Expecঞ ng During the Unexpected

Expecting During the Unexpected

Support Available for Expectant Mothers Amid Unexpected Pandemic

Pregnancy and labor can often be an anxious time for expecting families, but especially during a pandemic with lots of unknowns.

Lauren Fontaine Byrd and Tana Brophy are both expecting and due in August — Byrd with her third child and Brophy with her second. Brophy said when the worry of the COVID-19 pandemic picked up in mid-March, it was diffi cult for her mentally and emotionally to process.

“When there’s uncertainty you can’t plan; I feel like when you’re pregnant all you do is plan,” Brophy said. “You plan for child care or how you’re going to aff ord to stay home. Being pregnant before, I had something to compare it to. I didn’t feel as excited for a long time as I was with my other son; that excitement was replaced with worry about the things I couldn’t control.”

Brophy, the bilingual parent educator for the Watauga Children’s Council, and her husband both started to work from home in mid-March to help reduce the risk of them being exposed. She’s recently been involved with a Mother’s Connect support group through the Children’s Council that began about three weeks ago. The group started because Children’s Council staff began to notice that there wasn’t a lot of support for moms during this time, and wanted to off er a space for expecting families to communicate.

Brophy encouraged expecting moms to reach out to the Children’s Council or other local resources if they are feeling overwhelmed or worried. The group meets once a week on Thursdays to off er virtual yoga and discussions to moms. For more information on the group, contact Robin Triplett at robin@thechildrenscouncil.org.

Byrd is the owner and chiropractor of Appalachian Family Chiropractic in Boone; she and her husband closed the practice for fi ve weeks but have reopened the business with a few more precautions in place. Byrd treats many families — including expectant mothers throughout their pregnancies — and said the main concerns she has heard from moms were about mandated COVID-19 testing, deciding between telehealth or in-person prenatal appointments, not having any visitors besides their spouse at the hospital and not having access to a doula during delivery.

At fi rst Byrd participated in prenatal telehealth appointments, but said there’s just some comfort in hearing a baby’s heartbeat that is missed out on with internet appointments.

Melonie Formwalt is a lactation consultant and one of two childbirth instructors for the Watauga Medical Center’s Birthing Center. She said pregnant women are tested for COVID-19 at 38 weeks of pregnancy or earlier if she is scheduled for a caesarean delivery or an induction. If a patient were to test positive or is a suspected positive, she would be isolated. According to Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Marketing Lauren Fontaine Byrd sits with her children, Lila and Jake, as she’s pregnant with her third child. Photo submitted Director Vicki Stevens, if patients are City Medical Center, according to Allison directed by their obstetrician to go to Rollans, the co-owner of High Country Watauga Medical Center, patients or their Doulas. Byrd is concerned about potenspouse/family members are asked to call tially not having a doula with her when ahead to let the emergency department she goes into labor in August, as Watauknow they are on their way. When the ga Medical Center’s one-person policy patient arrives at the hospital, Stevens would not allow for a doula to be present, said staff will meet the patient and escort as the one person would typically be a them to the Birthing Center. For more partner or family member. information on the Birthing Center, visit “My doula is such an integral part of apprhs.org/?s=birth+center. my birth team; I can’t imagine labor and

As of June, Watauga Medical Center delivery without my doula being there,” allowed only one person to enter with Byrd said. “I’m hopeful that Watauga will the patient in labor. During their stay, the recognize the importance of doulas as same person will be allowed to remain part of the birthing team and allow them with the patient, but no other family are access again soon.” allowed to visit at this time, according to Rollans said she’s had calls from Stevens. Patients and their visitors are expecting families from all over the required to wear a mask and must remain region with questions about how to in their rooms at all times; Stevens said handle pregnancy during the pandemic. women do not have to wear a mask while She added that the agency assisted with in labor. The hospital’s nutrition services births in February and March, but then team calls the patient room to take meal had a gap in which no expecting mothers orders and delivers the meals to the were scheduled to give birth until late patient’s room. July or August.

Byrd said she isn’t worried about High Country Doulas has shifted giving birth, but is disappointed that her most of its services online, such as virtual 1-year-old and 3-year-old won’t be able to childbirth education classes and video meet their new baby sister at the hospital breastfeeding consults. If parents would once she’s born. rather have an in-person consult or class,

“Having my daughter come to the Rollans said High Country Doulas can hospital was such a great bonding take certain precautions to do so while experience for our family when my son social distancing. Rollans said the agency was born,” Byrd said. “Our daughter is trying to give more support to families remembers coming to the hospital to visit on the front end before labor so they feel mommy and meet her new baby brother. more prepared. I’ll hate for all of us to miss out on that “Having the virtual option is a great experience with this baby.” way to get the information you need, such

Some hospitals are allowing doulas to as when you’re a new parent with a baby be present during labor, such as Johnson who is not latching well, your nipples are

sore, your baby is fussy or they won’t sleep. We can sit down with people quickly, sometimes within the hour, and be able to answer those questions for them.”

Formwalt said the Birthing

Center has added a virtual tour of the center to the ARHS website so patients feel more comfortable knowing what to expect when it’s time to have their babies. To view the tour, visit www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0U-yeRF4MHg. Additionally, she’s mailing out packets to women who are registered for breastfeeding classes that include printed information they would have received in class as well as links to online websites that are helpful to watch before beginning breastfeeding. Formwalt is also available for telephone or FaceTime discussion if patients would like to talk with her prenatally.

If the one-person visitor policy is still in place at Watauga Medical Center when a High Country Doulas client goes into labor, Rollans said the agency would prefer support as normal — which starts with phone calls to check in with the parents. During active labor, the family’s doula could be there via video chat to help the couple walk through the process, answer questions and remind the partner ways to be supportive of the mother in labor. Formwalt said that now only the baby and mother can enter the hospital for additional visits once they have been discharged.

Byrd said her best advice for all expectant mothers is to keep healthy by eating nutritious foods, staying active, drinking plenty of water and trying not to stress. Brophy recommended that expecting mothers ground themselves by thinking about the present and not worrying about the future.

“If you can ground yourself with your baby in that moment and take those moments to just breathe and be present with your baby, it’s helped a lot for me,” Brophy said. “When he’s moving … the worries go away because he’s going to be here and no matter what I have to keep going.”

Kayla Lasure

Is a Kentucky born reporter currently living in Boone. She enjoys traveling, watching “Grey’s Anatomy” and spending time with her two cats, Owen and Mushu.