The health and safety of our clients, staff, and their family members are a priority for TMC. Below is a summary of the precautions that TMC has implemented and will continue to use until further notice. Please also refer to the CDC and the Allegheny Department of Health for additional information.
FOR ALL CLIENTS:
- Please do not come to TMC if you are ill or if you have a known Covid-19 exposure. If you have symptoms or are exposed to someone who is ill please NOTIFY OUR OFFICE at 412-321-6880 so that we can reschedule your appointment and direct you to the next steps.
- We ask that support people and children do not accompany you to your visits. Our waiting room is set up for social distancing, however, fewer people in the building decreases risk. We are happy to FaceTime or video chat with your support person/people for your visits. Please know that if someone accompanies you, we will ask them to wait outside the building for your visit. If you arrive with children, you may be asked to reschedule your visit
- If you have traveled outside of Western Pennsylvania in the two weeks prior to your visit, you may be asked to reschedule.
- While at TMC, you will notice all of our staff will be wearing masks. In addition, we will ask that you wear a mask during your time in the center.
GYNECOLOGICAL CARE:
- TMC continues to provide all of its gynecological services. Some gynecological visits may be done via telehealth. Our office can assist you to make an in-person or telehealth visit by calling 412-321-6880.
- Our “With Woman Fridays” and “Con Mujeres” walk-in gynecology programs have been changed to a “same-day scheduling” program to allow for screening and social distancing. Please call on Fridays between 9 am and 2 pm to request a visit between the hours of 1– 6 pm that day. Translation services are available.
PREGNANCY CARE:
Being pregnant during a global pandemic has brought many challenges and changes. Some of these changes may not be in effect when you are birthing, however, it is important to provide clients with the most current information and measures.
- We ask that support people or children do not accompany you to your visits with the exception of your first visit to the center when you may bring a support person.
- During your labor, you will begin by wearing a mask. During your birth, as you are pushing your baby out, and for the first hour after the birth, you can remove your mask and the staff will take additional precautions
- .Our midwives are currently not going into the hospital for birth care so that our midwives have as little exposure as possible to illness in order to care for you and your family at TMC. Our colleagues at our referral hospitals have been graciously accepting our clients in the need for a transfer.
- Waterbirth has been suspended due to the risk of fecal transmission of Covid-19. You may still labor in the tub, just not birth into the water.
- Most of our pregnancy-related visits have been moved to a telehealth format, based on recommendations from the CDC. Here is the rough outline of the telehealth pregnancy schedule that you can expect:
- 10-12 weeks New OB visit (in person)
- 14-16 weeks Telehealth visit
- 20-22 weeks anatomy scan ultrasound and telehealth visit
- 26-28 weeks in-person visit with gestational diabetes screen and Rhogam if indicated
- 30-32 weeks telehealth visit
- 36 weeks in-person visit with GBS screen
- 38 weeks telehealth
- 39 weeks in person
- 40 weeks telehealth or in-person
- 41 weeks in person
If there is ever a concern, please page the midwife on call. We will also refer any problems detected during a telehealth visit to an in-office provider who will be available to see clients in person.
Between visits please notify the nurse/provider if you experience any of the following:
- Bad headaches, vision problems
- Feeling the need to push down or bear down
- Fever of more than 100.4 F that does not decrease a few hours after taking acetaminophen
- Fluid from your vagina that you think is not urine or discharge
- Spotting
- Painful urination
- Severe cramps or pelvic pressure before your due date
- Sudden swelling in your face, eyes, hands, or feet
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea for more than 24 hours
After 24 weeks:
- A change in the baby movements, especially if the baby is not moving much or at all
- Contractions that are very painful and happen more than 6 times in an hour or contractions that are less than 5 minutes apart
DISCHARGE & POSTPARTUM CARE:
- If you or anyone in your household has a fever or symptoms consistent with these types of viruses, we do not feel it is appropriate to discharge you and your baby to go home; therefore, your care will be directed to the hospital where you may be tested and followed closely.
- No postpartum visitors will be allowed in the center, except for your two labor support people.
- We will continue to have the initial postpartum nurse visits done between 24-72 hours at TMC instead of in your home. You may bring one support person to your postpartum nurse visit.
- Two and six-week postpartum visits can be done via telehealth if TMC is your provider at birth and it feels appropriate with you and the providers.
OTHER SERVICES:
Lactation visits – We continue to schedule lactation visits to take place at TMC
Labwork – We continue to provide in-house lab services at TMC
Behavioral Health – All behavioral health visits and support groups are being conducted remotely
Classes – All of TMC classes and orientations are being conducted remotely