A little look at where my mind is these days while being pregnancy during Covid-19.
Disclaimer: It goes without saying that I realize that there are countless individuals who are really going through hardships and difficulties with the rise of Covid-19. From health care professionals to people with sick family members, I know I am blessed on so many fronts. But I still wanted to share my thoughts and concerns as I hit the end of my pregnancy.
Initially I had thought that my last Bumpdate posted would be the final one unless I made it to 40 weeks without a baby 😉 But with all of the recent changes and news, I wanted to address the elephant in the room: being pregnant during Covid-19 scares.
I am writing for two reasons- 1, writing has always been very therapeutic for me (hey I do have a blog for that very reason), but also 2, I know that I am not the only pregnant person who is feeling these things.
And with the way social media runs our world, it’s very easy to feel like you shouldn’t voice your concerns. Because there’s always someone out there that’s going to say that you have it made, you are lucky, you shouldn’t complain, there are people out there that have it worse. And yes while that is definitely true, we are all still entitled to our feelings.
And I know for a fact that reading about someone else going through what I am going through has always made me feel better.
First things first, the facts:
Unfortunately, there aren’t that many! There haven’t been enough pregnant women who have been diagnosed to really confirm any cold hard facts. Generally speaking, pregnant women don’t seem to be at a higher risk, however just like any other illness, if they do catch it, their immune systems might have a harder time fighting it. This is the same thing as the common cold.
But what about the baby? If you catch Covid-19 does your baby automatically get it?
Once again, not enough facts to really understand this.
However the CDC says that as of now there doesn’t appear to be traces of Covid-19 in breastmilk or in the amniotic fluid. Which is a good thing!
But here are my concerns:
And oh boy do I have some!
My number one concern with pregnancy during Covid-19 has to do with if I somehow catch the virus within 14 days of giving birth. And by concern I mean extreme panic.
The CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both recommend that if this were to happen, and the baby tests negative for the virus (which seems to be the norm), it is strongly recommended that the mother and the baby are to be separated until the incubation period is over.
I mean, for all you moms out there, can you imagine having your newborn taken away from you and you can’t even see them until 5, 6, 7, or more days have passed!? I literally broke down in tears when I heard this. I can’t imagine this scenario and is the driving force in me making sure my family stays home and is safe in the next few weeks. Now they do still recommend breastfeeding and the WHO suggests that separation isn’t necessarily beneficial but it will all depend on your hospital’s policies.
There’s more:
My prenatal care has been entirely altered. At my 35 week appointment, my doctor essentially cancelled the remainder of my appointments. I would have had three more visits with him prior to baby coming. I am not go back until I hit the 40/41 week mark, or I have the baby, whichever comes first.
This is scary because those last weeks are crucial in making sure baby is ok, especially in terms of the amount of amniotic fluid in the womb. I certainly can’t guess if there’s enough in there but I have no other choice.
I was essentially given a prescription for a blood pressure machine and told to monitor myself for the next five weeks. All I can do at this point is just pray that baby is ok and wait until I go into labor.
What will the hospital situation be like?
Again, another concern. At the current time New York hospitals are now legally required to allow one person in with the mother who is giving birth. But there was about a weeks time where these moms had to do it themselves! And I’ve heard a few rumours about Montreal hospitals thinking of adopting that same approach and it’s scary.
Yes, I totally understand the reason why they would choose to do so.
But during my first labor, Ara was 100 percent my advocate. I had a 30 hour labor and there was no way I could have done it without him by my side. At one point I kept getting sick and literally throwing up on myself, and Ara had to constantly get the nurse and help me out. Towards the end of my labor, they had given me some sort of medication that really made me a little loopy, and once again he was my advocate to make sure I was ok and that the nurse fix my dosage.
Now I obviously am taking it day by day and I hope that it won’t come to this. But the hospital I am delivering at is part of phase two of hospital activations in Montreal in response to ICU Patients/Beds so we will have to take it day by day and see what happens.
Also like most hospitals, we are only allowed one person as of now to be with us.
And after?
Well, my postnatal care has also been cancelled for the time being. From what I understand especially if it’s your second child, they are essentially sending you home as soon as they can. Which I am actually all for- however I do believe in the importance of that post partum check in with your doctor.
Overall stress level: 100/100 😉
Like most people, I am stressed about the current state of the world. I worry about making sure my family is ok, and now I am tasked with worrying that I am able to bring another human into this world at a crazy crazy time.
My mom was going to come help out but seeing as how she lives in Boston, this doesn’t look too promising. She was such a huge help the first time around that I can’t imagine not having her here with me. As of now Ara’s parents are going to come to watch Aren for us while we are at the hospital, but I worry about that as well as Ara’s dad is in his 80s. The plan at the time being is that they will come in the next week or two, and we will all essentially self isolate for 14 days together. Ara is now officially working from home and I haven’t left the house in 16 days, with the exception of my doctor’s appointment which was a week ago.
Taking it one day at a time
All I can do is take it one day at a time. Easier said than done for all of us, I know.
I can control the things that are in my control. For me that means spending as much quality time as a family of three as possible. Not leaving the house except to get fresh air on our daily walks. Making sure that we are stocked and have everything we need for when baby comes so that we are not scrambling to find diapers at the last moment (but not hoarding- let’s be clear I am not doing that!!)
And like I mentioned before, I know there are people that have even more concerns than I do. Elderly people that are literally by themselves in their nursing homes. People in ICU beds unable to see family members. Family members attending funerals via Skype or FaceTime. Nurses, Doctors and Staff who are risking their lives everyday by going to work. Grocery Store clerks, warehouse workers, Postal Service staff- so many others who are showing up because we need them to.
But like I said, we are all allowed to feel the stress. To want to eat an extra cupcake because it temproiratily makes us feel better. And that’s ok.
For now I try to look at the silver lining, take it day by day, and try my hardest to feel excitement and happiness of a new baby joining us. If you’re currently pregnant and feeling any of these things, you can always message me or email me to chat- knowing someone else is going through the same thing has always made me feel better and I hope it makes you feel better as well.
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