This week Ray Rachin, CPM, Abby Dennis, MD, and Maggie Runyon, RNC-OB were able to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their professional practices, and particularly how it is impacting birth setting choice and creating deeper divides between care professionals in each setting. We acknowledge that homebirth has great safety for low-risk pregancies in well-integrated health systems, and we want to ensure those positive experiences and outcomes are preserved by continuing to have appropriate candidates pursuing homebirth. In the midst of so much unknown, we call upon birth professionals and consumers alike to be upfront about their concerns and questions with each other so that care can meet needs as much as possible.
Here are some resources you may find helpful in learning more about COVID-19, and birth setting choice:
We know we still have much to learn about COVID, which is why we ask for patience and grace as guidelines change to accommodate new knowledge.
Thoughtful guidelines and recommendations for care of birthing parents and babies from the March of Dimes.
Round-up of frequently asked questions and concerns from pregnant people about impact of COVID-19
Balancing home vs hospital options during COVID-19.
Here are some links to research about home birth safety: international study of 500,000 intended home births, and impact of well-integrated healthcare systems
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)