We are at a critical time - Horizon Health will be making a large announcement in September about the new updates to the COVID policies. 

Birthing people should have the option of support at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital like they do in other hospitals in NB and across the country. 

The current Horizon policy for visitors has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic. However, as times have been changing, the Labour & Birth Unit at the DECH has not updated their stance on support people in the birth unit to include 2 people. With the current Horizon Policy being 1-2 support people given the space, it is frustrating many people that they are unable to have the second person. With full understanding of the current size of the Labour Rooms, the concern is understandable but feel it is time for a change.

Just down the hall, visitors are allowed to come fairly freely to the postpartum unit where you may have up to 6 people (4 parents, 2 babies) plus support and nursing staff and visitors all in the same room which is a comparable size to the labour rooms - not to mention the sharing of bathrooms with other patients as well.

As vaccination levels have risen, our understanding of COVID-19 has increased, and the generally healthy nature of a person in labour (not ill, just having a baby), everything seems to be pointing in the direction of allowing more support during these vulnerable periods. 

Many people have genuine concerns over the massive nursing shortages. Today a Mom's water broken and was told that due to staffing she was either to have an induction immediately (not medically indicated but due to staffing) or go home and wait for a call.

The burden on nurses and the whole medical system is immense. Having the option for more support people gives people an increased sense of calm, support, relaxation and not feeling alone (even if their nurse has to step out for extended periods of time; ex: for an emergency C-Section). These situations are happening frequently and yet the one support person (typically a partner also scared and needing support) is left to shoulder the emotional and physical load of sometimes very long labours. Having a secondary support allowed in can help ease the burden on the patient, the new dad / partner, and allow for more labouring Moms to have their Mom's or a Doula present to keep them comfortable and moving.

There is overwhelming research and evidence to suggest the more supported a patients feels and the better their support system the higher birth satisfaction and even less need for interventions. Allowing feelings of support and safety naturally release Oxytocin and decrease cortisol - two essential elements for allowing birth to take place. 

We are asking that you reconsider the current DECH policy to allow for the choice of (at least) 1-2 support people to fall to the patient instead of the hospital; matching the current practices in other cities in New Brunswick, Canada, and across the globe.