On March 11, 2020 WHO declared the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) a global pandemic. The first cases in Nova Scotia were identified on March 15, 2020 and a State of Emergency was declared in our province on March 22, 2020. You can find up to date information on COVID-19 from public health authorities in Canada at canada.ca/coronavirus and in Nova Scotia at novascotia.ca/coronavirus. You can also find information on symptoms and screening at 811.
Midwives in Nova Scotia continue to provide essential prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care during the outbreak of COVID-19. Your midwifery team may adjust your prenatal or postpartum schedule of visits based on updated recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia (RCP). Visitors have been restricted for labour, birth, clinic visits, and in person assessments at both the IWK and NSHA. You may find increased screening at your local hospital or midwifery clinic.
You can do your part by informing your midwife if you are unwell in any way and staying away from clinic with mild illness, as well as avoiding all non-essential travel, preparing your home and family, practicing good hygiene and physical distancing.
Contact your midwife if you have questions specific to your care.
More information:
- IWK COVID-19 information
- NSH COVID-19 information
- Government of Canada info on pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for a newborn during the COVID-19 pandemic
- National Advisory Committee on Immunization
- Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia COVID-19 resources
- Ontario Midwives COVID-19 information and resources
- Ontario Midwives Clinical Practice Guideline: Home birth during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada COVID-19 information
- COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals
- Pandemic Pregnancy Guide (Instagram)
