Supporting mums with COVID-19 to birth their babies is now all in a day’s work for Mackay Base Hospital Registered Midwife Kate Aitchison.
Kate said she had now cared for quite a few positive mums during birth and on the ward.
“Fortunately, the mothers I have looked after have been feeling pretty well and have only had minor symptoms. Some have even been surprised to test positive,” she said.
The Base Hospital supports mums with COVID-19 to birth in the Labour Ward and then room in with their babies in special section of the Women’s Health Unit.
“If both mums and babies are well they stay on the ward or go home after four hours if this is what they want.
“If they are first time mums, or need some more care from us or extra assistance, they stay longer, just the same if they didn’t have COVID-19,” she said.
Kate said the main difference women with COVID-19 would notice is that their midwives would wear PPE which means a gown, gloves, mask and eye protection.
“Underneath we are still the same friendly people,” she said.
“It’s just that we need to wear full PPE to ensure we don’t become unwell ourselves or make anyone else sick.”
Kate said the aim was for midwives to spend as much time with mums and babies as possible and for women to receive the usual reassurances and support with breastfeeding and cares for their baby.
And instead of an open bassinette babies are placed in a giraffe isolette which has another layer of protection from the virus which can spread in the air.
“This helps to lower the chance of transmission between mum and baby, however baby can still come out for cuddles, nappy changes, feeds and other cares just as they would if they were in a bassinette.”
Babies who need higher level support in the Special Care Nursery are cared for there where there is around the clock nursing care and monitoring.
Kate has worked in the Women’s Health Unit for four years, first as registered nurse and as a registered midwife for the past two and a half years.
She studied another year and a half at university to become a midwife, also working in the unit as a student midwife at this time.
Kate said the transition from registered nurse to registered midwife was something she had always wanted to do, and she enjoyed being able to use both skill sets.
“There’s so many things I love about being a midwife. Being with families and helping a new life into the world is an amazing experience.
“I love being their support, their advocate and empowering women to make informed decisions. I also love how natural the process can be and how women are able to go with their bodies and urges, it’s quite amazing,” she said.
In the future Kate is looking to combine her skills of nursing and midwifery to support women in more rural and remote areas.
