Milwaukee health officials and doctors offer pregnant women advice on protecting themselves during the pandemic

© Ascension St. Joseph Shaquelley Taylor, 30, with her day-old son, Caleb

When Dr. Karen Watson describes obstetrics as a contact sport, she isn't kidding.

"(We do) anything we can so that (pregnant women) don't miss contact with the provider during that pregnancy," said Watson, a 25-year veteran of obstetrics/gynecology medicine at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital. "We're flexible, but we still need patients to come in."

To ensure they remain safe during the coronavirus pandemic, her unit has adopted many precautions to protect mothers and babies.

Get daily updates on the Packers during the season.

Share Your Story: We want to talk to doctors, nurses and others affected by coronavirus

"We're going to decrease the number of providers. All of the staff wears a mask to protect the patients, the babies and themselves," she said.

Ascension representatives said that pregnant women and visitors are being screened for flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough and sore throat; the obstetrics unit has been segregated from coronavirus units; and visitors under the age of 18 are not allowed.

In addition, the hospital is only allowing one support person for expectant mothers in the delivery room and postpartum units. That includes doulas, who are not considered medical personnel. The hospital is also offering tablets so patients can visit family and friends virtually.

But despite the pandemic, Watson — who delivers eight to 14 babies per month — said many other elements of her job remain the same.

She and other physicians are still encouraging breastfeeding. In fact, the World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women with the coronavirus continue to breastfeed, stating that "exclusive breastfeeding helps a baby to thrive."

Prenatal and postpartum checkups are other constants, Watson said.

"At some point, we have to put our hands on the patient, ear to babies' heartbeats, check the cervix," she said. Some low-risk people can be checked over the phone, she said, but they are encouraging high-risk patients, such as those with diabetes or other complications, to make all their visits.

"For postpartum care, we can do some of the visits through the virtual provider office," Watson said. "(But) we don't want them to be fearful of leaving the house."

Shaquelley Taylor, a certified nursing assistant and medical assistant, left her home for St. Joseph around midnight when she realized she was in labor.

"I was hoping that I wasn't in labor but then the pain kept getting worse and it was six minutes apart, so I didn't even call — I just came," she said. "As soon as I got here, I was welcomed and triaged right away."

She was given a mask and taken to a delivery room.

With the baby's father at her side, Taylor pushed her son, Caleb, into the world April 16 at 4:58 a.m.

As a pregnant woman, will you get sicker than those who aren't pregnant if you contract the coronavirus? Not from pregnancy alone, according to Heather Paradis, the Milwaukee Health Department's chief medical officer. "Based on the available information, pregnant people seem to have the same risk as adults who are not pregnant," she wrote in a statement. However, pregnant women with risk factors outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (such as asthma, diabetes, severe obesity or others) would still be vulnerable.

Are prenatal visits still taking place? Yes, although many hospitals are providing telemedicine and virtual options. You can call your local hospital to determine what telemedicine options are available, although city health officials are encouraging women to continue to visit their physicians.

What is the city doing to provide prenatal care coordination? The city's Empowering Families of Milwaukee and Parents Nurturing and Caring for their Children program have suspended non-medical, in-person visits and replaced them with telephone and virtual visitation, according to Erica Olivier, the city's Maternal and Child Health Division director. However, medical check-ups of newborns, such as health screenings and blood draws, are still being conducted. The office is also still providing basic needs such as diapers, formula, and other supplies with no-contact drop-offs. Call (414) 286-8620.

What should you do if you are worried about contracting coronavirus from other patients when you show up at the hospital? Paradis said hospitals recognize that pregnant women might be concerned about going to a hospital during a pandemic and pregnant women are encouraged to call ahead and schedule as many visits as possible. Many hospitals are segregating obstetric units, screening everyone, and limiting the number of visitors and health care workers allowed in and out. Olivier is discouraging pregnant women from just showing up at an emergency room or urgent care unless they are having a serious emergency to limit the potential exposure to the coronavirus.

Who is being allowed in the delivery room? The number of visitors allowed in a delivery depends on the hospital, which is why city health officials recommend calling ahead. Most have a limit of how many visitors are allowed and are not allowing any visitors who display symptoms of the coronavirus.

Will you be prioritized for coronavirus testing? Pregnant women are not necessarily prioritized for coronavirus testing. Pregnant women with symptoms, according to Paradis, can have their tests prioritized through the public health lab. The availability of tests will depend on the hospital. The state and city health labs are using specific criteria for testing, which includes, "Patients with COVID-19 symptoms for whom rapid diagnosis is needed to inform infection control practices (e.g., labor and delivery, dialysis, aerosol-generating procedures, etc.)."

Contact Talis Shelbourne at (414) 403-6651 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseer and message her on Facebook at @talisseer.

How are we doing? Fill out this survey and let us know.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee health officials and doctors offer pregnant women advice on protecting themselves during the pandemic

World's Smallest Baby Born in San Diego at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital