Doulas are considered essential to families’ care team!
UPDATE: May 4th, 2021
A year later and here we are again…
On May 2nd, 2021, the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) increased restrictions on birthing families, changing from two (2) support persons for labour and birth to only one (1) support person. The partner counts as a support person. During the first wave of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, we saw how birthing individuals struggled with having to choose between their partner and their doula when birthing their baby.
On May 4th, 2021, the IWK also increased restrictions on birthing families. Despite being located in the Halifax Regional Municipality where the majority of COVID-19 cases are located, they have chosen to allow two (2) support persons when admitted to the Birth Unit for a vaginal delivery.
On May 4th, 2021, the NSDA issued a statement to its members regarding these new restrictions imposed on birthing families. This same statement was sent to a variety of decision makers and reporters on that same day. You may check out our Doulas in the Media page for coverage as the story evolves.
It is our hope that families and doulas makes their voices heard. We hope that our advocacy work, along side the voices of expecting Nova Scotia families, will overturn these increase restrictions.
Petition
A Nova Scotia parent has started a petition during the first wave of COVID-19 in the province in order to have doulas considered as essential workers. For those interested in helping with this cause, please click the button below. You will be sent to an external link.
For families and doulas interested in a letter campaign, please scroll to the bottom of this page!
Background
On April 9th, 2020, the NSDA issued a statement to its members regarding doula support and COVID-19. This same statement was sent to a variety of decision makers and reporters on April 14th. You may check out our Doulas in the Media page for coverage.
More and more jurisdictions across Canada are welcoming doulas in the hospital setting, despite COVID-19:
BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre
Q: Can my partner AND doula be with me during labour, while giving birth or having a c-section?
A: Yes, doulas are considered part of the care team. Maternity patients may have one support person plus one registered doula for support in the labour/delivery room during labour, vaginal birth, and immediately postpartum. Only one support person is allowed in the operating room for caesarean births.”
Maternity/postpartum
Allow one Visitor at a time.
The unit manager/charge nurse may approve two visitors at one time (e.g. both a partner and doula; or both surrogate support and an intended parent)."
“The NSDA urges Nova Scotia Health Authorities to explore options that make in-person doula support available to families who want it.”
Some organizations have issued statement about in-person doula support:
AWHONN - The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
“AWHONN recognizes that doula services contribute to the woman’s preparation for and support during childbirth and opposes hospital policies that restrict the presence of a doula during a woman’s active labor.
“Doulas are not visitors and should not be blocked from caring for patients in the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum period. Most doulas have been contracted by patients weeks to months ahead of time and have established provider relationships. They are recognized by AWHONN and ACOG as essential personnel and part of the maternity care team,” said AWHONN member Nancy Travis, MS, BSN, RN, BC, CPN, CBC, Florida Section Chair.
AWHONN supports doulas as partners in care and acknowledges their ability to provide physical, emotional, and partner support to women. AWHONN opposes hospital policies that restrict the presence of a doula in the inpatient setting during an infectious disease outbreak. Read more about AWHONN’s position on continuous labor support for every woman here.”
Association of Ontario Doulas:
“Province-wide, Ontarians are giving birth without the support of someone they know and trust because professional doulas are no longer authorized to provide in-person services. Ontario’s List of Essential Workplaces must be amended to allow doulas to provide physical and emotional birth support to clients who lack viable alternatives during the COVID-19 crisis.”
NSDA members are trained and certified through a number of different organizations. Some of there organizations have also issued statements:
Letter Writing Campaign
A letter writing campaign can be a useful strategy to call upon decision-makers to consider changes in policies and practices. A letter campaign must be organized an well executed.
The NSDA encourages families who are affected by the 1-support person policy currently in place due to COVID-19 to put their thoughts on paper.
Consider the following:
What is the problem? (ie The current policy at x hospital is preventing you from having your doula to be present for the labour/birth)
How is this policy affecting you and your family? Why is this significant to you? (make it personal)
What is the solution? (ie Allowing doulas to be considered as part of the care team/non-visitor and be an exception to the 1-visitor rule)
What may happen to you/how would you feel if the decision is not reversed?
Options include:
Your MLA (here).
Your care provider.
Your Health Authority’s Board of Directors.
Your birthing hospital’s CEO.
Your birthing hospital’s Birth Unit.
Your local news outlet.
