SARASOTA – Amid Coronavirus, expecting mothers have their concerns when delivering at a hospital, some changing their birth plans.
An expecting Sarasota mother, who asked to remain anonymous, is 35 weeks pregnant and due to give birth in May. The mother has concerns with the on-going pandemic and giving birth at a hospital.
“I mean we just didn’t know what kind of staff was going to be available at that time and are they going to be sick, you go through so many more people at the hospital then you would, where there’s two, you know your midwife and her assistant at your home,” said an expecting Sarasota mother.
The expecting mother is now considering an at-home birth.
“So I spoke to my doctor about it and when you’re there in a hospital or when you have a birthing center birth or home birth, you’re home within a couple of hours, when you’re at a hospital you have to minimum stay 24 hours and that’s if everything is okay,” said an expecting Sarasota mother.
Director of Obstetrical Services at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Judy Cavallaro says the hospital has implemented several changes within the past weeks to ensure the safety of both the mother and newborn.
“We are prepared and I still think that this is the safest place to have a baby and we can ensure that the environment is such as well,” said Cavallaro.
The hospital has made changes with visitation, allowing one support person to be with the mom, as long as that person does not have flu-like symptoms or a fever.
“We keep mom and babies together in the same room so if your support person is with you we want to keep him with mom as well so we’ve actually worked with our dietary friends to deliver breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the support person so they don’t have to travel through the hallways to get to the cafeteria,” said Cavallaro.
The hospital has also implemented technology to give expecting mother’s virtual tours of labor and delivery units prior to delivery and providing virtual appointments for breastfeeding support once they are discharged. Cavallaro recommends expecting mothers touch base with their OB Provider and Pediatrician before making a decision.
“I do think that every mom has a special care plan so that gives them the opportunity to kind of walk through what’s important to them, what they’d like to see happen and that way that can kind of alleviate some of their anxiety before they get here,” said Cavallaro.
If expecting mothers or families have concerns or want more information on births at Sarasota Memorial Hospital as things evolve in the Suncoast, they can call 941–313–0943.
