Fairfield Medical Center is taking steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes temporarily suspending all maternity classes and tours until further notice. At this time, we are limiting the number of visitors for every patient in the hospital. For maternity patients, one support person may accompany them throughout their stay. This person will receive an armband which allows them access to the Maternity Unit as long as they are symptom-free. Please limit the amount of time spent outside patient rooms to brief walks in the maternity hallway, maintaining social distancing from other patients and from staff when appropriate, and alerting staff members to any symptoms you have while staying at FMC.
In addition to the one support person, doulas are permitted with the return and presentation of a negative COVID-19 screen. A mother who has delivered and been readmitted, newborns are permitted with a caregiver in the room.
It is always important to protect yourself from illness when pregnant. Everyone in the home should avoid contact with anyone who has been exposed to the virus or anyone with symptoms. Everyone should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly throughout the day, and surfaces in the home should be cleaned and disinfected daily.
Current data suggests mother-to-child transmission of Coronavirus during pregnancy is unlikely but, after birth, a newborn is at risk for becoming ill from contact with caregivers who are sick. A small number of babies have tested positive for the virus shortly after birth; however, it is unknown if these babies got the virus before or after birth. So far, the virus has not been found in amniotic fluid or breastmilk. If you are sick and choose to breastfeed, you should wear a face mask and wash your hands before each feeding. During this time, we encourage you to bring your own breast pump with you to the hospital in case you need it. As always, be sure you are following proper recommendations for pump washing and pump use, including washing your hands before touching any pump or bottle parts and before expressing breast milk.
Click here for more frequently asked questions regarding pregnancy and COVID-19.
For more information on CDC guidelines regarding pregnancy and COVID-19, click here.
Now that you are finally ready to welcome your bundle of joy into the world, we want you to be confident about the care that you and your baby will receive – because even if you haven’t done this before, we have. In fact, we’ve done it more than 75,000 times. That means our experienced providers are prepared to provide you and your newborn with the gentle, loving and attentive care you deserve.
