COVID-19 Resources

• Two to three days prior to your scheduled appointment, you will receive a call from our staff assessing your health with questions related to symptoms of COVID-19. If there are concerns about possible exposure or infection, additional screening and changes to your appointment may be made.
• We encourage you to come with one support person to your visit in an effort to decrease the number of people in a waiting area. Please ensure that your support person is healthy.
• Everyone (patients, support persons, staff) are required to wear a mask or a cloth face covering in the hospital. If you do not have one, the hospital will provide one upon entry to our lobby.
• All patients and support persons will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms via questions by our patient greeting staff in the the lobby.
• Social distancing will keep everyone healthy. You will find signage and markings in place to maintain social distance between you and other people.
• At check in, we will not pass paper or pens back and forth and will not have you sign hospital or clinical consents. All information will be reviewed and verbal consent documented in place of written consent.
• Magazines and multi- touch flyers have been removed from the waiting area.
• BIDMC staff complete a daily symptom assessment, and don’t come to work unless feeling healthy. This is one of the ways we keep everyone safe.
• As part of the check in process, you will be escorted to the exam room as soon possible and will often be a waiting space..
• Exam rooms and high contact surfaces are thoroughly disinfected after each patient encounter.

All patients are offered testing for COVID-19. For those with a scheduled delivery, this will happen within 72 hours before arrival. Ask your provider about this ahead of time.

For most people, COVID-19 testing will happen once you are comfortable in your own private room on Labor and Delivery.

• You are encouraged have one or two healthy support person(s) during labor and your postpartum stay. Your support person(s) must be free of symptoms for 14 days prior to your admission.
• The support person(s) accompanying you during your stay will remain with you for the duration of your postpartum stay, and should wear a mask. Support persons are not permitted to leave and re-enter the hospital.
• Pack an overnight bag with essentials for yourself and your support person. You can also pack your favorite snacks in your bag, if you would like.
• Remember to bring your car seat with you when you arrive at Labor and Delivery.
• Room service is available from about 7am to 7pm everyday, for you and your support person.
• After the baby is born, local restaurants will deliver food to our main entrance. Ask your nurse about how we can help safely retrieve your order for you.
• We are here to support the birth experience that you choose. Hydrotherapy is available, as are squatting bars, birthing balls and peanut cushions.
• Our nurses and lactation consultants are ready to help get breastfeeding off to a great start.
• Consider childbirth classes online at BIDMC and join our Childbirth Q and A sessions and hotline, ahead of time, to learn more in an interactive way.
• Everyone (patients, support persons, staff) are required to wear a mask or a cloth face covering in the hospital. If you do not have one, the hospital will provide one upon entry to our lobby.

We understand this is an exciting and stressful time to have a baby. Please join us every Monday for an informal, open discussion. We'll answer all of your questions.

Join via Zoom: BIDMC OB/GYN COVID-19 Childbirth Hotline

Our childbirth education classes are now being held online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit our event page to register and learn more.

Join us for a free online Q&A with Jessica McCann, RN, BSN, IBCLC, CCE, Program Coordinator of Childbirth Education at BIDMC. Get all your questions answered. Multiple dates are available. Register for our free online Q&A session.

The Parent Connection, a free mentoring and support service for new parents, has transitioned to an online format during the COVID-19 pandemic. Get more information about our online new parents and expectant parents support groups.