Labor & Delivery during COVID-19

The following information is intended to provide general answers to some commonly asked questions. As situations may change, it is always best to confirm details with the hospital at which you plan to deliver.

Are there online prenatal classes I can attend?

Yes, please contact your obstetrics department for information and the free link to online classes.

I’m worried about having my baby in a hospital during a pandemic. Is it safe?

Mercy Health hospitals are always committed to providing safe care, and we are equipped to continue caring for mothers and babies.

Your care providers and hospital staff are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and doing everything they possibly can to provide safe, exceptional patient care. Read more about what we’re doing.

For more on this topic, you can read this COVID-19 blog article.

Will I be allowed to have a visitor during labor and delivery?

Yes, you may have a visitor to support you during your delivery. As the safety of you and your baby is our top priority, many of our facilities are limiting the number of visitors.

As the coronavirus pandemic evolves across our country, we are constantly evaluating and updating our practices to keep our communities safe. We recognize that having support is important for the well-being of our patients, and when it is deemed safe for our patients, health care workers and visitors, restrictions may be lifted.

We recommend you visit your hospital’s location page on our website or reach out to your hospital directly to learn about current visitor restrictions.

For mothers who have tested positive for COVID-19 with no symptoms in the past 10-14 days, they may have one visitor that has also been asymptomatic for the past 10-14 days.

Can I have my doula present during my delivery?

Yes, a doula is allowed as a support person during your delivery. However, please know that a doula counts as one visitor/support person, so please be aware of your hospital’s current visitor restrictions when deciding. We also encourage connecting with your doula via technology if it is not possible to be present.

We recommend you visit your hospital’s location page on our website or reach out to your hospital directly to learn about current visitor restrictions.

Will I have to wear a mask?

In accordance with CDC guidelines, masks are recommended, but no longer required, in our facilities.

However, visitors should not visit patients if they have recently experienced a high-risk exposure to someone with COVID-19, a respiratory illness or other symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Will I be tested for COVID-19 when I go in to deliver my baby?

We have begun testing pregnant patients prior to their scheduled C-sections and at approximately the 38th week of pregnancy.  We recommend you discuss testing with your care provider for further information/explanations to best provide care for you and your newborn or reach out to your hospital directly to learn about testing.

If I test positive for COVID-19, will I be separated from my baby? Will I be able to breastfeed?

Your care providers will discuss the options of remaining with your infant or being separated based on you and your newborn’s health status, and you will make a shared decision of what is best for both of you. You will be given the opportunity to breastfeed, and we will assist and encourage you.

Can I pass COVID-19 to my baby during pregnancy?

Much is still unknown about the risks of COVID-19 to the pregnancy and to the baby.

Mother-to-child transmission of COVID-19 during pregnancy is unlikely. However, after birth, a newborn can be infected after being in close contact with an infected person, including the baby’s mother or other caregivers.