BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Mandy Manzella gave birth to her baby girl Helena on Saturday at Oishei Children's Hospital. She and her husband Mike Manzella understand that some parents might be on the fence about delivering in a hospital during a pandemic.
"I know it is scary walking into a hospital during a pandemic, but this is really the best place that we could have chosen to be," said Mandy. "I don't know what I would have done if we weren't here. We did feel from the moment we walked in we were safe, we were cared for, every precaution was being taken."
Kaleida Health wants to ensure parents that the hospital is still the safest place to deliver a baby.
"Everyone is screened upon arrival to the hospital, both patients and staff. Also their temperature is taken, everyone wears a mask in public places," said Caroline Novotny-Schulefand, manager of labor & delivery at Oishei Children's Hospital.
"When we walked into the hospital we had our temperature taken, we were given a new mask if we wanted one. We were fully screened before we came in so it was just from the moment that we walked in, we knew we were in good hands," said Mandy.
"The staff is just being really diligent about wiping everything down cleaning everything. I saw on several occasions the nurses at the nursing station on our floor wiping everything down," said Mike.
In addition to enhanced protocols, the hospital is allowing only one support person in the delivery room.
Visiting patients in the Emergency department has been reduced, all staff and visitors are given masks, and they've limited the number of entrances and exits in the hospital.
According to Oishei, pregnant women don't seem to be at any higher risk to contract COVID-19 than the rest of the general population. But it's important to continue social distancing, washing hands frequently.
To keep your newborn safe, do not allow any in-person visitors at this time.
