Birth is usually a time of celebration, but during a pandemic, it requires some extra care and caution. Drs. Prakesh Shah and Wendy Whittle join Dr. Howard Ovens to talk about how urgency, compassion, and collaboration are guiding them through providing maternal and neo-natal care during this time. They share stories of mothers who have delivered babies while having COVID-19, newborns who arrive in the world with the virus, and how it impacts everyone - from the parents, the newborn, and medical staff - who are sometimes doubling as the support person for mothers delivering without their usual support network to lean on in the operating room. But despite the challenges, hear how Sinai Health staff lean on non-verbal communication, smiles, and touch to guide new mothers through the birth of their newborns even from behind a hat, masks, shield and gloves.
