*UPDATE March 16, 2020: We’ve decided that to help keep everyone safe and healthy, we will be canceling all playgroups, postpartum cafe, and moving our classes online through the end of March. Our doulas will still be supporting their birth and postpartum families as scheduled.
Dear Third Coast Families,
As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, it is becoming increasingly clear that social isolation is the best and most responsible choice for the wellbeing of our community.
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We’ve decided that to help keep everyone safe and healthy, we will be canceling all playgroups, postpartum cafe, and moving our classes online through the end of March. Our doulas will still be supporting their birth and postpartum families as scheduled.
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We know that this is a stressful and uncertain time, so please don’t hesitate to connect with us over email, phone, or our social media if you have questions or concerns, or if you just need a compassionate listening ear! We can still be “together” while apart.
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We have a Facebook Group just for our clients, where you can get support & connect with other families, and we encourage you to join. We’ll be sharing activities and resources there throughout the coming weeks. Search for Third Coast Family Network, you’ll find us!
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We thank you for your understanding and support in keeping our community safe and healthy. If you’d like to support our small business during this time, you can donate and sponsor our free programming through the link in our bio. We’re so grateful for any and all support!
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Warmly,
Shawna Mertens, Cait Sobotka, and Margarita Valbuena
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March 12, 2020:
What We Are Doing
Classes: If you’ve signed up for a class, but are feeling unwell, please be in touch with us so that we can get you the content, while keeping you and your classmates safe and healthy. We have several flexible options for making up classes and we are happy to accommodate!
Birth Support: As always, the health and safety of our clients is a top concern for us. Our birth doulas never attend a birth if they are feeling unwell, but will utilize their team members to ensure that you have a healthy Doula supporting you. Doulas attending births will wash their hands upon entering your birthing space, and use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the time spent supporting you. Due to the extremely high transmission rate of Coronavirus, we want you to know that in the event that all of the Doulas on your team are sick, we have several other Third Coast Doulas that can provide emergency back up. All of our Doulas uphold Third Coast’s standards of care, so you can rest assured that you will be in good, compassionate hands.
Postpartum Support: Our postpartum & infant care doulas will cancel their shift with your family if they are feeling unwell, but will utilize their team members to ensure that you have a healthy Doula supporting you. Postpartum doulas will wash their hands upon entering your home, and continue to hand wash / use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the time spent supporting you in accordance with CDC guidelines. In the event that Chicago or the surrounding areas are on quarantine, then shifts in those areas will be canceled and rescheduled when the quarantine lifts. Due to the extremely high transmission rate of Coronavirus, we want you to know that in the event that all of the Doulas on your team are sick, we have several other Third Coast Postpartum Doulas that can support your family. All of our Doulas uphold Third Coast’s standards of care, so you can rest assured that you will be in knowledgeable, compassionate hands.
Updated Cleaning Protocols: In addition to weekly professional cleaning, at the end of each event, class, or group we are wiping down all surfaces/door knobs/class materials and supplies with disinfectant wipes/spray. We have a “USED” bin for toys that have been put into babies mouths, which we will disinfect before returning to the play area. If additional precaution measures are required or recommended by the CDC, we will follow all recommendations.
Here is what we are asking of you
We are asking every person attending an event, class, or group at Third Coast Birth & Baby wash their hands upon entering our space. Proper hand washing procedure is the most important preventative action recommended by the CDC for staying healthy and preventing the spread of germs. We are posting hand-washing guidelines in the bathroom and kitchenette. We will also have hand sanitizer in the kitchenette and near the front tea station. Please use the hand sanitizer throughout your time spent at Third Coast. Please also continue to remove your shoes and leave them near the front door. Anyone displaying signs of illness will be asked to leave.