The Tidal Doula during COVID-19
Emily Kossila
Disclaimer: This post is purely informational and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. If you have questions about yourself or others’ medical well-being please consult your medical professional for guidance. If this is a medical emergency please call 911. In the time of COVID-19 research, policies, and practices are constantly changing. This post was written on May 21st to the best of my knowledge at the time.
06/06/2023 Update
The vast majority of hospitals and birth centers have open visitor policies and are no longer requiring masks during care in their facilities.
I am always happy to wear a mask at request, or will do so on a case by case basis.
As we continue to adapt to a post-pandemic birthing space please reach out to me and/or your care providers with any questions or accommodations we can do to make you feel protected and safe.
10/07/2022 Update
Happy to announce that the entire Fairview hospital system is no longer having visitor limitations beyond age 5 which is so exciting. Most of the other hospitals are two support people plus a doula, but as always please check with your care team on current visitor guidelines.
I wear masks at in-home visits and births, but do not require my clients to do the same.
My entire family here is also vaccinated and I have my recent bivalent booster.
11/12/2021 Update
With the current surge in Minnesota, some hospitals are changing visitor policy once again. Twin Cities Hospitals and out of hospital birth center continue to value doula support during labor and birth. Some locations allow two support people plus a trained doula, others are one support person plus a trained doula. I carry copies of my certification with me and encourage clients to inquire with their hospital provider for the most updated visitor policy.
I’ve received my Pfizer booster this month and we were so gracious as a family that my 7yr old was able to be vaccinated as well.
2/15/2021 Update
I am happy to announce that doulas were placed on a vaccine approval list due to our in-person client support, and I was able to receive my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week. I am extremely grateful that doulas are able to do our part in fighting this disease and being one step closer to herd immunity.
12/25/2021 Update
The vast majority of Twin Cities Hospitals are now allowing Doula’s as a second support person during labor. A chart of hospitals allowing doula support can be found here for your specific hospital or feel free to reach out to me to discuss how best I can support you. I’ve been so grateful to be back in the hospital these past few months supporting birthing people as they welcome their babies to this world.
Original Post Dated 5/21/2021
Hello to my absolutely wonderful clients and community members. As we are all adjusting to our new normal of operating under a global pandemic, I wanted to clarify and update what doula support and care looks like under this time. At the end of the post I will also include some resources that can help folks in their decisions and support.
In amidst all the influx our world has been experiencing, it has been such a gift to be able to witness new life join us. Birth doesn’t stop and my support for my clients hasn’t stopped either. My aid in navigating these uncertain times and connecting my clients to resources that would have otherwise been unavailable to them gives me my passion to continue this work. Doulas are more essential now than ever, whether that be by being on a video call during labor instructing the support person how to rub someone’s back just right, wearing a mask for 15 hours straight for a birth center birth support, helping people prepare for a postpartum period that looks very different then they were planning on, or the countless other adjustments and support I’ve provided for my families.
As a birth worker, I thrive in adaptability (the only thing predictable about birth is that it is NOT predictable), and I’ve been using all my skills to the max this year to find creative solutions to provide my clients with all the utmost love and support they deserve. Here at The Tidal Doula, I am listening to scientists and researchers and taking all the precautions at my disposal to keep my family, the clients I serve, our healthcare workers, and the larger global community safe. In following those guidelines and suggestions, here are what my services are looking like today:
Interviews and Prenatal appointments are all being offered virtually at this time.
***SEE HOSPITAL UPDATE ABOVE***In the Twin Cities, the current standard of care in hospitals is to have at most 1 support person during labor, birth, and postpartum. This is to protect our vital health care workers. I am providing Virtual Doula support for families choosing to birth a hospital, and this looks different for every familiy. We will spend time together prenatally to create the best support system for you (whether that be text checkins, phone calls during decision making, video support for comfort measures or affirmations, and more).
For folks who would like me to be their sole support person in a hospital, or are looking for in-person labor support prior to going to the hospital, I encourage you to fill out my contact form and we can chat. I am filling these services on a case-by-case basis.
For families choosing to birth at a freestanding birth center or in their home with a professional midwife I am available as an in-person doula. I bring and provide my own cloth masks with filters and will wear them the entire time. More resources about out-of-hospital birth can be found below.
Postpartum Appointments are all being offered virtually at this time. I am also more available for phone support and resource navigation, especially in filling in the gaps we’re seeing during the postpartum period.
Interviews and Prenatal appointments are all being offered virtually at this time.
All sibling doula support services are done in the clients home (no transportation of siblings), I am available for families planning hospital, birth center, or home births and am there to care for older children until 5 hours after baby is born or the following morning at 9am.
If folks are looking at a sustained postpartum stay at a hospital and don’t want their primary support person to leave, there can be a discussion about an additional care-giver swapping out with me or an extended fee for staying with the children additional days.
For birth’s where I am attending in-person as a doula (birth or sibling), I can provide add-on photography packages at a discounted rate. I am not offering stand-alone photography services at this time.
I send the biggest virtual hug to everyone as I look forward to the time when we can gather in-person once again. Please always reach out with any questions or if there are other ways I can support you and your family during this time.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Doula,
Resources
Black Patient’s Guide to Covid-19 By Dr. Ruth Arumala in partnership with Color Of Change
COVID-19 and Pregnant, Breastfeeding or Caring for Young Children from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Coronavirus COVID-19 | Evidence Based Birth® Resource Page- Resources and up-to-date information for birthing people and birth workers
Out of Hospital Birth Resources (I respect folks in all of their birthing decisions)
VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) in the OOH(Out of Hospital) birth setting
Locally written Home Birth 101 Article
My Community Resource page includes my favorite birth care providers which includes some home birth and birth center midwives, I’m also happy to chat with folks and help them find a good fit for them.
My favorite Childbirth Education who are providing virtual classes
BirthEd Twin Cities (Childbirth Ed)
Erin Tripolino (Spinning Babies Parent Classes)
Everyday Miracles (No Cost for folks on State- Funded Insurance, Open to All)
Oily Doula (Lamaze Inspired and Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Ed )
Local Resources for Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding during Covid-19 provided by The Childbirth Collective