Pregnant During the Pandemic

PREGNANT DURING PANDEMIC t h e

Pregnancy during the time of COVID-19 looks pretty different. Here’s what you can do to make your experience go as smoothly as possible.

WORDS BY RACHAEL DUPREE

Masks. Telehealth appointments. Cancelled birth classes. Forced isolation. For mothers preparing to give birth in the year 2020, things have looked a lot different than they did not all that long ago. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has turned the birthing experience upside down, filling what would normally be an exciting, joyous time with anxiety and uncertainty.

“Some days I’m scared to death, and other days I’m like, let’s just do this and get it over with,” says Kandice Pauley of Dayton, who was 31 weeks pregnant with her first child when we talked in May, just as coronavirus restrictions were beginning to lift across the country. Pauley’s feelings are not unique to pregnant mothers during this pandemic. On one hand, quarantine restrictions have provided the opportunity for extra rest and time to prepare for baby, while at the same time throwing in new hurdles to pioneer. Perhaps one of the hardest things about pregnancy during the time of COVID-19 has been not knowing what to expect day to day. With government guidelines and hospital policies changing seemingly every day in response to the mysterious and unpredictable disease, pregnant mothers have had difficulty making solid plans for their prenatal care and birth.

Planning for the Unexpected Now more than ever, communication between you and your care provider and support team — along with a healthy dose of f lexibility — is critical. With the conversation changing every day, here are some things you should consider discussing with your partner and birth team as you prepare for birthing day.

PRENATAL CARE Many care providers are adjusting their office spaces and schedules to minimize the risk of disease spread. Like Pauley, you may be asked to space out your in-person appointments or do appointments that don’t require lab work via telehealth. During the most restricted times, partners haven’t been able to attend ultrasounds, which was the case for Pauley’s husband when she went in for her second screening. If any of these things don’t feel right, ask your provider about options. Maybe you can continue visits in-person on a normal schedule, or allow family members to participate in other ways, such as calling in to appointments or viewing the ultrasound via video chat.

THE HOSPITAL Planning for labor has perhaps been one of the most nerve-wracking parts of being pregnant during the pandemic. Pregnant moms have had many concerns: Will I be alone at birth? Where do I enter the hospital? Will I get tested for COVID before I can enter?

“A big part of addressing those types of anxieties with women is continuously communicating what is true,” says Bethany Dykman, a Dayton-area doula and founder of Strength Love Birth. "Yes, things are uncertain right now. But you are strong. You have the ability to be f lexible.”

Communication is also key. As Dykman noted, policies on entrance procedures, visitors, movement through the hospital, and the duration of your stay differ among hospitals and at different stages of the pandemic, so check in regularly with your provider about these ongoing changes.

As testing capabilities increase, many hospitals are scheduling COVID tests for Cesarean sections and inductions, and are performing tests on laboring women when they show up at the hospital. Hospitals typically have a separate birthing space and restrictions for COVID-positive mothers, so discuss with your provider ahead of time if you have concerns.

BRINGING HOME BABY Talk to your pediatrician prior to birthing day about when and how to introduce baby to family and friends. Some families are choosing to do drive-by visits with the baby on the front-lawn, while others may be more comfortable allowing visitors in the house if they’ve quarantined or follow certain hygiene practices. “The family should know warning signs of ill health in their little one and know when to call the doctor, and likewise for the health of postpartum mom,” Dykman says. “It's really important at any time, but especially now, to know what is normal in the early weeks and what is not with both mom and baby.”

YOUR SUPPORT Don’t overlook your own prenatal and postnatal mental health as you navigate pregnancy and birth. As Pauley found, in-person supports, such as birthing classes, new-parent groups and family visits, are limited during the pandemic, and this can take a mental toll. Talking to your provider about virtual birth classes and support groups, and doing things like having a friend set up a meal train, can help to make you feel less alone. Also, by learning the signs of postpartum depression and setting up lines of support ahead of time, you can easily get help if you need it.

Remember the Big Picture

Preparing to give birth is a profound and intimate time for your family. As you go head-to-head with changing hospital policies and other obstacles to your ideal birth, remember that many of these things are put in place to help keep hospital workers and you safe. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. Continue to ask questions and advocate for yourself and your baby. If that means switching to a provider that better aligns with your concerns or birthing at home because it makes you feel safer, that is OK and things many mothersto-be are doing during this time, Dykman says. This is your family and your birth — and no virus, not even COVID-19, can take that from you.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Check out these resources to keep abreast of the covid-19 and how it will affect your pregnancy and birth:

Periodically check your hospital’s website for updates on their COVID-19 policies.

Get the latest coronavirus guidance via the CDC (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra- precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html) and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (acog.org/en/Topics/COVID-19).

For a resource page listing the latest in COVID-19 research as it relates to pregnancy and birth, check out Evidence Based Birth (evidencebasedbirth.com/ covid19).

The Truth About Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy and for Infants The spine and nervous system control all parts of the human body.

When a mother’s egg is fertilized and pregnancy begins, cells start to multiply and divide. The cells first create the brain and spinal cord. From the spinal cord, little branches of nerves begin to spread outward. The combination of the brain, spinal cord and nerves become the central nervous system. Once the central nervous system is in place, buds will form at the end of nerves. These buds are the beginning of all the vital organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.

The human brain controls every microscopic cell within the body and the brain communicates with each of the millions of cells via the nervous system. This is how the brain delivers the necessary energy and instructions to every part of your body to make it function.

Bones or joints may become misaligned and nerves can become irritated, pinched, stretched or compressed which cause inference in the flow of energy from the brain through the nervous system. When this energy is distorted or blocked, a variety of symptoms will surface including pain.

As a baby starts to develop and continues to grow, an expectant mother is experiencing 9 months of increasing stress on her bones, muscles and joints which can create subluxations.

Our chiropractic care keeps mothers-to-be free from subluxations and the pain and discomfort that are caused by these subluxations.

Baker Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy:

1. Maximizes health

2. Controls symptoms of nausea

3. Reduces the length of labor and delivery

4. Relieves neck, back and joint pain

5. Prevents potential cesarean section and breech births, includes flipping breeched babies

6. Increases oxygen and blood flow to the baby

7. Reduces delivery times

Baker Chiropractic Care for Infants:

The birthing process can be a traumatic experience as a result of the pulling and twisting commonly performed. This process will often create problems in an infant’s delicate neck and back resulting

in misalignments of the spine and subluxations (interferences) in the infant’s central nervous system. The pinching and irritation of nerves from subluxations can lead to a variety of health issues in babies.

Common Symptoms Treated with Chiropractic Include:

1. Colic, fussiness and irritability

2. Sleep irregularity

3. Constipation

4. Difficulty feeding Our care is safe, gentle and effective.

For over 27 years, Dr. Paul Baker DC, Dr. Patrick Baker DC, and the Baker Chiropractic and Wellness team have been treating pregnant women, infants, and patients of all ages. If you or your child are experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule a new patient appointment today.

NEW PATIENT SPECIAL in July for Cincinnati Parent Readers:

NEW PATIENT APPOINTMENT: $65 Includes X-Rays, Consultation, and Adjustments Include a 30-minute massage for only $20 additional

CALL 513-561-CARE (2273) in July to schedule at one of our three locations (Cincinnati, Fairfield, and West Chester). Tell us you would like the CINCINNATI PARENT JULY SPECIAL.

Visit bakerchiropractic.org for more information.