Summary of RGH Labour & Birth Unit and Mother Baby Unit due to COVID-19 Policies

​We are trying to provide as much information as possible in a timely fashion.
Please note all of this is SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANYTIME. This is the most recent as of Friday, April 3rd.
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Screening questions:
1. Have you or anyone in your home been out of the country and returned to Canada prior to March 6th?
2. Have you or anyone in your home been out of the country and returned to Canada March 6th or after?
3. Are you, or someone in your home feeling sick? If yes, what are your symptoms?
4. Have you or anyone in your home been directed to self-isolate? If yes, by who? What date?

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞
● OB / MD offices, ultrasounds etc are not allowing partners/companions to attend appointments. The pregnant person goes in alone. The visits are being divided between in office appointments and phone appointments. Low risk and high risk are being assessed and treated accordingly.   
● Midwifery offices are doing the discussion part of the consult by phone and then a quick in-person appointment for the hands-on part. They prefer pregnant patients attend alone but will allow partners. No other family members/friends/support are allowed.
● Anyone under midwifery or GP care who tests positive for C-19 at any point in their pregnant, birth or postpartum will be immediately transferred to OB care. 
● If you arrive to to your appointment early you may be asked to wait in your car until your appointment time.

​𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 & 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 
● Hospital is locked-down. No visitors. One support person who needs to be the person who remains for the entire hospital stay. Whoever attends the birth, stays in Mother Baby. There is no swapping out off support people. They can leave the unit to get food (from the cafeteria or Robins or meet a delivery-person at one of the main doors). They CANNOT leave the building as this could introduce risk to themselves, their family and other patients. If they do leave they will have to be re-screened and risk not being allowed back in. 
● Everyone entering RGH at ER, main entry and 15th St Admitting door will be screened for C-19 risk factors. Doors that don't have an admitting desk are locked tight; security will not let anyone in. That includes the convenient door just below the MBU.
● The bigger Robins/Freshii is closed. The Robins Kiosk at the 14th St entry and the cafeteria are both open.
● Galleys (the kitchenettes) in the units are closed to patients/support person. There is no access to the microwaves, kettles, food, water-ice machines. There is no access to the fridges and freezers, except for the small ones in your room.
● Food Services is limiting snack delivery. Bring your own snacks and food. Maybe a little kettle if you like to make hot drinks. There's a small fridge in every LBU & MBU room. 
● Labouring woman and support person are both screened before entering the LBU. If the support person doesn't pass screening, they will not be allowed in either unit. An alternate may be invited, who must pass screening and plan to stay for the duration of the admission. If the labouring woman doesn't pass screening then her and her partner will be put into an isolation room for the birth and postpartum, and not allowed to leave the room. 
● Bring everything you need for the duration of your birth and postpartum stay, including the car-set, when you enter the building the first time. They recommend you bring your stuff even if you're just going in for an early labour check in case you are admitted.  
● Use of Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is under review - right now it is available.
● Early discharge is being offered as an option for those that are healthy and feel comfortable with newborn care. That means to go home a few hours after your birth instead of staying 24-36 hours. 
● Women getting a cervidil induction will be monitored and then sent home to wait for labour to start, as per usual, then re-screened at RGH doors and LBU doors upon return.
● People who show up too early in labour will be sent home, as usual, then rescreened at RGH doors and LBU doors upon return. 
● There will be no in-hospital water-birth for midwifery clients. The installed bath-tub is available for comfort in labour.
● Support people are allowed at homebirths but must be screened. If anyone in the home (residents or support people) doesn't pass screening, then the birth must be transferred to RGH. In that case, the one support person rule applies. Home birthers - screen your people before they come over!

Mother Baby Unit
● Families are being asked to stay in their room as much as possible. 
● Partners can leave the unit to get food (from the cafeteria or Robins or meet a delivery-person at one of the main doors) but not visit any other patient areas. 
● Partners are not to leave the building during their stay in MBU as this could introduce risk to themselves, their family and other patients. (If you're a smoker, ask your nurse where to go, but be aware, you will be re-screened.)
● Food trays are still being provided for new moms in the MBU.  
● Midwives and public health nurses are still providing postpartum home-visits. Some may be done by phone or video, depending on your needs.

***I am not an employee of SHA and in no way am affiliated with SHA, but do have access to communications with the doulas so we can help provide information to our clients.