How We’re Keeping Our Clients Safe During COVID-19: An Update
Since the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, Two Doulas & You has put in place specific strict protocols to minimize the chance of contagion for our clients. We’re thrilled that a viable vaccine is available and that disease numbers are mostly (slowly) dropping.
The downside of a widely available vaccine is that folks may let their personal guard down and put themselves at greater risk because they may feel it’s safer to do so. Please know that we are not taking any chances and are continuing our steadfast commitment to following CDC guidelines with the following updated protocols to keep Atlanta families safe:
Labor/birth support:
All consults, intake visits, prenatal visits and postnatal visits are offered virtually or in-person, based on the client’s preference.
We enter the house shoeless, wash our hands upon entering and after touching anything, and wear a mask at all times, covering nose and mouth.
We strive to meet with clients outside on a deck or patio, with safe distancing in place.
Atlanta hospitals that currently allow doulas to attend births are testing all incoming patients for the virus. If the result is negative, we join the client in L&D, remaining fully masked at all times. If the result is positive, we proceed with virtual support via video/text/phone.
For clients birthing in Atlanta hospitals that do not allow doulas, we provide virtual support by video/phone/text. If we join those clients at home before they go to the hospital, we wear an n95 mask the entire time. If they test positive upon hospital admittance, we quarantine for 2 weeks and then get tested before visiting any clients.
For Atlanta home birth clients or Atlanta Birth Center clients, we wear n95 masks at all times and wash/sanitize hands frequently.
Our team-based support model allows us to share a call schedule, which greatly reduces potential exposure in hospital settings.
For a full description of our birth support service, click here.
Postpartum support:
We try to be flexible and honor our commitment to the degree that minimizes the change of contagion with our clients and their children. We offer the choice of in-person support or virtual support (by video/phone/text for well-parent check-ins, infant feeding and soothing help, baby wearing, and general questions). We are happy to provide in-person support under the following circumstances:
No one in the household, including baby, has tested positive for the COVID virus
No one in the household, including baby, is showing signs of the COVID virus or other illness
No one in the household is currently working in a medical setting where the likelihood of disease transmission is high
In-person postpartum support:
We enter the house shoeless, wash our hands upon entering and after touching anything, and wear a mask at all times, covering nose and mouth. The only exception is drinking water and snacking, which we do while mindfully staying at a safe distance.
If a client and/or their family member(s) shows signs of illness or fever, we will cancel our scheduled shift. Once the client/family member is well, has had a negative COVID test, we will reschedule. If the scheduled doula feels ill or runs a fever, she will quarantine for a minimum of 5 days before seeing any clients again. In that case, we offer clients the following options:
A well team member takes the shift. If the well team member is unavailable, she finds a substitute doula to go in her place
Virtual video support (well-parent check-ins, infant feeding and soothing help, baby wearing, and general questions)
For a full description of our postpartum service, click here.
Classes:
Our group and private classes are offered virtually via Zoom.
For a full description of our virtual classes, click here.
We will continue to update our protocols as information about COVID and CDC guidelines evolve. Meanwhile, if you have any questions or would like to discuss our safety guidelines, please contact us.
Be well and mask up!
Thank you!
