Health

Childbirth and Covid -19 What to expect during your delivery

By Dr. Amit Bansal

The COV ID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of anxiety over the past several months, especially among pregnant women who are inching closer and closer to their due dates.

Pregnancy and preparing for childbirth can be stressful at the best of times, and I know the new coronavirus has been causing my patients serious strain.

Here are answers to questions you may have about delivering a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Would it be safer if I just have a home birth and stay away from the hospital?

Where you deliver is your choice. However, life-threatening pregnancy complications can be unpredictable with little or no warning. Sometimes the patient with a completely routine, uncomplicated pregnancy can have the most difficult delivery. When these complications occur, a hospital setting can quickly care for you and your Dr. Bansal baby.

What should I do to prepare for my delivery?

To decrease your risk of acquiring COVID-19 prior to delivery, we encourage our patients to selfquarantine at home two weeks prior

How to talk to your kids about COVID-19

Don’t leave your kids in the dark.

“It’s really important for parents to be educated on the facts themselves and address any false information quickly,” said Dr.

Michael Chang, pediatric infectious disease expert at Children’s Memorial

Hermann Hospital and Assistant

Professor Of Pediatrics at McGovern

Medical School at UTHealth. “Kids are going to hear a lot of different things at school, so parents will also need to keep up to date.”

“It’s helpful to reassure your child that the symptoms are often mild and that kids actually seem to be less susceptible to it.”

If you are wondering how to bring up coronavirus in a way that will be reassuring and not alarming to your children, here are some tips from Dr. Chang and the experts at Memorial Hermann.

Talk, talk, talk. Most children will have already heard about the virus or have seen people wearing face masks, so parents shouldn’t avoid talking about it. Not talking about something can actually make kids worry more. to the expected delivery date — around 37 to 38 weeks gestation.

We are also talking to our patients about possible elective delivery at 39 weeks to limit the number of visits to labor and delivery departments. This is not mandatory, and is a discussion between you and your obstetrician. Anyone who is scheduled to be induced or for a cesarean section is tested for COVID-19 six days before her scheduled delivery. The hospital is also working on more expedited testing for deliveries in cases where more urgent delivery is needed.

What about after my delivery?

To minimize your time in the hospital, Houston Methodist Clear Lake is trying to expedite discharges to get you and your family home as soon as safely possible. The time in the hospital will vary depending on the mother and baby, as well as the care team, but we are aiming to send families home one day after an uncomplicated vaginal birth, and two days after an uncomplicated cesarean birth.

What precautions should I take with my newborn?

According to the CDC, children

Be age appropriate. Volunteering too much information may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer your child’s questions by addressing the facts. Answer each question honestly and clearly.

Pick the right time. Find a time when you are not feeling anxious or panicked. Take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer any questions from your child.

Be reassuring. Hearing about the coronavirus on the news or across social media channels may be enough to make children seriously worry. It’s helpful to reassure your child that the symptoms are often mild and that kids actually seem to be less susceptible to it.

Focus on facts not fear. An important way to reassure kids is to emphasize the safety precautions that you and the family are taking. We know that coronavirus is transmitted mostly through direct and prolonged contact with someone who is exhibiting symptoms like coughing and sneezing. The CDC recommends thoroughly washing your hands as the do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults. While there have been cases in infants, they are much less common that adult cases. The same precautions you took before giving birth apply while caring for your newborn: • Stay at home • Avoid having visitors and avoid sick people • Practice proper hand washing frequently, especially prior to holding or feeding your infant

Children younger than the age of two should not wear a mask due to the risk of suffocation. Lastly, I know that you want to show off your beautiful new addition to your family and friends, but right now the safest option is via pictures and video. People over the age of 65 are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, so grandma and grandpa should stay home for now.

Houston Methodist Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates is located at 2060 Space Park Drive, Suite 410 in Nassau Bay. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call the office at 832.783.2330 or visit houstonmethodist.org/spg/womensservices/bay-area

primary means of staying healthy. So remind kids that they are taking care of themselves by washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or the length of two “Happy Birthday” songs) when they come in from outside, before they eat, and after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom.

Stick to your schedule. Children do not like uncertainty. Stick to your regular schedule as much as possible. This is particularly important if your child’s school or daycare shuts down. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.

Lead by example. Your children will look to you on how to react or respond to this situation. Reinforcing the preventive measures and addressing just the facts of the situation will help you and your child navigate through this difficult time.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit www.memorialhermann. org/coronavirus/or www.cdc.gov.

COVID-19: Strengthen immunity and reduce your inflammation

The COV ID-19 pandemic is characterized by an overactive inflammatory response. Coronavirus poses a significant risk to those with a compromised immune system.

Inflammation is your body’s natural defense to protect itself from harm, however, if the immune system fails to respond effectively, it then floods the body with intracellular mediator proteins called cytokines. Scientists use the term “cytokine storm” to describe the severe inflammatory response which can ultimately lead to organ failure.

The good news is you can actively strengthen immunity and reduce inflammation by the choices you make every day.

