Keeping Moms and Babies Safe During the Pandemic
3/23/2021
Hospital welcomed 2,638 newborns in 2020 and is prepared to deliver more this year
The delivery of babies has been a happy event for the labor and delivery team at Laredo 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.
“Pregnancy is a time of anxious excitement with the ultimate joy of introducing a miracle to the world. I have been blessed with the opportunity to support future moms towards the goal of a happy and healthy baby. Labor and Delivery at Laredo Medical Center provides soon-to-be moms a special environment for safe deliveries,” said Dr. Enrique F. Benavides, III, Chief of Ob/Gyn at Laredo Medical Center.
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. Furthermore, the hospital’s Maternity Services recently passed a rigorous designation process and have been awarded the designation of a Level II (Specialty Care) Maternal Facility in Perinatal Care from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The designation represents a facility’s commitment to excellence that exceeds minimum hospital licensure requirements by providing care for complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications and fetal conditions.
When an expectant mom arrives for a planned stay at the hospital, she will report to the fourth floor admitting area during the hours of 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. The expectant mom will then be admitted to the Labor & Delivery Unit, and upon arrival to the unit, the staff will check her vital signs which includes a temperature check. A screening will be completed during her assessment and a test for COVID-19 will be obtained. Expectant moms with signs of labor or any other symptom are to arrive in the Emergency Room Department. The expectant mom will be triaged and screened in the Emergency Department and then taken to the Labor and Delivery unit.
Moms may have one to two adult guests during the day and only one guest may stay with them overnight. Guests are encouraged to avoid going in and out; the individual must be free of COVID-19 symptoms and all guests will be screened by completing a questionnaire. All guests must wear a mask at all times.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many things. At LMC, we too have changed and progressed to continue to provide moms with the personalized care they deserve,” said Dr. Benavides.
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. Breastfeeding is encouraged and we continue to adhere to the guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The American Academy of Pediatrics.
Additionally, among other specialty L&D services available at Laredo Medical Center is a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with a Level III designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Designation of this level highlights the hospital’s ability to care for critically ill babies.
For information on the Childbirth Center at Laredo Medical Center, visit https://www.laredomedical.com/maternity-care-services or call (956) 796-3223. If you need help finding an obstetrician, pediatrician or another physician, visit the “Find a Doctor” link at https://www.laredomedical.com/find-a-doctor.
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