WOMEN’S HEALTH
Welcoming Baby During a Pandemic COVID-19 brought a stop to many things, but not childbirth. DDED safety precautions and limits on visitors have not diminished the joy inside The Birth Center at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, says Stephen Lakner, MD, who chairs the hospital’s OB-GYN department. “Moms are resilient, and so are their babies. While the pandemic has caused some hiccups and forced us to make some changes to our processes, our moms and babies have adapted well.” Read about these local moms, their experiences having a baby at Shady Grove during a global pandemic and their advice for expectant moms.
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Annie M. • Rockville, MD Delivery Date: July 2020 “Overall, my experience of having a baby during a pandemic was very positive. The hospital was very clean; all of the medical staff, nurses and doctors wore masks and used sanitizer or washed their hands upon entering my room. I actually really enjoyed having this experience with just me, my husband and our new baby boy. For my previous deliveries, we had a ton of family come visit, and this time it was really nice just to enjoy the precious moments with just the three of us!”
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR MOMS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH?
“As soon as you have your baby in your arms, you’ll forget about everything else! Focus on your baby and the blissful days of having amazing support from your nurses. Enjoy the quietness of your time together with your partner/support person and baby without people coming in and out all day. You’ve got this!”
Alisha C. • Rockville, MD Delivery Date: May 2020 “I delivered my second child during the pandemic, and honestly, delivery and the stay in the hospital were great. After my quick delivery, the labor and delivery nurse was so kind and got me the best 4 a.m. tuna sandwich ever. And once we got to the Mother/Baby Unit, I could just focus on my baby and on myself. I didn’t have to worry about anyone else’s needs, and it was like a mini-vacation (minus the sleep) after being hugely pregnant, working and entertaining my daughter all day for two months. I was a little sad to only stay one night! The nurses were amazing and helped pick up any slack, and the staff were all so kind and wonderful, even during a scary and uncertain time for their own health.”
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR MOMS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH?
“Parenting quickly teaches you to be flexible and live with uncertainty and that you can manage it. There are certainly differences between delivering during a pandemic and in ‘normal’ times, but everyone at Shady Grove will make your experience as close to the usual one as possible.”
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SUMMER 2021
