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20-03-18 COVID-19 Update and Information Links
In light of recommendations by public health officials for reducing the risks from COVID-19, Community Midwives of Kingston is implementing several changes to protect clients, midwives and staff. These changes may evolve with public health recommendations, while taking your clinical needs into account.
We know that these limitations may be difficult for people and we sympathize with any logistical hardships that you may encounter.
APPOINTMENTS
· Your clinic appointments and home postpartum visits will be rearranged in order to reduce the number of people in our waiting room, reduce exposure risks and limit the number of visits to essential purposes only. We will contact you directly if your upcoming scheduled appointment will be changed. If you don't hear from us, please come to your scheduled appointment.
· Please try not to bring any children or support people into the clinic.
· Your in-person appointment will be shortened to clinical assessments only (blood pressure, check baby, bloodwork etc). We will contact you by phone to answer questions, provide teaching, have informed choice discussions, etc.
· Please do not arrive early for appointments (to minimize time spent in waiting room)
PLEASE DO NOT COME TO CLINIC IF:
· You are sick at all or someone you live with is sick
· You have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days
· You have had close contact with someone who has travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days.
Call us if you meet these criteria, so we can discuss your care. If you need a visit during this time, we can make a care plan to see you, if necessary, with the use of precautions.
PLEASE PAGE YOUR MIDWIFE If you have a fever (38C) and/or new cough or difficulty breathing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Midwives cannot provide testing for covid-19. If you do not have symptoms but you think you have COVID-19 or have been exposed please use the ONTARIO MINISTRY OF HEALTH's ONLINE ASSESSMENT TOOL (click here for link)
If you do have the symptoms listed above, page your midwife and we will direct you to the most appropriate site.
Current Updates and Information about KINGSTON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE (click here for link)The hospital has initiated strict visitor limitations. This has happened with past outbreaks, such as SARS. You can have one person with you during your labour, birth and postpartum. This person must be healthy and must not have recently travelled. You cannot swap out this person once you are at the hospital. We encourage you to identify a second support person in case your initial support person becomes ill.
OTHER WAYS TO STAY SAFE (link to WHO recommendations)
We know it is difficult to say no to visitors (particularly once a new baby is here) however, along with everyone else, please practice social distancing in your own life and try to stay home, avoid people who are sick and people who have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days.**We, as midwives, will be following the same recommendations for self-isolation if exposed or sick** In this event, you would see a different midwife for prenatal, birth or postpartum care so that we can keep you safe and well.
"Due to physiological changes of pregnancy, compared to their non-pregnant counterparts, pregnant people with lower respiratory tract infections (like COVID-19) often experience worse outcomes, including higher rates of hospital and ICU admission." Postpartum people are also at increased risk. "There has been no evidence of vertical transmission (mother-to-neonate) found."
We know this is a stressful time and we encourage you to practice self-care:
Breathe. There are many free meditation resources on spotify and youtube.
Move your body. Go for walks outside. Access free prenatal yoga videos on youtube.
Connect with the people you love through emails, social media and phone calls.
Water. Drink a lot of it. Take a bath. Wash your hands frequently.
Disconnect from media, social media and this story every once in a while. Read a book. Cook a meal. Fold your baby’s clothes. Make a list of other things you can do at home to nurture yourself at this time.
If you need extra help:
· Many therapists are able to do online sessions if you have access to that resource.
· Please let us know if you are having trouble accessing food during this period.
· Please page us if you are not safe at home during quarantine or during this time of social distancing.
While the information about covid-19 is evolving, you can keep up to date following resources from trusted sources (click on link):
Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) COVID-19 in Pregnancy
The MotHER’s Program Coronavirus
Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health Coronavirus
Public Health Ontario COVID-19
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG - UK) Coronavirus infection and pregnancy
World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
