Catholic Health Labor & Delivery is Here for You

Just as you’ve been getting ready for your baby’s arrival, we’ve been making our own preparations to ensure your safety and comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from heading to the hospital when it’s time. Catholic Health’s labor and delivery departments have been working with infectious disease specialists so that our hospitals remain the safest places for Western New York families to welcome their new addition.

Ways We’re Keeping You Safe

The labor and delivery teams at Catholic Health hospitals – Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Sisters of Charity Hospital and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital – are taking a unified approach to protecting the health of families coming into the hospital. See the steps we’re taking below.

Visitors and employees entering each hospital are all screened upon arrival. As an additional safety measure, expectant mothers will also receive COVID-19 testing. Rest assured that any patients who test positive for COVID-19 are isolated in a different area of the hospital, away from patients receiving routine or emergent care.

We recognize how vital it is that pregnant women still be allowed the support of two birth partners, in addition to hospital staff. We do, however, limit the number of providers who enter the private patient room. Birth partners are also subject to one thermometer reading every 12 hours to ensure that they are not developing symptoms of COVID-19.

Other precautions taken:

  • All hospital employees wear a mask
  • No additional visitors permitted at this time
  • Early discharge for moms and babies who meet the criteria is encouraged
  • Hospital will provide a next-day, follow-up visit for early discharges if they are unable to get an appointment with their pediatrician

When Is It Time to Go to the Hospital?

When the time comes, don’t delay. Catholic Health wants new moms to feel confident knowing the hospital is still the safest place to bring your baby into the world.

Here’s what to look for to determine if you’re ready to go to the hospital.

If at any point, you think you might be in labor, please call your OB or midwife. They can help you decide if it’s time to head to the hospital.

Timing is everything – we know this, and we’re ready for you.

Maternity COVID-19 FAQs

Q: Do I have to wear a mask while I am in labor?
A: When you are able to wear a mask, the department of health recommends everyone who cannot social distance to wear a mask. As it is impossible to social distance in labor from your care team, if you are able to wear one, we will provide you with surgical style medical masks and encourage you to use them. Sometimes in labor you may not be able to tolerate a mask and we will adapt our PPE(personal protective equipment) to compensate. After the baby is born, please continue to wear your mask when caregivers are in the room.

Q: Does my partner need to wear a mask the whole time I am in the hospital?
A: When Caregivers are in the room, we ask that your partner wear his/her mask. When just your family is in the room, they can remove the mask.

Q: Can my partner come and go while I am in the hospital?
A: We encourage your support person to stay with you the entire time.

Q: Are coffee shops and the Cafeteria open at the Hospital for support people?
A: We ask that your support person stay in your room with you. There are options for ordering food from the cafeteria but in the interest of safety, it is better to reduce the number of people in the hallways and common areas of the hospital.

Q: Do partners get tested for Covid-19 if a woman tests positive?
A: If a partner has any symptoms of Covid, they should talk with their healthcare provider about being tested. Any support person with symptoms of Covid-19 is asked to stay home to avoid spreading the virus. It is always good to have a backup support person in case your primary is sick. If a woman in labor is positive but her support person has no symptoms, then their support person is welcome to stay, but must continue to wear a mask when caregivers are in the room and must stay in the room with their family throughout the stay.

Q: Is it safe for my baby to stay in my room if I test positive?
A: As long as no additional medical care is needed for Mom or Baby, and appropriate precautions are taken (wearing a mask and frequent handwashing/ sanitizing) then babies do very well when rooming in with their mothers even with a positive Covid test. Breastfeeding may even provide protective antibodies to the baby.

Q: Where can I go for Breastfeeding support or other support groups while everything is closed to in person activities?
A: There are multiple resources available in online format right now. Catholic Health has many classes and connections with additional resources – see www.chsbuffalo.org/classes  

Q: Do I have to wear a mask while I am in labor?

A: When you are able to wear a mask, the department of health recommends everyone who cannot social distance to wear a mask.  As it is impossible to social distance in labor from your care team, if you are able to wear one, we will provide you with surgical style medical masks and encourage you to use them.  Sometimes in labor you may not be able to tolerate a mask and we will adapt our PPE(personal protective equipment) to compensate.    After the baby is born, please continue to wear your mask when caregivers are in the room.

