Keeping expecting moms safe
Adventist Health is dedicated to the health of expecting mothers and babies. A vital part of staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic is staying informed.
Your safety is our priority
If you are planning to give birth in our hospital, we want to reassure you that we are taking every possible precaution for the safety of you and your baby.
To ensure the safety of you, your baby and our caregivers, we are taking extra steps to protect you:
- All patients and their visitors are provided with face masks and are required to wear the masks whenever the provider is in the room.
- Our providers are required to wear face masks.
- Delivery patients displaying symptoms of COVID-19 are checked into a negative airflow labor and delivery room.
- Common areas and sites of care are disinfected frequently and thoroughly.
Reach out to your provider if you have any questions about our safety precautions.
Visitor restrictions
In order to protect you and your baby, we have temporary visitor restrictions in place for our labor and delivery and postpartum unit in our Birth Center.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we’re limiting the number
of visitors allowed during and after your baby’s birth. Please review
the current OB visiting guidelines for full details about these requirements.
Visiting Guidelines
These changes to our visitation policy will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases and protect the health of all of our patients and caregivers. We understand that this is frustrating and inconvenient, but we assure you that you and your family will have proper support while these restrictions are in place.
Contacting your friends and family during your stay
Free wireless internet is available at Adventist Health Sonora. Please click here for instructions on how to connect to the WiFi.
After your baby is born
We understand that you’ll probably have just as many questions after delivery as you did before. Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
Newborn risk and COVID-19
Babies are a high-risk group for infectious diseases of all kinds, not
just COVID-19. Rest assured that your newborn will receive the same exceptional
care at our hospital to keep them healthy — in addition to the extra
precautions in place during this situation.
Since COVID-19 is a novel disease, there isn’t a lot of research
on how it may affect pregnancies. There’s currently no evidence
to suggest that an infected mother would give birth to an infected child.
Breastfeeding and COVID-19
There’s currently no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted through breast milk.
If you suspect that you’re developing symptoms of COVID-19, isolate yourself and call your provider. You can pump and have a healthy family member feed your baby until you’re sure of your condition.
Visits from friends and family after you go home
Even people who don’t show symptoms of COVID-19 may carry the disease and can pass it along to you and your family. To keep your newborn as safe as possible, it’s in your best interest to hold a virtual visitation. That way your loved ones can meet your newest addition without exposing your baby to risk.
Skin-to-skin contact and COVID-19
Current evidence from the CDC suggests the risk of a newborn acquiring COVID-19 from the mother is low if the mother is healthy. Early and close contact between mom and baby has many well-established benefits. The ideal setting for the care of a healthy newborn while in the hospital is in the mother’s room, commonly known as “rooming in.”
If no other healthy adult is present to care for the baby, a mother who is COVID-19 positive or has been experiencing symptoms should put on a face mask and practice hand hygiene before each feeding or other close contact with her newborn. The face mask should remain in place during all contact with the newborn.
Protecting your baby at home
At this time mother and baby separation is not recommended. However, if mother is unwell and unable to care for her infant or feels uncomfortable with infant contact, another healthy adult should care for the baby including feeding expressed breastmilk or formula.
If the mother is feeling unwell but is able to care for her infant, the mother should cover her nose and mouth with a face covering and practice hand hygiene before each interaction.
More questions?
We understand you may have additional questions. Answers to some of the more commonly asked questions can be found at COVID-19 OB FAQ.