Birthing families are facing additional stresses during the time of COVID-19. The health concerns of how the virus could affect them or the baby, the loneliness of physical distancing, working from home with older children, and much more complicate each day. Many parents are without the expected anticipated support postpartum of their friends and families upon returning home from the hospital.

A major worry of some is if they would be separated from their newborn immediately after birth should parents have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 or mother has a fever or cough. Fever in labor can occur due to something called chorioamnionitis, which is inflammation of the membranes. Fever can also be a common side effect of an epidural or meconium. There is conflicting research and advice on this topic of maternal newborn separtion. As a birth doula, it is one of the topics my clients are most concerned about. And to make it even more confusing is that the information continues to change.

The newest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC currently recommend separation. The AAP states “While difficult temporary separation of mother and newborn will minimize the risk of postnatal infant infection from maternal respiratory secretions.” The exact wording in their report is, “The likely benefits of temporary maternal and new born separation at birth for decreasing the risk of newborn infection should be discussed with the mother optimally prior to delivery.” Disappointingly, what is not mentioned is the harms of mother newborn separation. Know that parents are free to accept or decline this recommendation after an informed consent discussion. They do state that an alternative to separation includes keeping the newborn at least 6′ from the mother at all times with a physical barrier and to not breastfeed. This is in keeping with the CDC’s recommendations also.

However, in contrast all around the world, including the World Health Organization, the United Kingdom’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, UNICEF, and guidelines from Canada and Italy state the contrary. Their recommendation is to keep mother and newborn together unless the mother is too sick to care for baby.

You as parents have the final word. Evidence Based Birth has created a sample Informed Consent Form for Refusal to Separate Birthing Parent and Infant. You can link to the form on my Resource Library. Please reach out to your doula to discuss this topic prior to birthing.