Resources for Those Pregnant and Parenting

Last revised on November 22, 2021.  

Planning child care in an emergency

Emergencies happen without warning. Having a plan will help you meet your family’s needs and reduce anxiety in difficult times. 

Planning who will care for your children in an emergency, if you can’t be there, is essential.

One situation we are all doing our best to cope with is COVID-19; it affects all age groups. And, while some people with COVID-19 have only mild illness, others need emergency medical care.

If you were ill and needed to go to the hospital, it would be important to know who could help take care of your children. 

There are simple steps you can take:

1. Make an emergency child care plan:  

  • (C) Consult with family members, friends and neighbors ahead of time about their ability to help safely care for your children.
    • If your kids have been exposed to COVID-19, this would include ensuring their self-isolation.
  • (A)  Aim to make information accessible:
    • Have emergency caregivers’ names and phones number on your phone’s lock screen or fridge.
    • Share your plan and exchange contact information with those close to you
  • (R) Review your options and consider asking a few different people to help, in case your first caregiver choice is not available.
  • (E) Explain your safety plan to your children and to those close to you.

2. Protect your family by getting your COVID-19 vaccine.

We invite you to book your appointment as soon as you are eligible, to reduce the risk of getting ill.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVID19Vaccine 

Plan, Prepare, Be Aware

Helping children cope during the COVID-19 pandemic

Being apart from friends and family can be challenging for everyone. For children and teens, it can be even more difficult. It is important that everyone practise physical distancing according to Ottawa Public Health’s guidelines. Knowing the most up to date information is the first step to helping your family stay safe.  

Here are some things parents can do to help their children cope with this situation. 

  • Reassure them that they are safe.

  • Encourage them to ask questions, and to talk about how they feel.

  • Be understanding – they may have problems sleeping, be upset and need extra care and attention. 

  • Remember that kids look to their parents to feel safe and to know how to respond – reassure them and let them know you’ll tackle this together.

  • Try to keep to normal routines and schedules – allow them to get outside and have supervised play: play in a park, enjoy the city's multi-use pathways, cool off in a splash pad.

  • Encourage them to keep in touch with their friends or other kids their age through supervised play dates – at this time, outdoors is still best! Remember to have children over 2yrs of age wear a mask if physical distancing is not possible.

Sharing Child Custody and Co-Parenting during COVID-19

Physical distancing for parents, teens and children

Physical distancing involves taking steps to limit the number of people with whom you and your family come into close contact. This is critical to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community. 

The concept of physical distancing applies outside your home. Household contacts (people you live with) do not need to distance from each other unless they are sick or have travelled within the past 14 days (please see self-isolation guidelines). Physical distance and emotional distance are not the same. These recommendations are meant to keep physical space from other households, while staying emotionally connected!  

Parents are the role models. You also set boundaries, enforce household rules and guide your children to make the right decisions. Physical distancing can be an opportunity for your family. You can become closer, get to know each other again, create new memories and experiences and learn new skills together! Ottawa Public Health (OPH) encourages you to go about your daily activities while continuing to protect yourself and others. Together, let’s teach our children about social responsibility! 

Some quick examples of what physical distancing can look like for a family: 

  • Staying connected with family or friends through outdoor visits (wearing a mask when you cannot stay six feet or two metres apart)
  • Trying out new hobbies 
  • Learning new skills such as cooking, carpentry, baking, sewing, computer programming, etc. 
  • Spending time together indoors doing activities such as puzzles, board games, video games, watching movies. If you decide to do these indoor activities with those outside your household, remember to always wear a mask (over the age of two years)
  • Spending time outside together and with friends: going for a walk, bike ride, hike or a visit to the park – make sure to stay two metres (or six feet) from those outside your household while in common outdoor spaces. Where you cannot stay physically distant, it is recommended to wear a mask. 
  • Reading, reorganizing or decorating 
  • Having the children help with the cooking and household chores 

As the city reopens and more services open such as restaurants, malls, pools and gyms, these places still pose a risk. Remember to keep two metres (or six feet) from others at all times, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly, avoid touching your face and follow the rules on the use of masks. 

Resource: How to help youth tackle the blues during COVID-19 and #physicaldistancing – Canadian Pediatric Society 

Hand hygiene for children

Keeping children's hands clean is the best way to keep them from getting sick and spreading germs. Babies and young children often put their hands in their mouths, making it more likely to spread germs that cause illness. 

