COVID-19 Update - We are still here for you!

I wanted to provide a further update on what is going on at HBHM as things seem to be evolving hourly. On Friday, we made the decision to close our office and have all staff except the nurses work from home. If you call the office, you will still get Shelley or Mimi, who will book your appointments, arrange for you to get your pump and pass off messages to the RNs. Over the weekend, we made the decision that effective 3/18/20, we will see all patients in their home for the first visit. Of course, this is only if that is what the mother wants. Unless there is a concern about the baby’s weight, follow ups will be done virtually via Zoom video conferencing. Our RNs will determine the best course of action based on your situation and communicate that with your pediatrician or OB. As we did last week, when registering a new patient, we will ask the 4 COVID 19 screening questions and the answers will be noted in your chart. If you are positive, we will still see you, but just need to gown, glove and mask during the appointment. We are committed to making sure you are all able to get the care you need during this difficult time while practicing strict infection control and adhering to the mandated guidelines.

I have also heard from many women with questions regarding whether or not they should continue to breastfeed, and the answer is a resounding YES! Rather than reiterating the guidelines, I thought I would share 3 links that I think will be very helpful for all of us. The first is the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s Statement on COVID. The second is the CDC guidelines regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding and the COVID virus. And the third is this great article regarding what social distancing actually means during this time. It has really helped me to make educated decisions regarding what my family should and should not be doing.

Lastly, many of you have had questions regarding what medications you can and cannot take when breastfeeding. Please discuss this with your physician. If you have any confusion regarding this topic, I have a resource that I use that can provide you with reputable research by Tom Hale, PhD, who is considered the American expert on medications in mother’s milk. Feel free to contact me if you need more information. He also runs a website for mothers called Mommy Meds that might be very helpful for you and is a great resource for breastfeeding women.

I am hopeful that this health crisis will be a time when our country realizes our many strengths and bands together for the collective good of all of us. Please know that we at HBHM are here for you and your baby and will make sure you have the support you need. Stay healthy and safe, and call us if you need us!