Personal story
Few people are talking about pregnant women during quarantine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said pregnant women have the same risk of COVID-19 infection as adults who are not pregnant.
“However, we do know that pregnant people have changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections,” the CDC said on its website.
Being pregnant was extremely challenging as a first-time parent to experience childbirth with the pandemic occurring. Not only did I have to deal with changes in my body, but also the risk of possibly contracting the virus.
Pregnant women are always cautious in the activities we do if we want a safe pregnancy. We have to be cautious with what we touch, objects can have germs that can harm the entire pregnancy.
Not only do we have to watch what we eat to prevent miscarriages but now we have to wear masks around elderly people, family and be completely isolated before and after delivery during this time.
Pregnant women also understand quarantine better than people who have never been isolated for a long period of time.
Dr. Kim Tran, an OB-GYN at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange County, said pregnant women tend to isolate themselves from many activities while waiting for their labor and delivery day.
Tran said pregnant women stop going to nightclubs, stop playing sports, stop staying out late and prevent risky activities at all times.
All these self-imposed restrictions make pregnant women the professionals of quarantine, Tran said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a few pregnant celebrities are in quarantine, such as American singer Ciara Harris-Wilson. She hosted a live Q & A about quarantine for pregnant women on Instagram at 2 p.m. on April 15.
The biggest concern for pregnant women like Harris-Wilson and myself is how to have doctor appointments without our husband, boyfriend or fiancée. All dads have to follow hospital restrictions since only mothers are allowed to be with a doctor.
Most fathers are usually assisting the mother when going to the doctors for their newborn–now this is being taken away from them. The ultrasound is one way fathers can feel connected while the baby is in the womb, a special time to share before the baby’s arrival.
Mothers have to be careful and protect themselves against COVID-19. Mothers have cancelled baby showers as a precaution and are required to wear masks and gloves in the hospital, since it’s protocol.
Hospitals have banned visitors while women are in labor and after delivery. No visitors means not allowing anyone to have a great birthing experience whether it be first-time parents or experienced parents.
Two months prior to the pandemic my fiancée’s close friend, Kane Johnson, and his girlfriend had recently had a baby boy and were allowed to have visitors and family both in the waiting room and delivery room. No masks were mandatory and no temperature taken with a thermometer was needed going in and out of the hospital.
Unfortunately, for myself I had to experience otherwise.
Dr. Tran, my OBGYN P said “the less contact newborns have with others, the better.” She said newborns’ immune systems are not fully developed and can get very ill if they come across to people with the virus.
Families like my own weren’t able to experience their first grandchild’s birth because of the stressful time we were in dealing with the virus.
Instagram women, like fitness coach Miranda Alcaraz and her husband had to deliver a natural, water birth because of the risk she thought she’d take in her town, Vancouver, Washington.
Experienced mother and fashion model Sarah Kohan announced she is pregnant with her second baby through Instagram on April 22, Earth Day.
“Two earth days in a row I have been pregnant,” Kohan said on her Instagram. “I hope this quarantine time has helped you reflect on how we can better look after this world for us future generations and all the flora and fauna that call earth home…and to not take it for granted. Earth day is everyday.”
Baby showers were postponed, like my own. Sadly both the baby showers my parents and in -laws were making for me were cancelled.
Luckily, I had a few gifts delivered the day I arrived home. Some of my immediate family had a mini surprise get together where they all wore masks, gloves and but still could not hold the baby.
I was also truly grateful for my friend. During the week she dropped off a few of her own newborns clothes for me since she had a lot she had received before the quarantine and couldn’t go shopping for gifts.
My baby girl might have been born during this insane time but was truly blessed with lots of love from my friends and family.
The pandemic may not be the most ideal time for pregnant women and their babies, but thankfully, this era is blessed with FaceTime and Zoom to connect with loved ones while in quarantine.
Being pregnant, especially during the pandemic must have been difficult for all the mommies in the world who are delivering during this time.
As an experienced “quarantined mommy,” stay positive and don’t worry by keeping the immune system healthy by drinking lots of liquids and eating clean, getting lots of rest and not watching the news all day, to then be ready to quarantine even more after delivery.