Useful links: 

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies (FAQs)

Pregnancy and COVID-19
Are pregnant people more likely to get COVID-19?

New information is being learned about COVID-19 all the time. Like everyone else, most pregnant people who are infected with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms. However, pregnant people are at an increased risk of severe illness requiring hospital care and admission to the intensive care unit compared to those who are not pregnant.
Are pregnant people more at risk with COVID-19?

Pregnant people are at an increased risk of severe illness compared to those who are not pregnant. Giving birth too early in pregnancy (preterm birth), having a caesarean delivery and having a baby admitted into a neonatal intensive care unit is more common in pregnant people with severe COVID-19.  

Also, pregnant people with severe COVID-19 (or other viral and bacterial infections) may have high fevers. A high fever during the first trimester of pregnancy can increase the risk of certain birth defects and miscarriage. A high fever later in pregnancy may also increase the risk of preterm birth.  

The risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19 in pregnancy is higher if: 

  • You have medical problems such as pre-pregnancy diabetes, pre-pregnancy high blood pressure, a compromised immune system, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, or asthma 

  • You are overweight 

  • You smoke 

  • You are 35 years of age or older 

  • You are in the last three months (third trimester) of your pregnancy 

Because of this, it is always important that pregnant people protect themselves from illness. 
How can you protect yourself from COVID-19 when pregnant? 

Throughout pregnancy, women experience changes in their bodies that may increase the risk of other illnesses, such as viral respiratory infections. This is why it is important for pregnant women, especially those at high risk of developing severe complications, to take the following precautions to protect against the possibility of becoming sick:

  • Stay home as much as possible, except for important medical appointments.
  • Talk to your doctor, obstetrician, or midwife about the possibility of telephone or videoconference appointments.
  • Avoid unnecessary visitors to your home.

Pregnant women must also do the same things as the general public to avoid infection and help stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Can a birthing person with COVID-19 pass the virus to the fetus?

A lot is still being learned about COVID-19 but right now there are no reports of transmission of COVID-19 from a birthing parent to baby before delivery nor has the virus been detected in samples of amniotic fluid. As more is learned, we will update this information.

Should I still go to my prenatal or post-partum appointments?

Some health care providers are screening all clients prior to seeing them at the clinic, while many are having phone appointments. Each situation is unique, so it is best to call your health care professional for the most up-to date information.

Visit the MotHERS Program for more information about pregnancy and post-partum resources.  

*Note: due to COVID-19 many sites have changed their services. Please call or check online before heading out.

Childbirth 

If you plan to give birth in a hospital or a birthing centre, learn about the policies in place. Most hospitals and birthing centres have reduced visitors or a no-visitor policy. In most cases, only one support person may be permitted. Your support person is not considered a visitor, as they stay with you throughout your hospital stay.

If you plan to give birth at home, talk to your midwife about whether homebirths are still an option in your area during the pandemic and what precautions to take to ensure your home environment is safe.

If you have COVID-19, talk to your health care provider about the plans for your birth. Birth plans will be based on your preferences, the safety of the care provider, as well as obstetric recommendations. Your health care provider may consult perinatal (around birth), neonatal (for the baby), infectious disease and intensive care specialists, as required.
For more information visit Pregnancy, childbirth and caring for newborns: Advice for mothers (COVID-19).
Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccines
For more information about pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccines visit the Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination webpage.
Breastfeeding and chestfeeding

Can I breastfeed my baby and/or feed my baby human milk if I have COVID-19?

Yes. Human milk contains antibodies and other immunological factors that can help protect the infant, even while the expressing parent is ill.  Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies via breast milk has been documented, meaning the benefits of human milk outweigh the risks of spreading COVID-19 through human milk. 

Parents with COVID-19 should wash their hands well with soap and water and dry them before touching the baby or any item that the baby will touch and anytime they sneeze or cough on their hands. They should also wear a face mask, if possible, when feeding or handling the baby. 

We recommend washing your hands before  and/or before touching any pump or bottle parts as well as wearing a face mask and making sure to store expressed human milk safely. Also wash well all parts that come into contact with human milk, expressing human milk and/or before touching any pump or bottle parts as well as wearing a face mask and making sure to store expressed human milk safely. Also wash well all parts that come into contact with human milk. 
Can COVID-19 pass through human milk?
COViD-19 spreads through respiratory droplets. In limited studies on women with COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the virus has not been detected in human milk; however, we still don’t know for sure if breast/chestfeeding parents with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via human milk. Parents can feed or continue to feed their babies human milk for the antibodies and other immunological factors that can help protect the baby, even while the breastfeeding parent is ill. 
What if I feel too sick to breastfeed my baby?

