Oh no! (SARS/Doula related)

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I have a client 3 days over due, and last night at 10:30pm all the hospitals in Ontario put in effect measures for preventing the spread of SARS. One of the measures is that ONE person is let into the hospital with a laboring mother. :( I have called L&D to ask if it somehow excludes doulas, but she sent me right to the hospital director's line, where I was promptly put into voicemail. :(

I want to help prevent this SARS thing, but not being able to support my client - I don't know who will be more upset, me or her.

Any comments?

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that really sucks, but I have to say that with the severity of SARS, that anything that can be done to prevent the spread should be done. That includes following these rules, even if it is inconvenient for your client. I am all for labor support, and I am sure her labor would be much better with you there, but she will survive.

Maybe she could labor at home for part of her labor, with your support and while there you could reinforce what she needs to do during labor, since you won't be able to be there.

Hopefully, the director will make an exception, but I can understand why he/she wouldn't.

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Her plan has always been to labor at home as much as she can. The director called me (poor woman!) she is dealing with a lot, I can totally understand. The order came from the Ministry of Health or something, so there is nothing she can do about it. I am glad to have heard back from her - and I called my client to let her know.

I am just upset because we have grown to be friends and I really hate the thought of missing out on this one. Hopefully the order won't be in effect that long! Thanks for the reply :)

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I'm not allowed to accompany clients into the hospitals either :(

My clients try and labor at home and then go to the hospital closer to delivery. I also follow up with clients right after they get home from the hospital.

It's hard, my clients are disappointed, but there's nothing we can do about it.

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They are cutting out anyone unecessary. Even our med students and nursing students are banned (I don't know how this will affect their semestre). It's for the best though. We certainly don't need anymore cases than we already have/

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At 4 local hospitals, they are no longer allowing the FATHERS into the hospitals to support their wives :( That's sad!

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Originally posted by Cheerio

At 4 local hospitals, they are no longer allowing the FATHERS into the hospitals to support their wives :( That's sad!

That is pretty sad. I would be very upset if my hubby wasn't allowed in the delivery room. I can understand banning everyone else except essential medical/nursing personnel, but the fathers too? :confused:

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Man, that has to be scary for those laboring patients!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Kind of makes you want to investigate the homebirth option we've been debating!

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Yeah, I was thinking that too!! That, or go far away and stay in a hotel so you go into labor in a town where the hospital might be safer. I just wouldn't feel good delivering a baby into a SARS infected hospital.

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I can't believe they are not letting fathers in! If they allow parents of children in then the father would be allowed in after the birth anyways, so why not during?

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

It also comes to mind that in the pitiful state of nursing today with high census/high acuity patients and not enough staffing, I would never allow myself or a family member to be hospitalized without an adult present in the room to question physicians and staff about meds, IV's, handwashing, etc. I've heard too many instances of harmful errors to leave a sick loved one alone in a hospital.

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