You
have a baby on the way, and that is wonderful – congratulations on this
exciting new time in your life. It is a time that is to be celebrated
and joyous. We know you probably have concerns given the situation with
COVID-19. That is completely understandable, and we are here to help.
The safety of our new parents and their babies is our highest priority.
We want to ensure that your family is safe and healthy. We also need to
keep ourselves healthy so we can care for all of the other families that
come in after you.
Changes to some procedures at WDMH have been made to protect patients and staff from COVID-19. This information may change as COVID-19 recommendations change.
To
ensure you know the latest information, please call Labour and Delivery
at 613-774-2420 ext: 6860 before you come to the hospital. If you have
any questions related to COVID-19, please discuss them with your care
provider.
Current Processes
- You and your support
person should come to the main entrance (between 7 am and 7 pm) or to
the Emergency entrance (between 7 pm and 7 am)
- At the main
entrance, you will self-screen and put on a new mask. You will then go
to Emergency to register. Then you will go to Obstetrics. (If there is a
rush, you will be screened and sent directly to the Obstetrics.)
COVID-positive Patients
- If a patient is
suspected to have COVID-19 or is confirmed, the support person must not
be suspected to have COVID-19 and must wear appropriate personal
protective equipment (PPE) such as a mask. If a procedure is required
that requires staff to wear N95 masks, no visitors will be present
during the procedure and sometime after the procedure to protect the
safety of the support person.
- You will need to wear a routine
barrier mask and perform hand hygiene when feeding or handling baby.
Your baby must remain at a physical distance of 2 metres while not
breastfeeding and have a healthy support person present to help provide
care to the baby for the duration of the stay.
Rest assured. You and your baby are our top priority.
Post-Discharge
- Babies born to birth parents who screened negative or have tested negative:
- Follow-up
with primary care provider, including bili testing. Some clinics may
be providing care virtually or over the phone. Contact their primary
care provider prior to delivery to receive follow up instructions.
- Babies
requiring a readmission for hyperbili can be admitted to postpartum as
per usual practice, so long as the birth parent continues to screen
negative and be asymptomatic.
- Public Health Nurses will contact
birth parents for a telephone assessment (healthy baby healthy children)
regarding birth parent and baby approx. one day post-discharge.
- Babies born to a parent who is suspected or confirmed COVID-19 positive:
- Caregivers
who are asymptomatic and COVID-19 negative should care for the infant
and maintain care in a dedicated area in the home, preferably in a
separate room from the birth parent if able.
- Birth parent may breastfeed, after performing hand hygiene, washing their chest, and while wearing a mask.
- Outpatient
procedures (ie: bili) will be arranged by appointment only in a private
room. Wear a mask while in hospital. Baby will be sent home after
exam/testing if clinically well.