If a parent is too sick to feed their baby at the breast or chest and another healthy caregiver is caring for the baby, the breastfeeding parent can be encouraged and helped to express their milk to maintain their milk supply and so that the infant continues to receive it. Any sudden stop to breastfeeding can cause mastitis. Before expressing human milk, make sure to wash hands well with soap and water and, if using a pump, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper cleaning. 

For more information visit the World Health Organization's Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
Babies
 How can I protect my baby if I have COVID-19?
Parents with COVID-19 should be careful to avoid spreading it to their baby because babies are at higher risk when sick. Parents with COVID-19 should wash their hands well with soap and water and dry them before touching the baby or any item that the baby will touch (including during feeding) and anytime they sneeze or cough on their hands. They should also wear a face mask, if possible, when feeding or handling the baby.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How can I talk to my kids about COVID-19? 
Start by informing yourself. You can find up-to-date information on our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage. Reassure them that they are safe and encourage them to talk about how they feel and to ask questions. From the information you read, you may need to explain or simplify the information depending on your child’s age. Remind them of all the things they have control over to stay healthy: hand washing, cough/sneeze etiquette, keeping their hands away from their faces, staying healthy.

Visit these useful links:
What should I expect when sending my baby to daycare?
We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused difficult times and the decision to send your child(ren) to child care is not easy. For information about important practices to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in child care settings, as well as how parents have a role in keeping children as safe as possible, please visit the Support Child Care and Early Years page.
How can I address increased substance use with my youth during COVID-19?

While COVID-19 is less likely to cause serious symptoms in younger people, it could be a more serious health threat if combined with vaping or smoking cigarettes or cannabis.

Useful link:
I need to work from home, but I also have kids in the house. What can I do?

Needing to work from home with kids around can be challenging and stressful. Kids may not be used to having their parent at home, but not able to spend much time with them. Talk to your kids about your responsibilities. Make a schedule for the day. Set some time where you will be able to do an activity with them. Talk to your employer about possible accommodations for work hours that work with your family. Be patient with yourself and make sure to take time for yourself.

Useful links:
I’m feeling overwhelmed. What can I do?
It's normal for situations like COVID-19 to affect your mental health. Everyone will experience these events in their own way. It is completely natural to feel stress and concern. Practicing positive coping strategies will help you cope and will show your children how they too, can cope. Visit our Mental Health and COVID_19 page for resources that are available to you.

Useful link:
What if I get sick or need to self-isolate? How can I take care of my children?
If you are self-isolating, experiencing symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19, you should avoid contact with other people, including your children. Make alternate arrangements with family members, friends or neighbours.

If this is unrealistic for you, here are a few tips to minimize the risk:

  • Minimize the amount of time your children are in shared spaces with you, such as the kitchen or the living room.
  • Keep the shared spaces well ventilated.
  • If possible, use a different bedroom and washroom from others.
  • Wash your hands often, cover your cough with a tissue or your elbow.
  • Wash touched surfaces frequently.
  • If you need to be in a room with other people, wear a mask. If you cannot wear one, have others wear one.
  • Keep a two metre (six feet) distance from others.
  • Have your kids wash their hands often.

Current evidence suggests that children who contract the virus have a lower risk of having serious symptoms.

How To Care For A Child Who Needs To Self-Isolate – Public Health Ontario 
If my child is sick with COVID-19, what do I do?
Generally, children who have COVID-19 get mild symptoms. Follow the Guide for caregivers, household members and close contacts if you are caring for someone who has the virus.



Contact Information

Provincial Vaccine Information Line

  • 7 days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm
  • Call if you have questions about Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination program.
  • Service is available in multiple languages.
  • Telephone: 1-888-999-6488
  • TTY: 1-866-797-0007

Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Telephone Line

Regular hours:

  • Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • Translation is available in multiple languages
  • Telephone: 613-580-6744 follow the prompts to the COVID-19 telephone line
  • TTY: 613-580-9656

Emergency Services

  • If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), do not go to the Assessment Centre or a COVID-19 Care clinic. Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.

See someone not respecting COVID-19 rules?

How to access help during COVID-19

  • 211 Ontario can help you find financial and social support during COVID-19
  • Telephone: 2-1-1

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