Transferring to Midwifery Care: Pregnancy and Birth During COVID-19

Unless you're living under a rock, you're aware of the coronavirus. COVID-19. The viral pneumonia that has caused a global pandemic. 2020 is a year that we will never forget. There are a lot of unknowns. And for pregnant women, what is supposed to be a beautiful time in their lives, has become a time of fear and uncertainty. Pregnant women all over the world are now faced with a challenge they never could have imagined.

There isn't anyone who can say exactly how this will all pan out, or where we will be in the coming months. The only thing we know for sure, is that health care workers and hospitals in the US are shifting their focus to defeating the coronavirus. This contagious illness could potentially overwhelm hospitals, especially in the bigger cities, but to what extent is largely unknown. There are no absolutes, and we have to remain optimistic, but these times will inevitably test our patience and our strength.

Hospitals understandably need to take certain precautions to protect their patients. Many hospitals, especially in large cities such as New York and Los Angeles, have already began enforcing new restrictions on birthing women and their families. In these hospitals, they are limiting who can be alongside a birthing mama. Unfortunately, this means many women who birth in the hospital, will be faced with the possibility of birthing alone. And if a birthing woman has the virus, they will be required to separate mom and baby until mom is cleared. COVID-19, like any other contagious illness can be dangerous for a newborn.

Low-risk pregnant women need to know there are other options for birthing their babies! There are skilled midwives who are expanding their services to help women and their families during this crisis. Even if a birth center or home birth wasn't a mama's first choice, for a low-risk, healthy pregnancy, it may be the better choice.

Transferring to midwifery care is easy. It's simply a matter of transferring current prenatal records from doctor to midwife, and ensuring the pregnancy is low-risk and healthy. Here at Pure Births, late transfers are welcome!

At Pure Births, we are here to serve and provide support for low-risk pregnant women who've not previously considered out-of-hospital birth, but in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic are looking for an alternative. Here are a list of frequently asked questions and answers:

1. Should I change my birth plan? Possibly, yes. The good news is that if you have a low-risk, healthy pregnancy, you are a great candidate for birth center birth or home birth. And NO! It's not as scary as it sounds. During this pandemic, birth center or home birth can provide comfort for families, knowing they can avoid potential exposure to COVID-19 at a hospital, stay together and be able to celebrate the birth of their new baby in peace. But mamas should always follow their instincts and only choose out of hospital birth if it feels right in their heart.

2. Are birth center and home births safe? YES! For low-risk, healthy pregnancies, modern midwifery care is the same, if not better than what you'd expect at the doctors office. At Pure Births, we have a 95% water birth rate! The risk of cesarean section when a woman chooses a birth center or home birth is 6%. At a hospital, a woman's risk of cesarean section is well over 30%! A woman's likely-hood of getting an epidural in a hospital is over 70%! Epidurals are used to decrease the pain of birth, but come with a long, and often over-looked list of real risks to mama and baby. And during this pandemic, there are new risks, like not having any birth support and having to birth your baby essentially alone, in addition to the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Midwifery care, birth center birth and home birth greatly decrease a woman’s risk of exposure to COVID-19.

3. Are midwives educated? How do they compare to a doctor? YES! Skilled midwives have studied and worked extensively for years in the field of pregnancy and childbirth. They specialize in prenatal, birth and well-woman care for women. Skilled midwives are certified and licensed in every state. Midwives at Pure Births have also trained in other countries, such as the Philippines, and have been the primary care provider for hundreds of births!

4. How will a midwife keep me and my family safe? A skilled midwife will support and empower her patients. She will follow strict guidelines in order to protect and ensure her patients give birth safely. Appropriate prenatal testing such as blood testing and monitoring of baby and mama’s physical health, as well as ultrasounds (when necessary) are done throughout pregnancy, to ensure mama and baby are healthy and ready to birth naturally. A focus on nutrition and the physical and emotional health of mama are a priority when it comes to excellent midwifery care. A skilled midwife is trained to recognize abnormalities either during pregnancy or birth that would deem natural, out-of-hospital birth un-safe. If any issues arise, a woman is referred to the appropriate medical care. Thankfully, for most low-risk, healthy women, these issues are very rare. During the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, extra precautions are being taken, such as increased PPE during visits and births, and whatever is necessary to protect mama and baby.

5. What can I expect from my out-of-hospital birth? More and more women are choosing out-of-hospital birth, because they want more control over their birth experience. First time mamas, mamas who've had previous hospital births, and mamas who’ve had traumatic birth experiences in the hospital system are calling on midwives to be their primary care providers. Natural birth women all have the same thing in common - they want to feel supported and avoid the cascade of interventions that is an unfortunate commonplace in the hospital. During this pandemic, they also want to avoid exposure to COVID-19. Low-risk women who birth out-of-the-hospital report being much more satisfied with their birth experience, and deeply connected to their babies. Out-of-hospital birth is beautiful, and empowering!

Pregnancy and birth are supposed to be an exciting and beautiful time. Women are supposed to be able to nest and prepare to bring their babies into an environment that they feel safe in. This pandemic has turned our lives upside down. It has forced us all into uncharted territory. We've all had to make hard decisions, and this will continue for as long as the pandemic is active. BUT one day at a time we will forge our way into a new normalcy. We will get through this and find peace.

PLEASE reach out to us if you are a pregnant woman with a low-risk pregnancy, and are unsure of what to do right now. There are skilled midwives and/or birth workers in your area that CARE and WANT TO HELP! We DO NOT recommend un-assisted births. The health and safety of you and your baby needs to be the top priority! Please reach out to us for more information!

Written by Christine Rapsys, Writer and Pure Births Mama