Across the country many expectant mothers are turning to at-home births amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to curb the spread of coronavirus, many hospitals have had to make policy changes, like limiting the number of family members who can be in the delivery room. Chelsea Jahn, co-owner of Red Tent Midwives, said this has been one of the main reasons many women have turned to at-home births.
“Anyone who's maybe thought about having a home delivery in the past is thinking 'well, this is the time I'm going to try it because I don't really want to be in the hospital right now' and mostly it’s because of these policies hospitals have had to implement," said Jahn.
She and co-owner Jenny Jahn say these changes and the potential risk of being exposed to the coronavirus have caused a surge in demand, especially over the last month.
While she’s excited more women are interested in having a baby outside the hospital, Jenny Jahn said at-home births are only for those who are low-risk patients.
“If the hospitals start reaching capacity for coronavirus cases, we still encourage people who are at high risk to go to labor and delivery and have their babies there," said Jenny Jahn.
She said they’ve enhanced their sanitation procedures and wear masks regardless of where they deliver babies in order to keep clients — and midwives — safe.
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