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 April 30, 2021. 
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Screening questions:
1. Have you or anyone in your home been out of the country and returned to Canada? 
2. Have you or anyone in your home been out of the country and returned to Canada? 
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, some ultrasound clinics 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 

• Two support people are allowed. There is no swapping out off support people. They can come and go but will need to be re-screened. With that said patients and support people are encouraged to limit how often they leave their room. Please take everything you need with you (leave your car seat in the car) when you go up. You cannot swap out support people once they have been chosen.
• Laboring women are asked to stay masked as long as they can. If they have to take off the mask then partners, doulas, staff have to put on a face-shield AND wear their mask. Shields will be provided by RGH. Partners and doulas are to be masked at ALL times in the birth unit, even if staff are not in the room.
• 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.
• 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 or even little "Mr Noodle" or "Cup-a-Soups". There is a small fridge in every LBU & MBU room. 
• Labouring woman and support persons are screened before entering the LBU. If the support person doesn't pass screening, they will not be allowed either unit. An alternate may be invited, who must pass screening and be the support person for the duration of the stay. If the labouring woman doesn't pass screening she will be swabbed and LBU has a machine that gives fast results - 10-15min. So far that's only available for the birthing woman. 
• Swab test is part of prep for a planned/scheduled c-sec.
• If the birthing woman is COVID POSITIVE, then partner won't be allowed in the unit.
• COVID 19 Positive birth moms still keep and breastfeed their bab(its).
• 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.
• Masks can be taken off when only patients and support people are in the room.
• Masks must be worn when staff enter. 
• 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. 
• 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.
• 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. 

***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. This information is subject to change at ANYTIME.
April 30, 2021