During COVID-19: Events, Classes & Groups

Lactation/Feeding/Bottlefeeding/Pumping/Weaning consultations are available BOTH in-person (Northborough office) and via HIPAA-compliant Zoom video consultations.

Prenatal classes are online EXCEPT now we are doing the Move & Get Comfy for Labor as a hybrid in-person, small group, masked and distanced plus part of it will be virtual on the same day.

Feeding-focused groups have been online but on hold for March/April (see Calendar for specific dates for each, as well as links to sign up, as registration in advance is required). We may be holding In-person groups soon, stay tuned!

DURING TIME OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS...in order to keep everyone as healthy as possible, two types of consultations are available:

HIPAA-compliant video consultations
in-person office visits in Northborough

COVID Precautions for In-person Feeding Consultations

I will wear a medical mask and expect you to wear a well-fitting mask (I have masks if you need one).
I wipe everything down with Cavicide surgical wipes (my scale, pen, phone, sink, etc).
I wash my hands often and wear gloves when doing an oral assessment of baby.
I will reschedule if I am having any symptoms of illness or know I have been exposed to someone COVID+ and I absolutely expect the same of you.
In my office I have a PECO air purifier and will open windows between clients to get airflow going (and may have windows open during consultations, as well, as weather allows).

Important Information for Families Giving Birth During the Pandemic

You may have heard that some babies are being separated from their parent(s) if the parent(s) are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19—yes, even in Massachusetts hospitals! There ARE guidelines for breastfeeding, pumping (and feeding that milk to the baby) and skin to skin…as routine separation of the infant to another room is NOT recommended.

Parents should inform themselves before they get to the hospital (and have a birth doula or family/friend at the ready to replace the birth partner in case that person is excluded from joining the birthing person in the hospital—as apparently even a fever for a non-COVID-19 cause would exclude them from attending the birth and helping during their postpartum stay.

The World Health Organization recommends babies NOT be separated. Here's an excerpt: “Enable mothers and infants to remain together and practice skin-to-skin contact, and rooming-in throughout the day and night, especially straight after birth during establishment of breastfeeding, whether or not the mother or child has suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19.”

This is a great article by a local doctor who is well-respected in the world of breastfeeding and lactation:COVID-19: Separating Infected Mothers from Newborns: Weighing the Risks and Benefits

An older but still valuable article by a breastfeeding medicine physician. The Risks of Not Breastfeeding for Mothers and Infants

Another good article you can read is here: The Anti-infective Properties of Human Milk

A local lawyer and parenting rights advocate has developed a waiver you can use in case you want to keep your baby with you and the hospital is fighting your wishes. I strongly consider you learn more about this and share this with anyone else you know who is expecting a baby.

Also see this brand new article: When Separation is not the Answer: Breastfeeding Mothers and Infants affected by COVID‐19

We did FOUR episodes of the Babies in Common Show about the pandemic, so check those out...click here to watch videos or click here to listen to the podcast version of the shows.

And check out Birth Monopoly, an excellent resource for expectant families (pandemic or not).

Click here for the Resources page, which lists birth doulas (but there are also postpartum doulas that can provide virtual support and some are still doing in-person care). These are provided without any compensation to Babies in Common. We just recommend the practitioners on the Resources page as a service to the community, as we believe in the care these folks provide to families!

Questions? Feel free to email Jeanette@babiesincommon.com

Don't miss any updates or news from Babies in Common,

opt-in to the Babies in Common mailing list

Don't worry, we don't send too many emails, we promise.

And we'll never share your email with anyone!