Staten Island University Hospital of the Northwell Health Hospital system has banned support for patients in Labor & Delivery and Postpartum units as of Wednesday, March 25th.

Every hospital that bans support for birthing people does so without their patients' best interests in mind. They actively contribute to the public health crisis we are currently experiencing. Not only do they increase the number of people who will suffer potential mental and physical complications because they are being forced to birth alone; they increase the number of people fleeing COVID-19 hotspots, putting increased pressure on other hospital systems and increasing points of potential spread in other communities throughout the country. We see this happening now. 

We are grateful to all hospitals that are committed to maintaining access for support people in Labor & Delivery and Postpartum units.  NYPresbyterian, Mt. Sinai and now Staten Island University Hospital must open their doors to partnered support and decrease the spread of COVID-19 and increase positive outcomes for people who are in labor, birthing or postpartum.  

Will you tweet at Staten Island University Hospital, NY Presbyterian and Mt. Sinai? Click here. I encourage you to use the hashtag #MyBirthPartner and change the first sentence to reflect your feelings. (Note that we're experiencing some difficulties with Twitter showing all the tweets, but please keep sending them as we resolve it).

Let's keep going. No one should give birth alone.