Covid-19

Dear Families,

Thank you for allowing us to serve as your midwives. It is always an honor to be included in this special time. Seeing you greet your new child never gets old. These are the bravest little ones-deciding to enter during a major pandemic. Let's keep them safe. Your midwives are also brave. We are on the front line caring for you. We are asking for six minutes of your time to read through the policy below in order to ensure clarity. In two parent families, make sure you both read and understand our policies below:

Clinic Policies

Gratitude for your patience as we all navigate life during a pandemic. Pregnancy and birth can already feel emotionally topsy turvy- so adding something as monumental as this is a lot of change and unknowns.

LEARN MORE

We know Covid has been impactful in big ways. We also acknowledge the disappointment of not having an in- person baby shower, childbirth Ed classes, New parent groups or not having Grandparents present and supportive around birth time. Our hearts go out to you all. There are many changes in our clinic too!

To further minimize the risks of exposure to you and the families we serve, to protect our most vulnerable community members, to protect your midwives and help limit contact we have made the policies below:

We've got you! We are responding to calls and attending births as usual. You will continue to be able to reach your midwives via the On-Call phone (Provided to all clients at initial prenatal visit) 24/7 as usual. Please call the On-Call number for all urgent matters. You may also text the on-call number, but keep in mind that the response is often several hours for a reply. You can also reach your midwives through the portal for non-urgent questions, the midwife portal response time is 3-5 days.

We have modified our care plan for clinic appointments to the following. READ CAREFULLY as some appointments are VIA phone VS in person clinic visits

The following appointments will still be booked in the clinic: The first appointment for those who are either early pregnant (11+ weeks) or new to Jumelles Wellness Midwifery, the 28 week appointment, and weekly appointments starting at 36 weeks -40+weeks, including non-routine visits. All scheduled home visits will proceed as planned (see policies around home visits) In your postpartum period, we will be doing your day 1, 3, & 7 appointments at home, and then will be in touch about 3 and 6 week postpartum visits as they get closer. Our goal is to keep newborns at home and out of public as much as possible
All other routine care (up to 36 weeks) will be done VIA Tele-medicine. You will receive a ZOOM (HIPAA secure) invite from us. Please do not come to clinic unless otherwise instructed. If the midwives want you to come into the clinic for further evaluation, we will make that decision together and give you instructions.
If you have symptoms of Covid-19, please call your midwives to report illness & we can help orchestrate Covid-19 testing and referrals.
Clients with urgent pregnancy related concerns: miscarriage signs like cramping & spotting, pre-term contractions, headache, pain under right rib cage, lack of fetal movement etc. need to call the 24 hour On Call line and we will make a care plan to see you.
New client interviews are phone or video conversations

Special Clinic Appointment Details

Text 503.961.4132 when you have parked in the driveway and wait in your car or our lovely property until we text you back "Please come into the clinic"-

Come into the clinic and scrub in for at least 20 seconds of thorough hand washing.
The surfaces and tools will be disinfected between each person and we are well trained in hand washing before touching you.
Please arrange childcare and do not bring children under 16 yrs of age to the clinic- except newborns under our care.
One adult may accompany each client to their clinic visit and everyone must wash their hands upon arrival.

Please reach out and let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We are here for you.

To wellness of both mind and body!

Thank you for your cooperation,
~ Your care providers at Jumelles Wellness Midwifery

Home Visits

Prior to your home visit, the front desk staff or your midwife (please pick up phone) will ask you the following questions by phone:

Who is in your home today? If there are more than the pregnant or postpartum person, newborn, plus one support person, we will ask that extraneous people leave or go to another area in the house. If you have children, also have them go to another area while we are visiting, even if that means one parent will miss the home visit.
To the best of your knowledge, have you or anyone you have been in contact with in the last 14 days tested positive for COVID-19?
Have you or anyone you have had contact with in the last 14 days had symptoms of COVID-19? We understand this is a tricky question because symptoms can range from mild to very severe.
The seemingly most common symptoms according to CDC.gov include but are not limited to the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Please visit CDC.gov for a complete list of symptoms.

