If you are planning a hospital birth in Oklahoma City, there is a good chance that you have heard about the new changes in visitor policy. Over the summer, doulas were able back into labor and delivery rooms to support their doula families again. Yet, with hospitals experiencing a new rise in Covid, the restrictions have been updated again. As of August 11, 2021 these are the new guidelines.
On the Mercy website, these are the current guidelines for labor and delivery. This Hospital IS REQUIRING families to hire a vaccinated doula in order to have in-person support during their labor and birth journey.
Labor and Delivery All laboring moms are allowed one designated visitor.
On the OU Children’s website, they updated the restrictions on August 6th to the following.
So what do the new changes mean for Oklahoma City Families hoping to have a doula on their birth team? Will families need to hire a vaccinated doula in order to have in-person support? If you are planning on delivering at OU Children’s or an Integris hospital, you currently do not need to change any plans with your doula. I would advise to keep tabs on any upcoming updates.
Now that school is back in session, it is predicted that Covid-19 numbers will continue to ascend in Oklahoma City. This will most likely change other hospital guidelines to be more restrictive and/or require doula’s to have their Covid vaccine. This is why I would advise that even if you are not planning to have your baby at Mercy Hospital, that you have a conversation with your doula ahead of time about how/if they can support you if/when restrictions change. Having this conversation early on will probably help prevent expecting parents from worrying about what they will do if things change.
Jenni Jenkins – Sekine is an Oklahoma City Bereavement, Birth, & Postpartum doula who serves her Central Oklahoma community. She is also a midwifery assistant with Holistic Birthing Services and planning to begin her student midwifery journey in 2022.
Jenni has been a Thrive Mama Collective Member since 2017. Jenni is also the creator & facilitator of the Kaleidoscope OKC LGBTQ Family Support Group & the Nurture Oklahoma Live Interview Series.
To learn more about Jenni, please click here.