Be Mindf ul

Meditation actively trains your mind to live in the moment. Scientists discovered people who meditate over an extended period of time had a decrease in cell volume of the amygdala, the part of the limbic system responsible for processing fear, anxiety, and stress. These changes matched the participant’s perception Precautions to use during the pandemic

By Alisa Star

we are in the summer months, Covid -19 has everyone in hibernation mode. The daily news of Texas being on the constant rise of being in the red zone of coronavirus has the big T in a pandemic state of mind. We all want this to be as limited as much as possible. However we can only slow the spread of the virus if everyone of stress levels as well, indicating a change in subjective perspective as well as brain physiology. Those who meditate were seen to have a thicker prefrontal cortex and significantly more gray matter volume in the right angular gyrus, the part of the brain associated with empathy and complex language.

Harvard researchers found evidence that meditating for 15 minutes a day can change the expression of genes that regulate inflammation, circadian rhythms, and glucose metabolism.

Trust Your Gut

The bacteria in your gut play an important role in achieving longlasting health. Gut bacteria release chemicals that may promote or inhibit inflammation. The majority of the immune system resides in the gut. A central philosophy of wellbeing is to eat high fiber, nutrientdense foods. Friendly gut bacteria thrive on fiber to promote glucose homeostasis, a strong immune system, and absorption of important nutrients. Probiotics are healthy gut

Althou h bacteria that restore the gut flora and does their part.

More evidence has been confirmed that Corona is worse than the flu. Research has been proven and found that coronavirus attacks the lining of blood vessels in the lungs that differ in people who have died from flu due to pneumonia. People who have Coronavirus have permanent scar tissue in the lungs for the rest of their lives due to this particular virus.

If you are exposed to this virus from another person there is a 14 day quarantine. If you have contracted the virus it is a 3 week quarantine, to ensure the virus is no longer contractible to another person. The virus is spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even talks. These

prevent harmful pathogens from entering the gut barrier. Enhance gut health with foods like apple cider vinegar, sourdough bread, yogurt, and fermented vegetables. Prebiotics are high-fiber foods that probiotics eat in order to survive and reproduce. Good sources include asparagus, bananas, garlic, onions, and Jerusalem artichoke.

Immune-boosting nutrients are naturally found in plants. Fruits and vegetables provide protective phytochemicals and antioxidants that help boost overall health and immunity.

Eat Immune-Boosting Foods and Vitamins- Turmeric, garlic, ginger, astragalus, elderberry, green tea, dark chocolate, and echinacea.

Zinc- Oatmeal, wild rice, nuts like pecans, brazil nuts, almonds, and seeds like squash, pumpkin, and sunflower.

Vitamin C- Acerola cherries, rosehips, parsley, thyme, blackcurrant, kale, kiwi, lemon, oranges

Vitamin D- Spend time each day in nature to obtain the essential sunshine vitamin. Mushrooms produce vitamin D upon exposure to UV light just like us, therefore wild mushrooms exposed to sunlight make a viable food source of vitamin D. Salmon, egg yolks, and fortified cereals and milk also contain vitamin D.

Ex ercis e Regularly

Engage in aerobic and strength conditioning exercises regularly. High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an exercise that alternates between bursts of activity and periods of rest. This form of exercise has many benefits that can be achieved quickly. HIIT appears to reverse the age-related decline in mitochondrial function and proteins needed for muscle building.

However, HIIT raises cortisol droplets land in the mouth or nose of people who are nearby or inhaled.

So many people have said the heat will kill this deadly virus, can it? It is not yet known if hotter weather will kill off coronavirus like other viruses like flu or the common cold that runs rampant in the fall and winter months these viruses seem to die off in the spring and summer. I think since this virus is new to us, there is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with COVID-19.

On a positive note to my readers, I know we are all exhausted and tired of all the changes we have to go through in our daily life routines. But let’s use our common senses. Wear a mask if you are going into public places, this helps from the levels, which can remain on overdrive if not balanced with low-intensity exercise. In short spurts, cortisol plays an important role in boosting immunity and limiting inflammation. Too much cortisol can slow down the production of white blood cells and trigger fat storage, especially around the midsection. Balance workouts so that you are adequately stimulated, but don’t overstress your body to the point of fatigue.

Rest and Digest

Intermittent Fasting gives the digestive system time to purge toxins and absorb nutrients. Eat during a 10- 12-hour window to maximize health. Calorie restrictions can even slow the rate of aging at the genetic level by preserving the length of telomeres, the structures at the end of chromosomes that protect DNA.

Imm une Boosting -Supplements

Turmeric is the holy grail of antiinflammatory herbs. It is packed with curcuminoids that have powerful antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Curcumin helps alleviate depression, detoxify the body, boost immunity, and inhibit virus replication in human cells. It’s so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs, without harmful side effects. Curcumin fights inflammation at the molecular level. It has been studied to lower histamine levels, a chemical known to trigger an inflammatory response. Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin is the most bioavailable and bioactive option of combined turmeric and curcumin. The super-micronized formula is most effectively absorbed by the body due to its ideal size of microparticles that are easily and rapidly taken up by our bodies, in addition to its ingredients that are

pure and simple. germs getting in the mouth and nose. Wear gloves, this helps from germs getting on your fingers and hands and spreading them to your face. Social distance yourself while in public places, this is just the way it is right now, just do it for you and your family’s safety. Always use sanitizer on your hands when exchanging money, grocery items, fast food or at the gas pump.

We are all in this together, we all hate it and want it to be over. In reality this virus may be upon us for a long time. So in the meantime use common sense and protect yourself and everyone around you that you may come into contact with. Do it for the survival of America, and the spread of this vicious virus around the world.