How to Prep Your Home for Our Visit

No extra people.
Please remove hand towel from sink and replace it with paper towel roll or an unused freshly washed towel.
If possible, supply antimicrobial soap for your midwives.
Clean and disinfect surfaces, bathroom, doorknobs, faucets and other frequently touched surfaces.
If possible, wash your hands and wear a mask.
Try and maintain the 6-feet distancing recommended by CDC at all times. We will initiate contact in order to provide your care as necessary.

What You Can Expect From Us

We will arrive COVID-19 symptom free and will not knowingly care for any clients with the virus.
We will have washed our hands after our last client contact.
All of our equipment is cleaned with hospital grade "Super Sani Cloth" Germicidal wipes.
We will be wearing a mask, either for the duration of the visit or when we come in close proximity to provide care.
We will not handle your newborn. You will do the undressing, placing him/her on scale, holding him/her while we draw blood etc.
The length of the visit may be shortened in order to ensure compliance with CDC guidance.
We will continue to provide the vital service of home care as long as everyone helps to keep each other safe, Alma Midwives, parents, and newborns included. We are making every effort to keep you safe.
If the front desk staff or Alma Midwives could not reach you by phone prior to the visit to ask screening questions, Alma Midwives will be unable to come to your home.

For your home birth, all the home visit policies above remain the same except the following:

We will allow one extra support person to be at your home birth beyond your partner. Just as this is not the time for birthdays, baby showers or anniversary gatherings, we cannot participate in your home birth if you plan to have more than yourself and two support people (including a partner) at the birth. We look forward to a time when we can again have large welcoming parties for newborns... unfortunately, this is not the time. It is not safe for anyone. The Alma Midwives must have a hard line about guests beyond this policy at births in order to ensure safety for our clients.

Transport to the Hospital

If a transport to the hospital becomes necessary, we may or may not be able to go along with you. We will provide you with instructions, masks, and make sure we coordinate the transport, speak with the receiving provider and fax your records to them.
If someone has tested positive for COVID-19, we will coordinate for you to transfer care to the hospital to receive care you need.
If we are not allowed to follow you into the hospital then you will call us as needed for support at any time when you are in the hospital and we especially want to get a newborn pic and hear the details; we are still with you in spirit!
Your postpartum care remains the same: home visits at days 3, & 7, a ZOOM care appointment at 3 weeks and a clinic visit at 6 weeks.

Postpartum Care

All of the policy around home visits pertains to your 3, 7, and 7-day home visits. We are busy. If you are due for a visit and have not heard from us, please call the office and schedule an appointment. If you cannot schedule through the office, please call the 24/7 on-call midwives’ line.
4 and 6 week visits are

Thank you for taking time to read this all the way through. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns. We look forward to birth gatherings, Rose City Wellness reopening, in person classes, holding babies, not being out on the "front line," not peeking at you through our masks (know that we are smiling at you), hugs, and mostly a reduction in stress to all.

Be safe and healthy!

For your home birth, all the home visit policies above remain the same except the following:

We will allow one extra support person to be at your home birth beyond your partner. Just as this is not the time for birthdays, baby showers or anniversary gatherings, we cannot participate in your home birth if you plan to have more than yourself and two support people (including a partner) at the birth. We look forward to a time when we can again have large welcoming parties for newborns... unfortunately, this is not the time. It is not safe for anyone. The Alma Midwives must have a hard line about guests beyond this policy at births in order to ensure safety for our clients.

Transport to the Hospital

If a transport to the hospital becomes necessary, we may or may not be able to go along with you. We will provide you with instructions, masks, and make sure we coordinate the transport, speak with the receiving provider and fax your records to them.
If someone has tested positive for COVID-19, we will coordinate for you to transfer care to the hospital to receive care you need.
If we are not allowed to follow you into the hospital then you will call us as needed for support at any time when you are in the hospital and we especially want to get a newborn pic and hear the details; we are still with you in spirit!
Your postpartum care remains the same: home visits at days 3, & 7, a ZOOM care appointment at 3 weeks and a clinic visit at 6 weeks.

Postpartum Care

All of the policy around home visits pertains to your 3, 7, and 7-day home visits. We are busy. If you are due for a visit and have not heard from us, please call the office and schedule an appointment. If you cannot schedule through the office, please call the 24/7 on-call midwives’ line.
4 and 6 week visits are

Be safe and healthy!