Delivering a baby during a pandemic

Having a baby under normal circumstances is nerve-racking enough, let alone in the middle of a pandemic.

As Danielle and her husband Caleb carefully weighed their options for the arrival of their sweet baby Hazel in early July, they preferred to be somewhere that felt safe and where care for mom and baby would be close by in case of an emergency or complication. And they knew that the hospital was prepared.

"We knew the hospital was less busy than usual. People got health checks at the door, and the staff was very careful. We asked about precautions and saw that everyone was masked and washing their hands all the time," said Caleb. "Once we were in our room, we pretty much forgot about the pandemic and could focus on our new baby."

Danielle said she appreciated the open communication with her caregivers throughout her four-day stay. "I can't say enough about the nurses. They were super professional and open and honest with me. I'm an 'info person' who asks a lot of questions. They really gave me their full attention when they were in the room, and I felt validated when I had questions."

She said she intended to put together a birth plan, but in the end it didn't quite come together. Her advice for other moms? "Go with the flow and listen to caregivers. Be willing to change expectations as the experience unfolds."

She also appreciated the king-size beds in our recovery rooms and that husband Caleb was able to stay with her and baby Hazel in the room. "It was super quiet and I really felt like we had one-on-one care."

At Alaska Regional Hospital, we know that giving birth during a pandemic probably wasn't on your birth plan! But we will go above and beyond to help you get the most out of this experience while adhering to the guidelines set in place to keep you and your baby safe and healthy. We are committed to partnering with you in our efforts to care for you and your baby during this time.