My experience of being a doula during COVID-19. Part 3. Doula Hospital Policies

ON JUNE 29, 2020 GOVERNOR MURPHY PASSED AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE THAT ALLOWED DOULAS TO SUPPORT THEIR CLIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL.( BEFORE THIS MOTHERS WERE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR PARTNERS AND THEIR DOULAS.) I WAS ECSTATIC. I QUICKLY TEXTED ALL MY CLIENTS. I HAD 3 JULY CLIENTS (TWO MOTHERS DUE WITHIN TWO WEEKS) AND WE WERE ALL RELIEVED. 

I didn’t realize this was only the beginning of a long journey. 

What I didn’t realize is that Governor Murphy’s executive directive didn’t extensively outline a policy for hospitals . Each hospital in New Jersey created very different requirements for doulas to be allowed on Labor and Delivery. I’ve spent much of the last few months calling up L and D at all the hospitals I frequent trying to untangle the doula policies. Some hospitals require I have a negative COVID test within 6 days while others require mom has a negative COVID test. Some hospitals want me to email them a copy of my certification beforehand, others want to see it when I arrive, and then there’s the few that never ask. I’ve been waved onto L and D floors with very few questions, and then other times I’ve been asked a series of questions throughout the day with frequent temperature checks. At other hospitals I’ve had to interview and meet with the nursing staff in order to  be approved on the floor during COVID.

I’ve worn full jumpsuit PPE, face shields, gloves, goggles, cloth masks, regular masks, gloves, scrubs. I’ve hand sanitized my hands about a trillion times. 

I’ve been very vigilant about calling up the hospitals that my clients are delivering at and finding out their policy. The policies are constantly changing and depending on who answers the phone I get a slightly different story. New Jersey doulas have created a network where we update each other about each hospital’s policy and this has been a life line for me.

I joke with my husband “I’ve been tested for COVID more than anyone we know”. Even if the hospital I am going to doesn’t require a negative COVID test I still make sure to have one.  I also tell all of my clients to have a negative COVID test. This can be tricky because you never know when baby is going to come. But starting at 37 weeks I suggest getting tested every week. The newest additions to my doula bag are a negative COVID test result , a copy of my certification, and extra masks. I am happy to say I haven’t missed a birth because of a hospitals policy, but I’ve been worried about it.  There have been good aspects of this grey area; many hospitals are now considering doulas a part of the moms care team and are trying to figure out a way to integrate doulas. I’ve had heart to hearts with charge nurses on many floors and made connections with hospital administrators. I’ve gotten the opportunity to speak up for my profession and defend it’s value at a critical moment in the world. As a DONA certified doula I’ve been given the task to make sure all women who want doula support can have access to doula support and during this particular moment in history I take that responsibility very seriously.