As the coronavirus pandemic has spread across the world over the last several weeks, countries have taken extra measures to ensure the safety of their people. For starters, many hospitals have become overwhelmed with the number of patients coming in with the virus. As a result, many have taken extra precautions on who they allow in.
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Mom Decides On Last-Minute Home Birth After Confusion Over Hospital's Policies
For many expecting mothers, this meant that there would be harsh restrictions on delivery rooms.
Unsplash | Adhy Savala
A few weeks ago, some hospitals announced that they would not allow anyone besides the mother in the delivery room. Many expecting women were outraged to hear this, as they wanted their partners by their side during this experience.
After many petitions went around and mothers shared their concerns, hospitals lifted that ban.
Unsplash | Sharon McCutcheon
Instead, hospitals announced that they would only allow one support person besides the mother in the labor and delivery room. That person had to be free of symptoms to ensure the safety of all others.
For expecting New Jersey mom Erin Persia, there was a slight misunderstanding when she arrived at the hospital to give birth.
Facebook | Erin Persia
Erin told CafeMom that when she arrived at the hospital, they informed her that her husband would not be allowed to stay with her.
When she arrived at the labor and delivery unit, she was stopped.
Facebook | Erin Persia
"As we walked into the entrance to labor and delivery, they stopped us at the doors and asked us a ton of questions and took my temperature, and then said he couldn’t come back with me because of COVID-19," Erin said in a Facebook post.
Her husband, however, told her to stay at the hospital and to call him if anything went wrong.
Facebook | Erin Persia
After checking in, she decided she couldn't go through with this without her husband.
"I felt scared and alone, and everything in my gut was screaming to leave. So, I did.”
Instead, she went back home with her husband and the two decided to have their baby — at home — together.
Facebook | Erin Persia
She said that her body was in "fight or flight" mode, and her labor completely stopped. But, when it got going again, there was no turning back.
She ended up going into labor at home.
Facebook | Erin Persia
"We called my friend/neighbor to help manage the kids. The kids were interested and worried as to what was going on in the bathroom. And why was mom yelling? My great-grandmom had all of her seven kids at home, and I knew my body was capable of so much and that if I just trusted myself I would know what to do, so that’s what I did.”
Her daughter was born on April 3rd, healthy and happy.
Facebook | Erin Persia
Erin posted that she and her husband did great and she couldn't be more proud. Her daughter, Amelia, was healthy and perfect.
It turns out, the entire situation was a huge mix-up.
Facebook | Erin Persia
The hospital's spokesperson said:
“The one designated care partner — such as a husband — is allowed in the delivery room to be by the side of the birthing mom. There could be a need for the care partner to wait outside temporarily, but only during the initial assessment. If someone was told something other than that or misinterpreted what he or she were told, that would be an unfortunate miscommunication.”
Even though Erin's birth story didn't go as she expected, the most important thing is that everyone is healthy and happy.
Unsplash | Hu Chen
One day, Amelia will get to hear this unique story of how she entered the world.
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