Rewind to February 2nd, 2020, the day we found out we were pregnant, the tears rolling down our cheeks, the hug, the laugh, the kiss, the thankful prayer. Those were all the reactions that marked that special moment. Our hearts were so full and ready to explode with so much happiness.
Now fast-forward to Sunday, March 15th, 2020 the day I received a call from my supervisor reporting the office would be closing as a preventive measure due to Covid-19, and more info to follow during our morning call on Monday. The worry of what that meant, the fear of contamination, thoughts on the possibility of losing our jobs, and the endless questions running through our heads. Those were all the feelings that marked that moment.
The perfect dream.
When we dream about having a baby, we want everything to be perfect. We start paying close attention to our health, worry about what to eat, what not to drink. We research the cutest, safest baby gear, prepare the nursery, the clothes and imagine the happiness this baby will bring to our lives.
The unknown is not a pregnant women’s best friend. Especially for a first-time mom, who is experiencing every milestone for the first time. During a pregnancy even the slightest alteration as simple as it is, it’s always harder to deal with, because in a mother’s mind everything should be under control. Unfortunately, that is not reality, and in the last year, we have watched the world completely change.
Fast-forward to today and we can finally say we know our “enemy” a little better. We have learned that although the risks are there, the chances for an expecting mother to contract Covid-19 and develop the severe form is similar to that of the general population, which in the young population is less than 5% of cases.
We should not take this number lightly as it is very important to learn that recent studies “suggest” that in utero transmission is possible, meaning Covid-19 can be transmitted in the womb and the newborn is born with the disease. A newborn can also acquire it in the first days of life through contact or even breastfeeding. Another important fact to know is that we must be very attentive to the issues related to coagulation, since pregnant women are already at increased risk of alterations, and there is a correlation between Covid-19 and coagulation issues such as blood clots.
What to do if Covid-19 positive?
For the mom’s that did contract the virus and who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin contact, the first step is to seek medical guidance, to practice respiratory hygiene, such as wearing a mask while breastfeeding or near the child, perform hand hygiene before and after contact with the child, and routinely clean and disinfect surfaces with which the symptomatic mom has been in contact.
While I was pregnant during the pandemic not only there was no treatment for Covid-19, the clinical trials for vaccines did not include pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, so for this population, the only form of protection was measures of social distancing, wearing a mask, and constant hand hygiene. Unfortunately, we still do not have a specific treatment for Covid-19, only another method of prevention which can be found in the vaccine, but today the CDC released a promising analysis showing the Coronavirus vaccine is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
Thankfully I had a very healthy Covid-19 free pregnancy and delivery, which I am thankful for every single day. I feel that my pregnancy was protected by praying many prayers and by following the proper protocols. To end our conversation in a reassuring manner, today, over a year after the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in the world, not only we have more knowledge over the virus and how to prevent it, we also have a team of obstetricians and birthing centers that take safety protocols very seriously and are prepared to ensure that the moment of the arrival of the expected baby is still magical. Very strict protocols can be felt as non-sense, but isn’t it worth it? To know you have done everything possible to bring your baby safely to the earth side?
