Restrictions in South Florida Hospital are going back up
And unfortunately what we are seeing in the birth community, is hospitals treating their patient’s birth teams as non-essential
Now, I am not a very confrontational person, I do not write a lot of hot button, controversial topics, but here is where I absolutely, hands down must interject because I see something inherently wrong with this entire system designed to protect that is perpetuating that misconception that when a woman is in labor, her doula is non-essential and therefore will be flagged falsely as a visitor and not allowed into Labor and Delivery.
LETS STOP PRETENDING that labor and delivery is the same as every other department in a hospital.
Let’s stop 🛑 ✋🏻 pretending that L&D should have the same restrictions as every other department in a hospital.
Let’s stop 🛑 ✋🏻 pretending that it is OKAY to leave a woman and her partner(or spouse) to labor ALONE. Because no matter how amazing an LD nurse, a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) or OBGYN is, there are not enough of them to sit together with laboring women and their partners for the entirety of each of their labors, and we know that while some come into the hospital in active labor and birth shortly after, most other moms go on to laboring for 12-40 hours, there is not enough hospital hired birth workers to support every mama for her entire labor.
What is the solution to this you ask?
DOULAS.
[Doulas provide emotional, physical and educational support to a mother who is experiencing labor.]
The fact that hospitals are extending restrictions to Doulas is not a safety precaution. It is an administrative decision.
Doulas have never been and will never be “visitors”
Doulas have families too they are putting as risk by walking into a hospital during this time.
Doulas don’t go into hospitals because it’s so fun and exciting to visit with new & expecting Moms.
Doulas are essential in labor and delivery not only to birthing moms but also to their partner/spouse who often times needs support too.
Then what can be done to provide safety during high risk times?
Labor and delivery can be safe by not allowing nonessential-people in during restrictions.
But the parents’ support person, whether you call them a Doula or not, is ESSENTIAL.
What can I do to have my Doula at my birth?
First things first, I personally only know of 1 singular hospital that has allowed labor doulas in Labor and Delivery for the entire 18 months (Boca Raton Regional Hospital). However, the does not mean there are not other hospitals that are permitting you to bring your doula into Labor and Delivery with you. But as things change locally, your hospital will respond differently. Finding out what the current protocols are can be useful, but also know that they can change at any point.
Next, be an advocate for yourself. Insist with your provider and your hospital Labor and Delivery management for an exception. The biggest advocate is you. You are hiring and paying your provider to serve you. You are hiring and paying your hospital’s labor and delivery (and even your anesthesiologist) to serve you. Be your own advocate and don’t let anyone fear monger you. Find out Florida laws for Labor and Delivery, some hospitals have them posted as clear as day, if you want into labor and delivery, they cannot refuse you. And if you are adamant and adamant and adamant and advocate for yourself that you want and need your doula.
No change will occur unless mothers stand up for themselves.
Doulas cannot push their way into Labor and Delivery, because Doulas cannot possibly want to be in labor and delivery more than moms want them there.
The sooner we stop pretending that LD is the same like other departments that are purely medical, and acknowledge that women in labor need support: emotional, psychological, sometimes spiritual, informational & also medical, the sooner Birth Trauma can step out of these restrictions and parents can truly continue to feel safe in their birthing experiences.
*Disclaimer: these are my opinions and not all hospitals have restricted Doulas, But I know only one that has continued supporting their patients during the entirety of the last 18 months with permitting patients to bring their doulas the entire time.
