the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the event a mother and baby test positive for COVID and have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, they can continue to room together. We understand the importance of bonding during those first moments together. We continue to offer new moms lactation support both during and after their stay, allowing newborns and parents to safely enjoy the vital Ricci Ros
Pregnant in the Time of COVID
How a Local Hospital Is Caring for Moms
H
ow has COVID-19 changed the landscape of maternal care? We asked Ricci Ros, director of Women’s and Children’s Services at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
FL: How has COVID-19 changed your protocols for pregnant and laboring moms and their families? Ricci Ros: At Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and Petaluma Valley Hospital, we believe bringing your baby into this world should be a precious, safe, and joyous experience despite anxiety around COVID. We have developed a comprehensive plan to keep our families together as much as possible while keeping our community safe. 10 SonomaFamilyLife
We require our staff to wear masks and face shields to protect both our patients and caregivers, and we test all patients upon admission to ensure the safety of the patients and staff. Other precautions we are taking include: conducting temperature checks and screening everyone who enters the hospital for COVID symptoms; isolating positive and suspected COVID patients; social distancing whenever possible; and executing thorough cleaning practices recommended by
Childbirth is a natural process and we avoid complicating it, if it is not necessary. activity of immediate skin-to-skin bonding. Mothers who test positive for COVID are encouraged to breastfeed with a few precautions; moms who do not want to breastfeed will be offered donated human milk. We support both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding practices. FL: What is the role of birth partners/spouses during this time? RR: We encourage the mother’s spouse or partner to support her in whatever way they are comfortable. We are family-centered and our focus is to educate and support [mother and partner] as a team. While the number of visitors at the hospital is restricted at this time in order to align with recommendations from the CDC and State of California, we know the importance of having a support person to guide moms through
September 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
