Hospitals are limiting how many visitors are allowed inside a laboring person’s room. Learn ways you can prepare for limited support to labor in COVID-19.
You need to get clear on what you need for PHYSICAL support.
FIRST CONSIDER
How can someone physically support you while you are giving birth?
Some ideas include:
- Holding your hand
- Bringing positive energy in the room
- Giving you water through a bendy straw
- putting a cold facecloth on your head
Who can best provide this physical support for you?
Who do YOU want to be there for you?
How can you beef up your new team?
I love a birth plan! It is a clear way to communicate what you want from your nurses and team.
Pro tip: put a little about you and your goals or past on your birth plan so your nurses can connect with you and your story even faster. Download this birth plan template to quickly get started 💜
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! click here to read my full disclosure policy
How can you have a support team virtually?
Your doula can still help you virtually! They can still see and hear you, offer comfort techniques, rest, breathing exercises, all the same ideas and reassurances than if they were in the room with you.
This might look like:
- Texting
- FaceTime/video chat
- Phone call
Ideas to help beef up your packing list and help your support team comfort you best:
- Headband headphones to help you stay in-the-zone
- Lavender oil to promote relaxation
- Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with hardshell case
- Best phone tripod
- What to Pack Amazon List
- Pregnancy Must-Haves for Now
The Ultimate Guide to Taking Control of Your Childbirth is a great way to learn what to expect and how to slay your fears and questions about the process!
Tips That Make Virtual Labor Support Easy
Stay in the Labor Zone so you can focus on your work in labor
- Don’t forget chargers!
- a tripod or stand that can allow you to labor and be supported hands-free
- Make sure you physical support person knows where everything is in your bag
- Put your phone on DO NOT DISTURB and only allow the ones who are on your virtual support team on your favorites to still get in touch
Having someone talk you through instead of being present with you is very different. BUT it can still be really positive and grounding, and we gotta roll with the punches. That’s an important part of labor, too – riding the wave without always knowing where it will take you. Yay technology!!
Stay focused on what you can can control. Tell people what you need from them. Getting creative to have the birth you want is the name of the game.
You are strong, capable, and resilient. You can do this with a new type of team of supporters
Click on the video below for more ways virtual doula support can be really great – even though I hope it doesn’t stay like this forever 👇
You might also like:
When to Go to the Hospital in Labor + Video
The Birth Nurse Buyer’s Guide
How to Have a Faster Labor with a Birth Ball + Video
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! click here to read my full disclosure policy
Cochrane review 2011: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=22161407
Cochrane review 2017: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000081.pub3/abstract
Cochrane review 2018: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30107756
