Pregnancy During the Pandemic: How to Ensure You’re Safe
By: Maggie Treptow
Tags: Covid 19, Pandemic, Pregnant, Safe, Pregnancy

Are you pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Maybe you were planning for a baby but not planning for a global health crisis?

Or perhaps your pregnancy was a surprise!

Research is showing that pregnant women are at a higher risk for COVID-19 than non-pregnant women.¹ The research is still new, but the virus could also be more harmful to pregnant women. Pregnant women with COVID-19 have shown to be more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), receive ventilation, and have an increased risk of death compared to nonpregnant women¹. Here are five different ways to keep you and your family safe during the pandemic.

1. Protect Your Mental Health During Pregnancy

Did you know stress can cause your immune system to weaken, leading to illness²? And now, more than ever, women are dealing with extra stressors causing higher rates of depression and anxiety³. We’re still dealing with the normal stresses of work and family but now that many of us are working from home we’re also trying to:

Help the older kids get signed in to their online classes

Clean up pet messes

Feed all the kids breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Yell at the dog for barking during your meeting

And still, try to get your youngest to take a nap

All while you feel like you need a nap yourself! Something as simple as taking a walk around the block, taking a bath, or calling your mom can help to lower your stress levels.⁶

One of the best ways to handle stress is to PLAN for it. Having a birth plan can significantly reduce your stress around your baby’s birth and help you relax while you await their arrival. A birth plan can be about the actual birth and your choices surrounding that time. It can also include how you can prepare before you give birth and the type of help you may need after.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Pack your hospital bag, if you’re planning on a hospital birth Clean the nursery in preparation for bringing the baby home Plan on getting some extra groceries to avoid going in public for a few weeks. Spend some time with your older children one-on-one before the baby comes. Prepare some of your favorite meals to freeze to enjoy after the baby comes.

You can also expect the help you may need. Do you need your mother to stay with you to help for the first week? Maybe your sister? Would it be helpful for your older children to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for the first few days after you bring the baby home? These are things you can think about and plan for now before your baby comes to help you feel more prepared!

2. Wash Your Hands and Wear a Mask

I know… you’ve been hearing it for eight months now! But seriously, wear the mask.

Masks have been shown to decrease the chances of getting COVID-19 by over 51% when you use a cotton mask and over 99% for a surgical-grade mask.⁴ If you go out in public, it is beneficial for your health to wear a mask, wash your hands whenever possible, and social distance. Don’t forget to launder your family’s masks frequently!

PRO MOM TIP: Most masks can be laundered with your regular laundry! Place them in a delicates bag and wash them as normal. Do not put your masks in the dryer, instead lay them flat and allow them to air dry. Placing them in the dryer can lead to shrinkage over time and ruin the little elastic straps that hold your mask over your ears.

3. Attend Telehealth Appointments Rather Than in-Person

No one seemed to use telehealth services before the pandemic — but wow has the popularity increased since March!

Ask your physician or midwife if telehealth services are an option for most of your prenatal care. Telehealth appointments are simply video chats with your physician from the safety of your home. Different doctors may use different platforms for the services but your health insurance is all billed the same. Do not forget to call your health insurance company to ask about your specific telehealth benefits. Not all employer healthcare plans cover telehealth services.

4. Clean Frequently Touched Surfaces with Disinfectant

This may seem obvious but cleaning frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, and sink faucets with an appropriate cleaner will help cut down on germs — and the sneaky coronavirus — around your home.

Check out the CDC’s list of effective disinfectants to make sure the disinfectants you use to clean your home are going to knock the virus out cold! Depending on the type of cleaner you prefer to use, you may want to consider wearing a mask while you clean and opening a window for better ventilation. Chemical fumes can be harmful!

5. Consider Having a Home Birth

While home births aren’t for every woman, it can be a straightforward way to control who comes into your home and who you and your baby have contact with. Talk to your physician about the risks of a home birth before moving on with them to find a midwife or doula in your area. Each woman is different and home births aren’t safe for everyone.

Some benefits to a home birth during the pandemic are:

You control the cleanliness of your home and the chemicals you use to clean it. Only one to three extra people are in your home while you give birth rather than the hoards of doctors, nurses, janitors, doulas, midwives, etc. coming in and out of your hospital room. No need to stress about packing a hospital bag. No worries about getting stuck in traffic during labor! You may have lower stress levels now that you don’t have to worry about contracting the virus at the hospital. You could save money. On average, giving birth at the hospital can cost Americans over $10,000, while a home birth could cost anywhere from $0 to $10,000, depending on the type of care you desire.⁵ This would be another beneficial time to check with your insurance company about your benefits.

Keep in mind that while many major employer health insurances cover midwives and at least one home visit within 48 hours of giving birth, it is always good to check with your insurance company to ensure what your benefits are and check with your trusted physician to ensure you are making a safe decision for you and your baby.

Ensuring You and Your Family Are Safe During the Pandemic

And there you have it! Five simple yet effective ways to combat the COVID-19 virus to protect yourself and your growing family!

Protect your mental health Wash your hands Use telehealth services Clean your home’s surfaces Consider a home birth

Remember to contact your doctor right away if you think you may be ill or if you think you may be suffering from perinatal depression or anxiety. These may be trying times, but your pregnancy doesn’t need to be! Your physicians are there to help and support you.

This article is not a substitute for medical advice from a physician. Please contact your doctor with any medical concerns.

For more articles like this, visit the Maggie Treptow Agency website.

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