Delivering at GW Hospital during Covid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am planning to deliver at GW, due date is May 2nd. I believe one support person is allowed for the whole duration of the hospital stay. Is the hospital supplying all meals for that support person in addition to all meals for the laboring mother? If the support person can not leave, I assume all meals would be provided?

I'm also delivering at GW and my due date is May 23rd. Also interested in knowing about supplying meals, ice, microwave, etc. Will my partner still have access to all these things or should we load up on snacks and possibly meals?

PP - Partner has access to everything. Unless there are specific snacks you want, you don't need to bring anything.

And yes, all meals to support person provided.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for the info. When you say the nurses were wearing PPE does that mean N95 mask, face shield and gown? Did you wear your own mask going in or they gave you a mask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much for the info. When you say the nurses were wearing PPE does that mean N95 mask, face shield and gown? Did you wear your own mask going in or they gave you a mask?

Yes, nurses and midwives had on full PPE prior to negative test.

I had my own mask, but I'm certain they have maska to give patients and partners. I had it on for my short labor, but also took breaks for fresh air. If you end up having a long labor I can't see wearing a mask strictly for the whole time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just delivered at GW last Saturday 4/25.

You do not enter where folks are getting tested for Covid or going to ER.

L&D was so quiet. You are taken straight to your room.

The nurses wear PPE until you test negative for Covid which comes back in under 45 minutes.

I was with the Midwives - they were awesome - along with the nurses. Everyone was so helpful, nice and calm.

One support person with you whose symptoms are monitored. My doula was on FaceTime.

Support person just orders food with you. No limit. There are also snacks available on the floor and the cafeteria is open.

Anything else folks wanna know?

You're awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this so soon after delivering and congratulations!!

Did you have access to pain relief tools such as birthing ball, peanut ball, squat bar, ice machine, or microwave? We're planning to bring an ice pack which needs to be filled with ice and hot compress which needs to be microwaved. Trying to decide whether I should bring my own birthing/exercise ball? Were you required to wear mask/PPE while laboring? How long after delivery did they keep you at the hospital? Was there a lactation consultant after delivery or are they limiting these services?

Thank you so much and hope you have a smooth recovery. Congrats again!

[Anonymous]

How are they testing you? Is it the nose swab?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are they testing you? Is it the nose swab?

Just had an appt with MFA midwife yesterday. Yes, it's a nose swab

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Do they provide postpartum and baby supplies for free and are the meals for the partner free as well?

[Anonymous]

The one support person cannot go in/out but it sounds like 3 meals are provided for them in addition to yours. Anyone been recently with the shortages? Did you wait a long time in triage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one support person cannot go in/out but it sounds like 3 meals are provided for them in addition to yours. Anyone been recently with the shortages? Did you wait a long time in triage?

I was also there about a month ago. Yes, support person got food but could not go in/out. I actually was only in triage for a very short time but it took them all day to check me out because the nurse and midwife kept getting called away to deal with other emergencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one support person cannot go in/out but it sounds like 3 meals are provided for them in addition to yours. Anyone been recently with the shortages? Did you wait a long time in triage?

I was also there about a month ago. Yes, support person got food but could not go in/out. I actually was only in triage for a very short time but it took them all day to check me out because the nurse and midwife kept getting called away to deal with other emergencies.

Thank you for sharing and congrats! Was postpartum care still up to your standards or did you find that you had to remind nurses about any requests? Anything in particular you’d recommend (besides the general hospital list of charger, chapstick, etc)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one support person cannot go in/out but it sounds like 3 meals are provided for them in addition to yours. Anyone been recently with the shortages? Did you wait a long time in triage?

I was also there about a month ago. Yes, support person got food but could not go in/out. I actually was only in triage for a very short time but it took them all day to check me out because the nurse and midwife kept getting called away to deal with other emergencies.

Thank you for sharing and congrats! Was postpartum care still up to your standards or did you find that you had to remind nurses about any requests? Anything in particular you’d recommend (besides the general hospital list of charger, chapstick, etc)?

I didn’t have any issues with my care, but this was my second child and I had an easy delivery so I didn’t really need that much support. I didn’t really see much of anyone my second day but also I didn’t really need anything much and I assume they were quite correctly focusing their time on people who actually needed support. The times I paged someone to ask for something they were quite nice and responsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one support person cannot go in/out but it sounds like 3 meals are provided for them in addition to yours. Anyone been recently with the shortages? Did you wait a long time in triage?

I was also there about a month ago. Yes, support person got food but could not go in/out. I actually was only in triage for a very short time but it took them all day to check me out because the nurse and midwife kept getting called away to deal with other emergencies.

Thank you for sharing and congrats! Was postpartum care still up to your standards or did you find that you had to remind nurses about any requests? Anything in particular you’d recommend (besides the general hospital list of charger, chapstick, etc)?

With regard to stuff, maybe an extra blanket? I didn’t have a support person and I was grateful for the spare intended for them. 😝

[Anonymous]

Delivering there in approx a week... DH is planning to accompany me for birth and the move to PP recovery, but then he'll need to go home to take care of the kids. Will he be allowed to come back and help me pack up when I check out? Or will I have to do that alone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Delivering there in approx a week... DH is planning to accompany me for birth and the move to PP recovery, but then he'll need to go home to take care of the kids. Will he be allowed to come back and help me pack up when I check out? Or will I have to do that alone?

No, my understanding is that when your support person leaves they are not allowed back into l&d at all so you’ll have to pack up and check out alone. Although the nurse may help with packing up especially if you have any restrictions on bending/lifting. They’ll definitely help you carry stuff out front to meet your ride.