you discuss testing and monitoring with their primary doctor.
• They should watch for symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath (seek care right away if they have difficulty breathing), fever (over 100.0 F or higher), chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue (tired, weak), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite, and report any illness to their doctor.

• You may have a healthy support person accompany you while you’re in labor.
• This support person must be the same individual throughout your stay.
• Your support person can remain with you throughout your hospital stay, but will be asked to keep their entry and exit of the hospital to a minimum.

• During labor, some things may be a little different from what you expected. You’ll have a dedicated nurse, and fewer staff will come in and out of your room. Some communications may be done over the phone instead of face-to-face.
• You’ll need to wear a mask. Those taking care of you will wear facemasks, eye shields, gowns and gloves.
• Being COVID-19 positive does not affect the mode of delivery (vaginal versus cesarean) or your choice of pain control.

• After the baby is born, your provider and your pediatrician may recommend separation from your baby. This will be decided through shared decision making between you and your provider or pediatrician.
• A healthy person may visit the baby and participate in their care. Your baby’s pediatrician will provide information on how to care for your baby when you’re discharged from the hospital.

• Limited studies have not detected COVID-19 in breast milk; however, we don’t know for sure whether mothers with COVID-19 can spread the virus via breast milk.
• We recommend hand and breast hygiene prior to direct breastfeeding or pumping.

If you’re sick and choose to direct breastfeed, you’ll need to:

• Wear a facemask and wash your hands before each feeding.

If you’re sick and choose to pump breast milk:

• Express breast milk to establish and maintain milk supply.
• Use the dedicated breast pump provided.
• Wash your hands before touching any pump or bottle parts and before expressing breast milk.
• If possible, consider having someone who is healthy feed the expressed breast milk to your baby.

Your provider will discuss the risks and benefits of being tested and how testing could benefit you and your baby.