Covid 19 updates for clients

04/01/20, 05/18/20 update

If this is your first time here, please read the entire first announcement. Anything that no long applies has been deleted. Thank you!

Updates around the birth center

As we face the reality of a covid-19 informed practice for a year or more, we have made major changes to the traffic and work flow at the birth center. You will now enter through the back of the building. When weather is nice we will meet at the table in the rear of the property for most of your in-person prenatal visit. For physical exams and when weather is not nice, we will meet inside the lab. All visits are being moved to this room to minimize traffic through the rest of the building. We have strict sanitizing protocols and they are easier to implement with this set up.

  • after reading the sign posted on the back door, you will leave your personal belongings, including shoes, in the area set up for this on the back porch

  • hand sanitizer is located on the counter for you to use before entering the building. You may choose to wear gloves if you like

  • please wear a mask inside, if you do not have one you can take a surgical mask from us. Since these are hard to come by, please bring it when you return

  • you can use any of the sanitizing supplies on the counter before you leave

  • please maintain social distance in the clinic room

Updates for birth

  • when entering the birth center for birth we will meet you and your helpers on the front porch for screening

  • for home births, we will discuss the sanitizing requirements at your home visit. We are asking that children not be in the same room as our supplies or equipment and maintain social distance at all times with us.

  • Adrianna and I have N95 masks for the birth and regular surgical or homemade masks for other times during birth. If you have any questions about PPE, please let us know.

  • we cannot accompany clients if there is a need to transfer to the hospital before, during, or after labor

Requests so that we can stay healthy and care for you and our other clients

  • If you have any Covid-19 symptoms call us right away! This includes a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, unusual fatigue.

  • If you have contact with anyone with Covid-19 symptoms, or anyone living with you has contact with someone with symptoms, call us right away.

  • please stay home as much as possible, following the stay home orders. If you or someone you live with must go out, please practice social distancing and use hand hygiene, gloves and, if possible, masks.

  • If you are an essential worker or someone you live with is an essential worker, give us a call or send a portal message so we can discuss

We have realized this is going to be a long haul, so we are committed to figuring out a way to keep connected and keep you connected with the community.  If you have not already, spend some time following us and other area birth and baby related local social media pages. Virtual classes and support are popping up every day and we think this is going to be a key piece as we move through the future.  We will announce how Cheri will be hosting virtual “River City Babies” group in the next couple days. Follow us on facebook to make sure you get the announcement. Please call us if you are having a hard time coping. We will get through this together, one day at a time.  It’s going to take a village and it might look like a crazy quilt, but we can do it.

We are also committed to the continued physical health and well-being of our clients and our community.  We really don’t want to get sick! There are only two of us, and although we work with other area midwives to make sure there is backup if we do get sick, that would not be ideal. 

Our updated daily protocols at the clinic and in your homes

  • Sanitizing hard surfaces with medical germicide as we continue to have it, or with alternative products like bleach between every appointment.

  • Implementing the use of disposable covers over soft surfaces like couches and stuffed chairs

  • Maintaining social distancing with clients and the use of gloves and masks when closer than 6 feet as available and advised by the CDC

  • Expectations for clients and visitors can be found here 

  • We will be changing clothes and shoes before entering your home for births and when we leave

Our updated telemedicine and face to face protocol

  • Face to face for first and 2nd appointments

  • Face to face at 28, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41+

  • Face to face at 24 hours postpartum and as needed

  • Face to face if there are any concerns or risk factors

  • We will be using Zoom for the time being for televisits. You should know that Zoom is not HIPAA compliant. The rules around this have been loosened for the pandemic. While the risks to your protected health information are limited, if you would like to discuss this further, just let us know.  

Together we can make telemedicine more humane, helpful and fun. If you are less than 32 weeks, you can purchase the following items - you can buy them locally, borrow from people or purchase online.

For everyone we are asking that you purchase an inexpensive handheld digital scale for postpartum weight checks.  You can improvise a sling to weigh baby with a basket or blanket, but if you prefer to purchase something specific to this type of scale you can find a scale sling here.

Homebirth Folks Only 

Please order birth supplies before the 36 weeks we usually recommend. Due to the demand, our supplier may run out of things soon, so the sooner you can order, the better.

If you would like to labor in the tub, we are recommending that you buy a birth tub and liner. With sanitizing supplies hard to come by, we are not sure we will have the supplies necessary to properly sanitize our inflatable tubs in between birth.  This tub is our number one recommendation and is fairly affordable.

The birth supply list is in your education form tab in the portal. Try to assemble all your supplies early as well, since some of those items may be in short supply. If you plan to give birth where there is carpet, make sure to purchase extra floor protection as hydrogen peroxide is in short supply.

Thank you!

Linsey and Arianna