Pregnant female wearing a mask, lying on a hospital bed getting an ultra sound done.

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital: Caring for You During COVID-19

For over a century, we at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital have made caring for women and their families our top priority.

Our commitment to our patients remains the same during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our doctors, nurses, and staff are ready to provide the expert care you expect from us.

If you need us, we are here for you.

Your Safety Is Our Top Priority at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

At UPMC Magee, we provide complete, compassionate care in many areas of health. We are western Pennsylvania’s leader for obstetric and gynecologic care.

If you need to visit us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking every step to keep you and your family safe. If you are pregnant, we will closely monitor the health of you and your baby to make sure both of you are healthy.

We are following all instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pa. Department of Health.

We screen patients and staff for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms.
We have expanded our testing capacities for the coronavirus. Find out more about our testing procedures.
We require all adults and children over 2 years old to wear facemasks at all times inside all UPMC facilities.
We use hospital-grade disinfectants to extensively clean all of our facilities. We are especially focused on sanitizing high-touch areas like countertops and doorknobs.
Our health care workers can provide expert care for any of your medical needs. We have enough supplies of masks, gowns, gloves, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them — and you — safe.
To protect our patients and staff, and to limit the potential for the spread of infectious disease, we currently are restricting visitors and volunteers at UPMC facilities. See our updated policy.
We have temporarily suspended in-person prenatal classes and all other consumer education classes. We are offering online classes for a variety of women's health areas, including pregnancy education.

To find out more about what we're doing to provide care and keep you safe from COVID-19, visit upmc.com/COVID19.

What to Expect During Your In-Person Visit to Magee

It's safe to make a doctor's appointment and undergo a procedure.

We have updated our facility policies to provide necessary protection to patients and staff, rolling out extensive precautions.

Before your appointment, talk to your doctor about what to expect on your visit, including:

When to arrive.
What to do when you get there.
What you should bring.

You must wear a facemask to enter our facilities and continue to wear it throughout the building. We also ask that you follow COVID-19 preventive measures, such as regular handwashing and proper social distancing.

If you have a schedule procedure and feel you may be symptomatic, please notify your provider for guidance before arrival. If you develop symptoms while inpatient, please let your nurse or another staff member know.

More than ever, we're working to protect you. You can count on us.

More Resources at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

Schedule your appointment: To contact UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, call us at 1-866-696-2433 (MyMagee). To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-533-8762 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Video visits: To learn more about MyUPMC Video Visits, or to schedule one with your doctor or specialist, visit UPMC.com/VideoVisits.
Visitor restrictions: We are currently restricting visitors at our locations to protect patients and staff. Find out more about our policy.

Giving Birth at Magee-Womens Hospital During COVID-19

Do I have to get tested for COVID before I give birth?

Women opting for an epidural during labor and delivery are not required to be tested for COVID-19, nor are women scheduling c-sections. Moms who are scheduling inductions may be offered testing prior to their procedures, but are not required to have the testing done.

Who qualifies to be a support person? Can I have a support person during my appointments?

As of the week of June 1, 2020, all UPMC in-hospital and freestanding outpatient settings are permitting two designated support people for adult patients. Support persons are selected by the patient and must be 18 years of age or older. For their safety, no children are permitted at this time.

Do I have to be wearing a mask while I give birth? Does my support person?

You do not have to wear a mask while giving birth. However, the support person should be masked when in public areas and when staff are in the patient’s room. Support persons are not expected to sleep in their mask. Support persons can bring and wear their own, or the hospital will provide masks to them.

Can my support person leave the hospital and come back?

While we are encouraging decreased in and out activity, your support person is allowed to leave the hospital and re-enter. The person will need to be rescreened upon each re-entry.

Are newborn pictures permitted at this time?

For the safety of our patients and staff, our newborn photography services are still suspended at this time. Our leadership is re-evaluating visitation guidelines constantly and we plan to reopen this service as soon as it is safe to do so.

Is my doula allowed to be present for my labor and delivery?

You are allowed one primary and one alternate support person for your entire inpatient stay, and your doula can be your additional support person. Two support people are allowed in the hospital at a time.

Support persons must wear facemasks in the hospital. Facemasks can only be removed while eating.

What is the visitation policy in the NICU?

Each baby may have two support persons for the entire stay, such as a parent or guardian. Support persons in the Level III NICU and Level II Nursery/NICU must wear a facemask inside the unit. Facemasks may only be removed while eating.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Expecting and New Mothers

Is the vaccine safe for me and my baby? Can it affect my unborn baby's development?

While the initial clinical trials for these vaccines did not include pregnant or breastfeeding women, ongoing studies have not shown that the vaccines cause any harm to pregnant women or their unborn babies, and there is no reason to believe they will cause harm.
As of September 2021, more than 31% of pregnant women across the United States have chosen to receive the vaccines, and among a subset of these women that have enrolled in a pregnancy outcomes registry, there was no increased likelihood of miscarriage, low birth weight, or other complications.
It is important to know, the vaccines are much less of a risk to you and your baby than the COVID-19 virus.

Will the vaccine side effects affect my unborn baby?

Not everyone experiences side effects, but if you do, it is a sign that the vaccine is working. The most common ones with the current vaccines are soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, fever, and body, muscle, or joint aches. These should go away within a few days.
There is no evidence that these side effects have any impact on your unborn baby.
Talk to your doctor about taking acetaminophen if you develop a fever or other vaccine-related side effects.

Should I wait until my second or third trimester to receive the vaccine?

There is no reason to believe receiving the vaccine during a certain trimester of pregnancy makes it any more or less safe.
With some of the available vaccines requiring 2 shots, starting the process as soon as possible will protect you for a greater portion of your pregnancy.

Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am breastfeeding? Will the vaccine or any of its components pass through the breast milk to my baby?

There is no reason to believe that the vaccines should cause harm due to breastfeeding.
The vaccine is given in your arm, where your body finds the “spike protein” made by the vaccine and creates an antibody response that trains your immune system to fight the virus if it enters your body in the future.
Because the vaccine is not something you are eating or drinking, it will not pass through your breast milk.
As your body creates antibodies, some may be found in breast milk. There is no reason for concern as it may help boost your baby’s immunity to the virus. Current studies are ongoing to learn more.