Partners/Doulas/Midwives allowed at Hospital Births in East Bay?
I have multiple questions about prenatal and birth visitors/visitation in the East Bay:
-Are any obstetrics (OBGYN) offices in the east bay allowing partners in for appointments at this time?
-Are any hospitals allowing Doulas and/or Midwives to the birth at this time? Any clarification for what will happen next summer (July 2021)?
Thanks for sharing your experiences in advance!
Dec 8, 2020
Parent Replies
Congratulations on expecting! What the hospitals allow will totally depend on how the pandemic is doing and whether there is a surge at that given moment. Currently, and by that I mean today...cause it can change anytime...at hospitals like Kaiser, you’re allowed 1 support person and a doula only if it has been prearranged, meaning they have been identified and documented by your doctor in your chart during prenatal care. Once you’re delivered, the doula will need to leave prior to transferring to the postpartum unit. Good luck!
Hi there, I got pregnant in June and my partner has not been allowed to come to any OB appointments. He was able to go to my ultrasound at Sutter (Prenatal Diagnosis Center at 5730 Telegraph), but he won't be able to join my next one because due to the rise in COVID cases, only patients are allowed in the building.
It seems like a fluid situation, I don't think anyone knows what the regulations will be in July. Hopefully things will be better by then. When I had my first OB visit, I was told I could bring one support person to the hospital with me (I'm planning to deliver at Alta Bates). Then in the mid-October when COVID cases were low, Alta Bates started allowing two support people and I hired a doula. Unfortunately now that cases have spiked, it's back to one support person only. So if the situation stays the same til I deliver, I can either have my husband or the doula accompany me (and I kinda feel like the doula would be more helpful, but we haven't decided yet and are just hoping cases do go down and we don't have to choose). Since it looks like things can go back and forth, I would try not to worry about it (I know, easier said than done) and maybe hold off on hiring a doula until a little close to your due date.