Q: Does my partner need to wear a mask the whole time I am in the hospital?

A:  When Caregivers are in the room, we ask that your partner wear his/her mask.  When just your family is in the room, they can remove the mask.

Q: Can my partner come and go while I am in the hospital?

A: We encourage your support person to stay with you the entire time.

Q:  Are coffee shops and the Cafeteria open at the Hospital for support people?

A:  We ask that your support person stay in your room with you.  There are options for ordering food from the cafeteria but in the interest of safety, it is better to reduce the number of people in the hallways and common areas of the hospital.

Q: Do partners get tested for Covid-19 if a woman tests positive?

A: If a partner has any symptoms of Covid, they should talk with their healthcare provider about being tested.  Any support person with symptoms of Covid-19 is asked to stay home to avoid spreading the virus.  It is always good to have a backup support person in case your primary is sick.  If a woman in labor is positive but her support person has no symptoms, then their support person is welcome to stay, but must continue to wear a mask when caregivers are in the room and must stay in the room with their family throughout the stay.

Q: Is it safe for my baby  to stay in my room if I test positive?

A:  As long as no additional medical care is needed for Mom or Baby, and appropriate precautions are taken (wearing a mask and frequent handwashing/ sanitizing) then babies do very well when rooming in with their mothers even with a positive Covid test.  Breastfeeding may even provide protective antibodies to the baby.

Q: Where can I go for Breastfeeding support or other support groups while everything is closed to in person activities?

A: There are multiple resources available in online format right now.  Catholic Health has many classes and connections with additional resources – see www.chsbuffalo.org/classes 

Q: Who can visit my baby if  he/she is in the NICU?

A: Parents are encouraged to be with their baby in the NICU as long as they have no symptoms of Covid-19 and wear a mask.  Like always, excellent handwashing and care to reduce spread of germs is always important to protect these little ones!

Q: Can my baby go with me to my post-partum follow up appointment/s?

A: No, to protect your baby, we ask that you come to your appointments while the baby stays with a trusted care-giver at home.  This minimizes their potential exposure to any virus or bacteria outside their home environment.

Q: Who can visit my baby if he/she is in the NICU?

A: Parents are encouraged to be with their baby in the NICU as long as they have no symptoms of Covid-19 and wear a mask. Like always, excellent handwashing and care to reduce spread of germs is always important to protect these little ones!

Q: Can my baby go with me to my post-partum follow up appointment/s?

A: No, to protect your baby, we ask that you come to your appointments while the baby stays with a trusted care-giver at home. This minimizes their potential exposure to any virus or bacteria outside their home environment.Q: Do I have to wear a mask while I am in labor?
A: When you are able to wear a mask, the department of health recommends everyone who cannot social distance to wear a mask. As it is impossible to social distance in labor from your care team, if you are able to wear one, we will provide you with surgical style medical masks and encourage you to use them. Sometimes in labor you may not be able to tolerate a mask and we will adapt our PPE(personal protective equipment) to compensate. After the baby is born, please continue to wear your mask when caregivers are in the room.

Q: Does my partner need to wear a mask the whole time I am in the hospital?
A: When Caregivers are in the room, we ask that your partner wear his/her mask. When just your family is in the room, they can remove the mask.

Q: Can my partner come and go while I am in the hospital?
A: We encourage your support person to stay with you the entire time.

Q: Are coffee shops and the Cafeteria open at the Hospital for support people?
A: We ask that your support person stay in your room with you. There are options for ordering food from the cafeteria but in the interest of safety, it is better to reduce the number of people in the hallways and common areas of the hospital.

Q: Do partners get tested for Covid-19 if a woman tests positive?
A: If a partner has any symptoms of Covid, they should talk with their healthcare provider about being tested. Any support person with symptoms of Covid-19 is asked to stay home to avoid spreading the virus. It is always good to have a backup support person in case your primary is sick. If a woman in labor is positive but her support person has no symptoms, then their support person is welcome to stay, but must continue to wear a mask when caregivers are in the room and must stay in the room with their family throughout the stay.

