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Is there anything special I need to do when going home with my newborn during this time?
In an effort to maximize your safety, discharge will be completed as early as possible to limit your time in the hospital. This could mean a discharge in the middle of the night. The nurses and doctors will want to ensure that things are going well for you and your baby before you will be sent home.
We will also want to be sure that you have a healthcare provider available to complete a check-up on your baby within 2 to 3 days of leaving the hospital. It is a good idea to look into your family doctor or Paediatrician’s clinic availability right now in case there are restricted hours. Most doctor’s offices save spots for newborn checks so it will be helpful to call as soon as your baby is born to arrange this appointment. Patients who have a c-section can discuss early discharge with their doctor as this may also be possible if you are feeling up to it and you and your baby are doing well.
Of course, careful physical distancing and quarantining is recommended once you get home. We will provide additional information while you’re in hospital but we highly recommend restricting visitors of any kind and staying home. Contact with others, from outside your household, could pose a risk to you and your baby. Remember that even people who do not have symptoms could be carriers of COVID-19.
Frequent and thorough hand hygiene is always recommended when handling newborns but especially right now! You and your partner will need to continue to monitor yourselves and any other household members, including other children, for symptoms of COVID. Prompt isolation of the ill person is very important if any symptoms present.
Obviously, this is a very anxiety-provoking time for many and we appreciate that it could take away from an experience that is supposed to be very special for your family as you welcome your new little one. Please know that we will do everything we can to keep you and your baby safe and allow this to be a time to create lifelong, happy memories.
