Coronavirus: Women Want To Give Birth At Home

After the coronavirus outbreak forced hospitals that women giving birth had to be alone without the company of their husbands or families in the delivery room, there was an 85% increase in calls to women! midwives or dulas of women interested in having their babies in their own home!

As one of the dulas told the New York Post, "This week we have had more requests in one day than in a whole year," said Kimm Sun of the Heart Science Midwifery in Brooklyn. "The most important reason among those who request it is because they do not want to give birth alone, without their partners or families being present."

Last week, New York Governor Cuomo banned visits to maternity hospitals and postpartum rooms, including husbands, couples, or moms' families, in another drastic move being taken to prevent the spread. of the Covid-19.

This weekend the ban was lifted, but remains in place at Mount Sina Health System, which has eight hospitals between New York City and Long Island, as well as New York-Presbyterian, with 13 centers in total.

"People are concerned about this situation," Evelyn Álvarez, a dula from the Bronx, told the aforementioned outlet. "They don't want to be alone in childbirth and that is why there is so much interest in other alternative ways of giving birth."

Moms face a bleak reality as there are only 25 midwives certified to help with home births across the city and many requests from couples are being denied.

"I am concerned with what this means for babies when they are born to such stressful moms!" Kim Summ added. “I don't want to have to say no to anyone, but we are experiencing an unprecedented situation. We have never had to deal with anything like it.”

Many midwives and dulas are also concerned about their safety, as they do not have the necessary equipment to protect themselves from the virus because the pandemic wiped out all that were available.