Q: Is it safe for my baby to stay in my room if I test positive?
A: As long as no additional medical care is needed for Mom or Baby, and appropriate precautions are taken (wearing a mask and frequent handwashing/ sanitizing) then babies do very well when rooming in with their mothers even with a positive Covid test. Breastfeeding may even provide protective antibodies to the baby.

Q: Where can I go for Breastfeeding support or other support groups while everything is closed to in person activities?
A: There are multiple resources available in online format right now. Catholic Health has many classes and connections with additional resources – see www.chsbuffalo.org/classes

Q: Do I have to wear a mask while I am in labor?

A: When you are able to wear a mask, the department of health recommends everyone who cannot social distance to wear a mask.  As it is impossible to social distance in labor from your care team, if you are able to wear one, we will provide you with surgical style medical masks and encourage you to use them.  Sometimes in labor you may not be able to tolerate a mask and we will adapt our PPE(personal protective equipment) to compensate.    After the baby is born, please continue to wear your mask when caregivers are in the room.

Q: Does my partner need to wear a mask the whole time I am in the hospital?
A:  When Caregivers are in the room, we ask that your partner wear his/her mask.  When just your family is in the room, they can remove the mask.

Q: Can my partner come and go while I am in the hospital?
A: We encourage your support person to stay with you the entire time.

Q:  Are coffee shops and the Cafeteria open at the Hospital for support people?
A:  We ask that your support person stay in your room with you.  There are options for ordering food from the cafeteria but in the interest of safety, it is better to reduce the number of people in the hallways and common areas of the hospital.

Q: Do partners get tested for Covid-19 if a woman tests positive?
A: If a partner has any symptoms of Covid, they should talk with their healthcare provider about being tested.  Any support person with symptoms of Covid-19 is asked to stay home to avoid spreading the virus.  It is always good to have a backup support person in case your primary is sick.  If a woman in labor is positive but her support person has no symptoms, then their support person is welcome to stay, but must continue to wear a mask when caregivers are in the room and must stay in the room with their family throughout the stay.

Q: Is it safe for my baby  to stay in my room if I test positive?
A:  As long as no additional medical care is needed for Mom or Baby, and appropriate precautions are taken (wearing a mask and frequent handwashing/ sanitizing) then babies do very well when rooming in with their mothers even with a positive Covid test.  Breastfeeding may even provide protective antibodies to the baby.

Q: Where can I go for Breastfeeding support or other support groups while everything is closed to in person activities?
A: There are multiple resources available in online format right now.  Catholic Health has many classes and connections with additional resources – see www.chsbuffalo.org/classes 

Q: Who can visit my baby if  he/she is in the NICU?
A: Parents are encouraged to be with their baby in the NICU as long as they have no symptoms of Covid-19 and wear a mask.  Like always, excellent handwashing and care to reduce spread of germs is always important to protect these little ones!

Q: Can my baby go with me to my post-partum follow up appointment/s?
A: No, to protect your baby, we ask that you come to your appointments while the baby stays with a trusted care-giver at home.  This minimizes their potential exposure to any virus or bacteria outside their home environment.

Q: Who can visit my baby if he/she is in the NICU?
A: Parents are encouraged to be with their baby in the NICU as long as they have no symptoms of Covid-19 and wear a mask. Like always, excellent handwashing and care to reduce spread of germs is always important to protect these little ones!

Q: Can my baby go with me to my post-partum follow up appointment/s?
A: No, to protect your baby, we ask that you come to your appointments while the baby stays with a trusted care-giver at home. This minimizes their potential exposure to any virus or bacteria outside their home environment.

Labor & Delivery Resources

Let Us Guide Your Pregnancy Journey

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
565 Abbott Rd
Buffalo, NY 14220
(716) 828-2600
Click for Directions

Mount St. Mary’s
5300 Military Rd
Lewiston, NY 14092
(716) 298-2332
Click for Directions

Sisters of Charity Hospital
2157 Main St
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 862-1200
Click for Directions

For more information, visit healthymomhealthybaby.org.