Postnatal virtual and home visits by midwives during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic postnatal midwifery-led care remains a key public health intervention for women and their families1,2. Home or virtual visits by community midwives should be provided to reduce the number of times women and newborns need to leave their home1. In order to comply with social distancing requirements, community midwives could deliver home or virtual visits and individualized postnatal care, according to the needs of the mother and the newborn1. Midwifery-led postnatal home visiting could raise consciousness in parents on establishing breastfeeding, family planning and contraception after birth, preparation of milk formula, smoke-free environments at home, home hygiene, and care of the neonatal – especially after NICU discharge3. Midwifery-led virtual visits via videoconferencing decrease the number of visits to health facilities and enable mothers to be consulted immediately and from their own home4. Virtual visits have been demonstrated to be as safe as in-person visits5. Therefore, as early as possible, community midwives (especially those serving rural and remote areas) should receive all the relevant technology equipment and training regarding remote consultation5.