Breath of Life COVID-19 Safety Update
We will provide updates as they come available. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us directly at 727-216-1420.
It is understandable that the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has left many people feeling unsettled. This situation continues to evolve and we are constantly reassessing what it means for our clients and staff.
Breath of Life remains open and will continue to serve the patients under our care. We also are still inviting new patients to contact us if you are in need of care.
Protecting Our Clients
Our number one priority is to keep our clients and their families safe. We have put policies and procedures in place to assure the highest level of safety, and we will continue to adapt those guidelines as necessary.
While healthy younger adults and children are at low risk for severe disease from the virus, Breath of Life is committed to minimizing exposure to our patients and staff members. We are converting as many visits as possible into a telemedicine format to reduce unnecessary contact.
Office Visits
There is currently no adequate data about the effect of COVID-19 on pregnant and postpartum women or on newborn babies. As such, we are asking the following of our clients:
If you, or anyone in your household, is experiencing symptoms of concern (i.e. body aches, a dry cough, and/or a fever), please call our office before coming in for any of the following:
Prenatal appointments
Postpartum appointments
Gynecological Well Woman appointments
Labor and Birth
If you are a client who is expecting to give birth soon, please speak directly with your midwife about the safety guidelines pertaining to your labor and delivery.
Classes
If you are currently enrolled in a class they are available online. We will be in contact to provide you with further details and instructions.
Facility Protocols
As always, our birth center is committed to safe, personal, and empowering care. In addition to our usual strict safety protocols, we are taking additional sanitation measures. If any Breath of Life personnel (or anyone in their home) express symptoms of concern they are not permitted to come into work.
Working Together
As new information continues to become available, our response is being guided by evidence-based, best practice information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and the Florida Department of Health. We are also working closely with our affiliated hospital, Morton Plant Hospital, and the Pinellas County Health Department.
Resources
We also recommend reviewing the following resources for up-to-date information about COVID-19 and its effect on pregnancy, newborns, and breastfeeding if you have concerns:
World Health Organization: Coronavirus Disease
CDC: Coronavirus, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding
Unicef: Coronavirus-What Parents Should Know
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: COVID-19