Very recent GW delivery experience?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I am going to be induced at GW in less than 2 weeks, and all I was told was that the nurse would call me with instructions on that day (the doctor was in a hurry when I last saw her... understandably!).
I remember from my first delivery there that I checked in at the emergency entrance (maybe because it was a Sunday evening? I cannot imagine that with the current situation they would potentially risk mixing COVID patients with women who are about to give birth)... can someone share a recent experience, in terms of where/how they checked in, and whether your partner checked in at the same time? I understand that we are allowed one support person and that person cannot leave, but not sure if s/he needs to arrive exactly at the same time as the patient (asking as we have a toddler at home). Also, if the baby ends up in a NICU, would the support person also be staying the whole time, or is s/he allowed to visit? Any other tips related to giving birth at GW in the current COVID-19 context would be very much appreciated! |
Anonymous
|
I'm with GW Midwives (due in a month) and got documents today saying only check in through main entrance, not through ER. (I went through main entrance with my first, so unaware ER was even an option in general).
Partner checks in at same time, bring car seat, partner will be assessed at check in, laboring person will be tested for Covid, etc. Both parties will be continuously monitored while in hospital. Im sure you can call and get these details as well. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for the information; very helpful! |
Anonymous
|
I am the OP. I thought I would provide an update as I gave birth at GW last week, in case it's helpful for others.
We were allowed one support person to accompany me; the person needed to stay at the hospital (could not go in and out). My husband and I were given masks (even though we had our own) after admission. I was given a COVID test; it took around 1.5 hours for the results to come in (during that time, monitoring/other blood work as I had a scheduled c-section etc.). For the postpartum care, as during normal times, we had nurses and techs supporting throughout (the only thing different was that they were wearing masks and we tried to do so when they came in - but nobody was difficult about that even if sometimes we forgot as we were sleeping). In terms of logistics, food for the accompanying person can also be ordered from the cafeteria (usually it's just for the patient). They also had sandwiches, snacks/fruits and juices in the pantry. You can also have food delivered from outside to the main entrance. Starbucks downstairs was open. My husband had no issues going down and coming back up (not sure what would have happened had he left the hospital and came back...). They did seem to be gently encouraging patients to leave slightly earlier. Usually c-section patients stay for 3 nights (other patients 2 nights), but I was told I could leave as of 2 if I wanted to - I ended up staying the third night as I wanted to recover in a fully supported environment. Currently there is no valet parking; we parked at the hospital parking two blocks away. A nurse accompanied me/baby downstairs after discharge, to meet my husband who went to get the car (so did not need to bring the carseat upstairs upon check-in). Despite the situation, everyone was great - the delivery team as well as the postpartum team. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for sharing. Congratsb |
Anonymous
| How are they administering the covid testing? Nose swab or mouth? |
Anonymous
| Nose swab. |
Anonymous
| Just wondering if anyone else has recent experiences to share? Due shortly and very curious for any further intel/experiences. Thanks! |
Anonymous
I delivered a couple of weeks ago, and everything is still as described above. You enter in the main entrance and have a COVID-19 test in triage. They wear full PPE until your results come back, which was my entire delivery time. They actually never did a temperature check on my husband other than at the main entrance. Food was easy to order for both of us. They understandably don’t want you walking around in the hall, whereas they encouraged this for my first birth. We were released at the 24 hour mark, per our request. We did have a hard time finding the parking garage that is in use during COVID. There are signs, but it was night and harder to follow. Hopefully you won’t have that issue. |
Anonymous
| Thanks so much! Very helpful. |
Anonymous
m Is the parking garage in the engineering building? I’m heading there tomorrow. Thanks! |
Anonymous
Yes. That’s where we parked. |
Anonymous
| Was the nursery open? |
Anonymous
No. It was closed due to COVID-19. |
Anonymous
Hi -just wondering how far along was your labor when you arrived? With my first, I arrived 7cm dilated and went through transition while in triage, then started pushing basically as soon as I got to the L&D room. I can't imagine getting a nose swab COVID test under those circumstances (contractions were so close together they could barely get in there to check dilation, lol!). Did you have to wear a mask during labor? Did your husband? I can't imagine huffing and puffing through labor in a mask 
|