How to birth positively during COVID-19.
Firstly, don’t fear change. It is what it is. Don’t feel that you need to jump into action the minute you hear of any alterations to your birth hopes. Just take the information and sit with it for a while. Maybe even a day or two. Let the news sink in. Grieve if you need to. But don’t let anger or disappointment consume you. Be kind to yourself.
SO, WHAT ARE THE CHANGES BEING MADE?
From what we know so far (29th March ‘20) many planned home births are being moved into the maternity wards. In some cases the Midwife Let Units are being closed and births moved into the obstetric wards.
There are some concerns that ambulance services, already stretched due to the virus, may not be able to reach any problematic births as soon as they would like. They also feel that this may put further strain on their already over-stretched services.
However, some trusts are continuing to offer home births so it is always important to keep in touch with your hospital via their social media channels as well as through their usual telephone contact numbers.
You may be asked to stay at home for as long as possible before arriving at hospital and then also leaving hospital post birth far sooner than you might expect.
There are also changes as regards birth partners. For the most part hospitals are requesting that the birthing mother bring just one birth partner with her when in labour and attend all scans and check ups solo. The birth partner will not be allowed to stay overnight with you in hospital once the baby has been born.
Obviously a birth partner with the Covid-19 virus will not be allowed into the hospital. So you will in this case need to find a new support person.
Your birth partner should be allowed to attend a cesarean birth. Information from the RCOG states that the only time they would not be able to attend this would be during a general anaesthetic - which is the same advice as usual.
If you have the Covid-19 virus you will not be allowed to birth in a birth pool. You should however still be given entonox (gas & air) should you wish.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THESE CHANGES?
Although you may have hoped and dreamed of your home birth and these changes may seem awful, remember that they are only being made as hospitals need to respond as best as they can to this virus.
You will still be labouring and birthing in your own private room with its own ensuite bathroom.
You will still be attended to by midwives who only want the best for you and your baby.
How the room looks is entirely up to you. Take the bed out of the middle of the room (your midwife will help with this). Dim the lights, ask for a birth ball, a floor mat or a bean bag.
Spray your favourite room spray or use essential oils that you use at home, wear an eye mask, use your headphones, bring a blanket and pillow from home. Remember that our minds are quite simple really and when we reduce input and use anchors to places where we feel calm and happy then we will most probably feel calm and happy.
If you have hired a doula you can still have her there for you via FaceTime or Skype. Ensure that your birth partner keeps your birthing space calm, dim and safe.
If you cannot use a birth pool don’t worry, you can still labour in the bath or under the shower.
And as for staying at home as long as possible? Well, that is actually the best thing to do anyway. So don’t rush into hospital but enjoy the comfort of labouring at home for as long as you feel both comfortable and safe to do so.
Remember - the ability to grow a baby is yours. You have needed no help growing fingers and toes and it is in your very DNA to be able to labour and birth a baby too.
You are perfectly capable. An amazing human being.
Just relax, focus inwards and let the process happen. Everything needed is within you already. Strength, hormones, focus and the inbuilt power to reach within, surrender to the sensations and birth your baby.
That ability has not changed.
You continue to follow a well worn path - and this global pandemic does not change that.