COVID-19 and Illness Policy

Updated 4-1-24

At National Baby Co., the health and safety of our clients, doulas and community are of utmost importance. As COVID-19 and all illnesses are of particular concern for pregnant women and parents with newborns, we wanted to share the safety measures that we have always had in place as well as new preventative measures we’ve taken in light of the Covid-19 virus to protect our doulas and clients and be socially responsible.

1.     All of our doulas practice rigorous hand washing and personal hygiene at all times, including using personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary (while providing hands-on breastfeeding support, when fluids are present during birth, etc). We will encourage our members to engage in continued diligence about personal hygiene and the following of recommended guidelines for limiting exposure.

Each member of our team sets their own personal protocols for COVID-19/illness and may be open to accommodating specific client requests. We recommend discussing your personal preferences for precautionary measures during your interviews and requesting those be listed in the client contract.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) have issued the following COVID-19 safety guidelines for pregnant persons and medical providers. While these are great resources, please direct all medical questions or concerns to your personal care provider(s).

• Guidelines issued by the CDC for pregnant persons

• Guidelines issued by the CDC for breastfeeding persons

• ACOG practice advisory

• Guidelines for pregnant people diagnosed with COVID-19

• How Birth Doulas Are Helping Parents Navigate Coronavirus

• Black Mamas Matter Alliance: Black Maternal Health and the US Covid-19 Response

• Evidence Based Birth Covid Resources

2.     During flu and RSV season we have always been especially mindful of illness in our own homes and the homes of our clients. The contract with your doula should address protocols for birth attendance and postpartum visits when your doula, a member of your doulas family, you, the client, or a member of your family is ill. Your doula should not attend births or scheduled postpartum shifts when they are or have recently been ill and/or have a severely ill family member at home. You can request to be supported by a backup doula. We also request Clients notify your doula directly when you or a member of your family have a fever, respiratory symptoms, vomiting, or diarrhea. Rescheduling postpartum visits or prenatal appointments may be necessary in these circumstances.

3.     At this time our members will be continuing all scheduled postpartum shifts, prenatal appointments, private classes, and will be attending births as planned.

4.     During illness outbreaks, some hospitals may implement more restrictive protocols on support people and visitors at births, while some may still recognize Birth Doulas as essential members of the care team. Many hospitals have flu restrictions, which means no children under 14 are permitted and visitors may be screened upon entry for a fever or other potential COVID-19/illness symptoms. Our members do their best to stay up-to-date with hospital policies to understand how additional restrictions may impact you and your ability to have in-person doula support. Information can change daily, especially during flu/RSV season, so we recommend you reach out to your planned place of birth or your care provider for the most up-to-date information and provide your doula with any necessary information that may impact their ability to support you.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can always reach to us directly.