1. One Visitor per Patient: Effective immediately, for the safety of our patients and staff, NO visitors are allowed in the clinic.
Exceptions:
2. We recommend wearing a mask to your appointment (as well as your accompanying visitor).
3. Starting May 4, 2020, all patients admitted to the hospital or admitted for labor and delivery, will be tested for the rapid COVID-19 virus. The test will provide a result within 2 hours; this testing is to help determine appropriate personal protective equipment for providers while taking care of patients in the hospital. The COVID 19 testing in no way will testing impact a patient’s obstetrical care.
4. You may want to discuss with your employer your options for not working or working exclusively from home during the last 2-3 weeks of your pregnancy. This would be to reduce chances of infection during labor and delivery.
COVID-19 is a new illness that affects the lungs and breathing. It is caused by a new coronavirus. The majority of persons experience mild to moderate symptoms, but 5% may require critical care and admission to a hospital. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after you are exposed to the virus.
Symptoms include:
We do not currently know if pregnant women have a greater chance of getting sick from COVID-19 than the general public nor whether they are more likely to have serious illness as a result. Researchers are still learning how the illness affects pregnant women. Pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections. With viruses from the same family as COVID-19, and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, women have had a higher risk of developing severe illness. It is always important for pregnant women to protect themselves from illnesses and should take the same steps as the general public to avoid COVID-19.
The virus spreads mainly from person-to-person contact. Pregnant women can take the same steps as other people to protect themselves, including:
See all of the prevention tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It’s too early for researchers to know what, if any, risk is posed to infants of a pregnant woman who has COVID-19. There has been a small number of reported problems during pregnancy and delivery in pregnant women with COVID-19 (such as preterm birth). However, it is not clear whether the problems were because of COVID-19 infection.
We still do not know if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus that causes COVID-19 to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. At this time, no infants born to mothers with COVID-19 have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. In these cases, which are a small number, the virus was not found in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk. Researchers may know more in the coming months.
Pregnant women who are feeling well do not need to wear a mask. If you have COVID-19 or have symptoms, you should wear a mask while you are around other people. You also should wear a mask if you are taking care of someone who has COVID-19 or has symptoms.
Voyage Healthcare has made some changes to protect the safety and health of our patients, staff, community, and providers. These changes include:
Low Risk OB Care: Some low risk women may have fewer or more spaced out in-person visits.
Virtual Visits: You also may have a Virtual Visit where you meet with your provider through an online video call. This is called a telehealth visit or telemedicine. It is a good way for you to get the care you need while preventing the spread of disease.
If you have a Virtual Visit scheduled, our office will call you ahead of time and/or you may receive an e-mail. You will receive details about your Virtual Visit.
Universal COVID-19 Screening: If you have an appointment in the office, a staff-person will talk to you to make sure you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If you have symptoms, they will connect you to our hotline for next steps.
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and have fever, cough, or other symptoms, call Voyage Healthcare’s Coronavirus hotline at 763-587-7900 (and press 5 when prompted) to speak to our clinical team and discuss your symptoms and a plan of care. After 5 o’clock: call our OB-GYN triage line 763-587-7916.
If you have emergency warning signs, call 911 or go to the hospital right away.
Emergency warning signs include the following:
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, follow the advice from the CDC and your ob-gyn or other health care professional.
The current CDC advice for all people with COVID-19 includes the following:
North Memorial Healthcare and Maple Grove Hospital have been adjusting their policies. Changes have included:
Talk with your ob-gyn provider about your labor and delivery plans. In most cases, the timing and method of delivery (vaginal birth or cesarean birth) do not need to be changed. Check with your ob-gyn provider if you have questions about your birth plan.
If you are sick, you do not automatically need a cesarean birth. But your health care team will wear masks or take other steps to prevent spreading the infection during and after labor and delivery. Your baby may need to be separated from you after birth if you are sick. The separation helps to prevent you from infecting your baby. Talk with your care team about this possibility.
The safest place for you to give birth is still a hospital or hospital-based birth center.
Even the healthiest pregnancies can have problems arise with little or no warning during labor and delivery (such as heavy bleeding, fever, or abnormal fetal heart rate monitoring). If problems happen, a hospital setting can give you and your baby the best care in a hurry. And studies have shown that babies born at home are more than twice as likely to die around the time of birth than those born in hospitals.
Every woman has the right to choose where she will give birth. But it is important to not take any risks that might put you or your newborn’s health in danger, especially as there is a high risk for getting COVID-19. Talk with your ob-gyn or other health care professional about your birth plan and any concerns.
So far, the virus has not been found in breast milk. But there is not enough information yet on whether women who are sick can pass the virus through breast milk.
Breast milk gives babies protection against many illnesses. It also is the best source of nutrition for most infants. However, much is unknown about COVID-19. Currently, the CDC recommends breastfeeding. Talk with your health care providers about whether to start or continue breastfeeding. You can make this individualized decision together with your family and the health care team.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been diagnosed, you can take the following steps to avoid passing the infection to your baby:
Pregnant women can stay healthy by following the usual recommendations during pregnancy, including:
How can I manage stress and anxiety?
Being home a lot and avoiding other people can be hard. The above tips for staying physically healthy also can help your mental health.
A few other things you can do to stay mentally healthy include:
If you or a loved one are feeling overwhelmed, you can call the Disaster Distress Helpline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-985-5990 (TTY 1-800-846-8517). You also can text TalkWithUs to 66746. If you feel like you want to harm yourself or others, call 911 right away. Find more mental health advice and resources from the CDC.
Times of crisis can be very hard for people in abusive relationships. Abuse at home is known as intimate partner violence or domestic violence. Abuse can get worse during pregnancy. If you need help, call the 24-hour, toll-free National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) and 800-787-3224 (TTY). Or you can use the live chat option at https://www.thehotline.org/.
See the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel page for the latest updates.
Other travel recommendations may be in place globally or locally as the virus continues to spread. Check with your local or state health department for information about travel in your area.
Call Voyage Healthcare. We are your main resource for all questions about your pregnancy. Questions about your workplace are best answered by your employer. For other questions about COVID-19, you can check CDC web pages, which are updated often and listed below.