Keeping Moms and Babies Safe During the Pandemic
3/9/2021
Hospital welcomed hundreds of newborns in 2020 and is prepared to deliver more this year - Jane McMillian, M.D.
ROSWELL, NM – The delivery of babies has been a happy event for the labor and delivery team at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center over the past year. Hundreds of infants have taken their first breath at the hospital and been a welcome sight in the midst of the global pandemic.
While the virus has changed many things in the world – the hospital’s childbirth center and nursery are a pleasant constant, located in a separate, enclosed area to provide specialized care and services. A dedicated team of nurses and obstetricians work exclusively with the moms and babies through delivery and post-partum care.
Eastern New Mexico Medical Group OB/GYN Dr. Jane McMillian said, "We love our patients and have made sure we are able to provide care safely and effectively, especially during the pandemic. We have special testing available for our labor patients to provide rapid and accurate test results for the COVID-19 virus. We make every effort to make the delivery process special for our parents. We are committed to a happy, health new start for all!"
Pre-natal care remains critical and women are encouraged to stay in contact with their obstetrician and keep their appointments to be sure their pregnancy is on track. And once baby is here, regular visits to the pediatrician are important to help them thrive.
The hospital and physician clinics keep the safety of their patients as the top priority. Many actions have been taken to enhance infection prevention and support social distancing to maintain a safe environment during the pandemic.
When an expectant mom arrives at the hospital, she goes to the emergency room entrance where staff will check her temperature, test for COVID-19 and complete a screening questionnaire. Moms can have one guest who stays with them in their room throughout their stay and cannot go in and out; the individual must have tested negative for COVID-19 and wear a mask at all times.
“We are taking the necessary precautions for your protection,” said Dr. McMillan. “Hundreds of moms have their babies here each year and we give each the personalized care they need.”
Labor and delivery proceed as they always have and most adjacent procedures remain available. Tubal ligation after delivery is an option if a mother is negative for COVID-19 and circumcisions can also be performed. Breastfeeding is encouraged, even for moms who test positive for COVID-19 and can protect their infant by wearing a mask.
If you need help finding an obstetrician, pediatrician or another physician, visit the website at www.EasternNewMexicoMedicalGroup.com/ob-gyn.
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