Video is From C-Section, Not Due to COVID

Misbar discovered that the video circulating online shows a baby who was just born via cesarean section (C-section), meeting the mother for the first time in the operating room. Prior to COVID-19, Parents published an article describing how some hospitals are now offering the option for parents to use clear surgical drapes as part of  "gentle" Cesarean sections, not because of COVID-19. 

According to G. Thomas Ruiz, M.D., “When we do C-sections, they're usually draped, and we create a sterile field, but C-sections that use a clear drape can be a game-changer, because it allows the mom to witness the birth.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximate one third of all births in the U.S. are done by C-section. 

According to the World Health Organization, women who test positive for COVID-19 are still to be supported during the birth of their child including having a companion of choice available during the birth. Mothers are also encouraged to have early and close contact with their baby, even if they are COVID-19 positive. Mothers with symptoms of COVID-19 are advised to wear a medical mask, during any contact with the baby.

The mother in the video being shared online is not being kept from her baby due to COVID-19. Rather, she is delivering the baby via C-section and the clear plastic is part of a new push to keep the C-section birthing experience as similar as possible to a vaginal birthing experience.