Yay!
You are all set. The 20% offer has been sent to your email.
As we continue to learn more about Coronavirus each day, we’ll keep our community of expecting parents updated with the latest pregnancy and delivery related news.Check back here regularly to discover up-to-date answers to your most pressing questions.
Updates and news provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and NYC-based Dr. Jaqueline Worth, OBGYN and co-author of The New Rules of Pregnancy.Plus, Dr. Worth is on hand to answer your questions LIVE. Click here to register for our next Zoom Class with Dr. Worth. *April 30, 2020 Update: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo accepts full list of recommendations from COVID-19 Maternity Task Force.
Read on below for an overview and find the full report here.
Based on what we know about COVID-19, we believe pregnant people appear to have the same risk of COVID-19 as adults who are not pregnant. However, much remains unknown. We do know that pregnant people have had a higher risk of severe illness when infected with viruses that are similar to COVID-19, as well as other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza.
We also know that pregnant people have changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections. Therefore, if you are pregnant, it is always important for you to try to protect yourself from illnesses whenever possible. (CDC).
Update: A new study published May 22 out of Northwestern University found that placentas from 16 women who tested positive for Covid-19 while pregnant showed evidence of injury to the placentas. The studies showed abnormal blood flow between the mothers and their babies in utero thus indicating a new complication of Covid-19. All of the full-term babies in the study did test negative for coronavirus (American Journal of Clinical Pathology).
Much is still unknown about the risks of COVID-19 to the pregnancy and to the baby.
It is important to take care of yourself and your baby during pregnancy and after delivery.
Although there is no vaccine available to protect against the virus that causes COVID-19, routine vaccines are an important part of protecting your health. Receiving some vaccines during pregnancy, such as the influenza (flu) and Tdap vaccines, can help protect you and your baby. If you are pregnant, you should continue to receive your recommended vaccines. Talk with your healthcare provider about visits for vaccines during pregnancy. (CDC)
Delivering your baby is always safest under the supervision of trained healthcare professionals. If you have questions about the best place to deliver your baby, discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Plastic face shields for newborns and infants are NOT recommended. There are no data supporting the use of infant face shields for protection against COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses. An infant face shield could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or accidental suffocation and strangulation. Infants, including newborns, move frequently, which could increase the possibility of their nose and mouth becoming blocked by the plastic face shield or foam components. The baby’s movement could also cause the face shield to become displaced, resulting in strangulation from the strap.
Information for how to protect newborns from becoming sick with COVID-19 while in the hospital can be found in CDC’s Considerations for Inpatient Obstetrics Healthcare Settings. Additional information on how to protect yourself and others, including newborns and infants, from COVID-19 illness is also available. (CDC)
CDC recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are out in the community. Because of the danger of suffocation, do NOT put cloth face coverings on babies or children younger than 2 years. Cloth face coverings should also not be worn by anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, can’t move, or is otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.
Parents and other caregivers should keep in mind that wearing a cloth face covering is not a substitute for social distancing, frequent hand washing, or other everyday preventive actions – please wear your cloth face covering in addition to practicing other prevention steps. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect you, the wearer, but it may prevent you from spreading the virus to others. This would be especially important if you are infected but do not have symptoms of COVID-19. Please remember that medical face masks and N95 respirators are reserved for healthcare personnel and other first responders. (CDC)
Right now, if I were having a baby this week, I wouldn't have anybody over for a couple of weeks until I knew that everybody was healthy, my baby was safe and I was safe. (Dr. Jaqueline Worth on 4/5)
It’s very clear in the data so far that PPE is very protective. It protects the doctors, nurses and midwives from catching COVID-19 and it also protects the patients from catching anything from anyone who is there and that’s why everyone is wearing a mask. The doctors, nurses and staff are going to wear the N-95 mask, covered by another mask and a hat for the whole time they’re in the labor unit. That protects everyone from spreading any virus and the good news is that it’s working. (Dr. Jaqueline Worth on 4/5)
Don't get too caught up in the details because they’re rapidly changing. This week in New York City at Mount Sinai Hospital, there is a four hour test available which is fortunate as some hospitals are offering a 24 hour test. Patients are either tested on admission in labor and their partners are also screened and tested. If a partner is found to be unhealthy on admission, then that partner would not be allowed up and the patient would be asked to find a healthy alternate partner. I’m suggesting to my patients that they have their partner and a back-up partner just in case on admission their partner isn’t well. Currently, if someone is having a C-section or the labor is being induced then the patient and the partner are being tested the day prior, in that case you would know before you come in.
Routine well child visits and vaccine visits are still important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newborn visits. Ideally, newborn visits should be done in person so that your pediatric healthcare provider can check your baby’s growth and feeding, check your baby for jaundice, make sure your baby’s newborn screening tests were done, and get any repeat or follow-up testing, if necessary. At the newborn visit, your pediatric healthcare provider will also check how you and your baby are doing overall. Newborn screening tests include a bloodspot, hearing test, and test for critical congenital heart defects. Learn more about newborn screening tests.
Well child visits. Your pediatric healthcare provider will check your child’s development at well child visits. You can track your child’s developmental milestones with CDC’s free Milestone Tracker app.
Vaccine visits. Vaccines are an important part of keeping your child healthy, especially if your child is under 2 years old. Vaccines help provide immunity before being exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Although there is not yet a vaccine to help protect against COVID-19, vaccines for illnesses such as measles, influenza (flu), whooping cough (pertussis), and other infectious diseases are important for your child’s health. This will help to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases among young children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ask your healthcare provider how they are taking steps to separate healthy patients from those who may be sick. Some health care providers may choose to delay visits like well child checks and routine vaccine visits. These decisions will be based on circumstances in your community and your child’s individual care plan. Call your provider’s office to ask about any upcoming appointments or about when your child’s vaccinations are due.
There is much more to be learned about how this disease affects children. While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, most illnesses have been among adults. Some reports suggest that infants under 1 year old and those with underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 than other children.
*We will continue to update the below as we learn more. Please note individual hospital policies can be updated frequently throughout the day, so please make sure to review your personal hospital’s website or call their hotline.
Los Angeles: At Cedar Sinai, a companion is allowed during labor and delivery (after delivery, companions are subject to all restrictions). Any visitors who are allowed must pass a health screening, including a temperature check. Visitors with a fever of 100 degrees and higher will not be allowed to enter. Visitors are required to wear masks at all times when on the premises.
New York City: On April 30, 2020, Governor Cuomo accepted COVID-19 Maternity Task Force's recommendations in full and signed an executive order which (the full report can be found here):
Clarifies doulas as an essential support person for labor and delivery
Extends the period of time a healthy support person can accompany a mother post delivery
Considers expecting women priority population for testing
Taking measures to diversity birthing site options and support patient choice
Supports efforts to review the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and newborns.
Chicago: Laboring and post-delivery mothers at Northwestern Memorial Prentice Hospital are limited to one visitor 18+ or older. All patients and visitors will be asked if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or flu. Visitors showing signs of illness during the screening process will not be allowed to visit or accompany the patient. Patients and visitors without a badge will be asked to return to the screening location to complete their screening. Northwestern Medicine will temporarily no longer allow service animals in inpatient areas.
*Offer does not apply to previous orders. Select items only. Offer is not eligible on nursery items, jewelry, gift cards, embroidery or classes. Offer cannot be combined with any other codes or discounts. Offer ends at 11:59 PM PT on 12/31/2020.