Client Considerations at Burr Ridge Birth Center

  1. Hybrid prenatal schedule 

    1. Prenatal visits can include a combination of in-person and virtual visits that alternate to limit in-person exposure and potential transmission to staff.

  2. Social Distancing & Limiting Visitors 

    1. Clients can have their partner or one main support person present with them for prenatal visits.

    2. Clients can have up to 3 support people present during labor, plus a doula. Partners are included in this number. Children are welcome during the birth so long as they have a designated adult present to support them.

    3. During labor admission, clients and their support persons are encouraged to remain in the birth suite throughout the duration of labor, limiting the use of public spaces in the birth center. 

      1. Kitchen and food prep can be facilitated by birth staff or support person with appropriate PPE. 

  3. Screening and Infection Control

    1. Clients will be instructed to call us with any symptoms prior to coming to the birth center, and if appropriate ,will be offered a virtual visit instead. 

    2. All clients and visitors will be screened prior to entering the birth center. Clients with a fever >100.4 and symptoms will not be allowed to enter the birth center. 

      1. If arriving for a prenatal appt, it will be rescheduled to a virtual visit (same day if possible). Plan of care and next steps will be determined during the virtual visit. 

      2. If arriving for labor, client will be directed to AMITA Hinsdale Hospital and OBHG will be notified of transfer. 

    3. For in-person visits, clients can wait in our living room. Children are welcome at appointments.

    4. All clients and visitors 2 and older will be required to wear masks at all times while in the birth center, aside from the birthing person when they are in labor.

    5. Hand sanitizer will be available in commonly used areas to encourage frequent hand hygiene. 

  4. Client Illness or Suspected COVID

    1. Precautions 

      1. MILD SYMPTOMS: Clients who report mild symptoms will be instructed to self-isolate at home and to schedule an appointment for COVID testing. 

      2. SEVERE SYMPTOMS: Clients who report severe symptoms should be directed to their primary care provider, or in emergent situations, report to the Emergency Room. If possible, the client should notify the ER prior to arriving that COVID is suspected.  

      3. EXPOSURE: Clients who report a known COVID+ exposure should be instructed to self-isolate for 10 days from the encounter and should schedule an appointment for COVID testing. 

    2. End of precautions

      1. Clients may return to the clinic/ birth center 10 days after the onset of symptoms, and afebrile for at least 24 hours without antipyretic medications. 

      2. For clients who never develop symptoms, isolation and other precautions can be discontinued 10 days after the date of their first positive COVID test. 

  5. Testing

    1. The Birth center will not be providing COVID testing or triaging any symptomatic suspected COVID clients

    2. All symptomatic clients suspected of COVID should be tested. Testing sites in Illinois are found here: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-sites

  6. Client Vaccination

    1. While clients, especially those who are pregnant, are encouraged to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of severity with Covid, it is not a requirement for care with Burr Ridge Birth Center.

Resources/research via Evidence Based Birth® on Covid-19 in pregnancy here.

References: UptoDate