Pregnancy During a Pandemic
by Jessi Noskiewicz, RMT
One week after halting my work as a Massage Therapist in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I sat waiting to peek over at the pregnancy test sitting on my desk.
‘Pregnant During a Pandemic’ – it almost sounds like the name of a B-rated made-for-tv movie, or a TLC show that seems so far fetched you would likely never imagine it to be in your own future.
Yet many of us are living this narrative right now:
Pregnant and struggling to find some sense of normalcy amidst a backdrop of pandemic-induced panic and fear.
March 20, 2020: One week after halting my work as a Massage Therapist in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I sat waiting to peek over at the pregnancy test sitting on my desk and tried to make sense of what I was feeling.
Excitement, fear, happiness, uncertainty, hope, and denial were all a part of the initial bubbling up of emotions.
When I saw the two lines in the test window confirming pregnancy, I tried to stay present and focus on the feelings that were attached to information that wasn’t vague, alarming, and dismal.
I shared the news with my inner circle and sought objective advice to help me grapple with the news. I fed off each congratulatory message I received.
Whether unexpected or planned, being pregnant right now is complicated. The good news is that, so far, the data is largely reassuring when it comes to pregnancy outcomes related to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
Pregnancy does not seem to be an indicator for increased risk of severe disease in healthy pregnant women and most infants born to COVID-19 positive mothers have been healthy and delivered at full term.
That being said, COVID-19 research is in the early stages and WHO’s website currently states that it is not yet known if this virus can be passed on to a fetus during pregnancy/delivery.
The best strategies for decreasing the probability of infection are the same as those suggested for the general population:
Maintain a physical distance of 2-meters from those outside of your household whenever possible (and wear a mask in cases when it is not).
Practice careful and thorough hand hygiene.
Please visit the links at the end of this post for more information related to pregnancy and COVID-19. The information listed above was obtained from the SOGC Statement on Pregnant Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic published on May 21, 2020.
It’s only been a few short (but deceivingly long!) months that we’ve been dealing with this novel coronavirus.
As someone who is a chronic critical thinker and ALWAYS questioning things, I’m still a little uneasy about the global circumstances at the moment.
Pandemic or not, life goes on and new life continues to grow and develop in the womb.
Since I am NOT currently working, I have the wonderful privilege of being able to focus on being at home with my toddler and prepare for new baby’s arrival.
Sure, some days I feel stuck and get frustrated with being confined to my home, but I do my best to count my blessings.
If you’re still working through your pregnancy then carving out time for your personal life is going to be challenging, but not impossible!
I’ve compiled a list of the strategies that I’ve found helpful to maintain a positive outlook and stay focused as I navigate these muddy waters.
Perhaps these resonate with you and if so, that’s great! If not, I encourage you to come up with a list that’s more suitable to your needs and current circumstances.
Turn off the internal judgment meter.
Rather than focusing on all the things you’re NOT able to do or that you haven’t been able to prioritize lately, do your best to practice some mindfulness. Acknowledge those frustrations but do not let them take over.
Give yourself permission to relax.
Block off a little bit of time once a day, or a few times a week, to prioritize YOUR needs.
Maybe that means taking a bath, doing prenatal yoga, listening to some soothing music, or just putting your feet up and watching a show on Netflix... whatever works for you in that moment!
Connect with others.
Stay in touch with friends/family who are also expecting or find an online pregnancy/parent group in your area (there are a lot on facebook) that focuses on non-judgmental support and sharing of information. It’s important to connect with others who are going through a similar experience.
Come up with a list of goals; things you’d like to achieve over the coming months as you prep for baby’s arrival.
It may feel like you’ll be pregnant forever but, speaking from experience, it really does go fast in the grand scheme of things! Set realistic goals that will motivate you without causing you more stress.
These might be related to improving your mental health, making a change to your physical health through diet and/or exercise, transforming your living space (nesting!), or taking time to bond with your partner/kids/other family members before the new baby arrives
Stay informed, but don’t overdose on news/social media.
Some days I read the news and others I avoid it at all costs! Listen to your body and mind and do what feels right; it’s way too easy to get sucked into the social media rabbit hole. I try to be conscious of when, where, and how I engage with social media/news.
And it’s true, some days it may feel like a marathon that will never end and not being able to plan a “babymoon vacation” or spend time with friends and family the way you did in the past will seem frustrating and unfair.
It’s OKAY to have those feelings.
Acknowledge them, feel them, and work through them... but remember that throughout history, and all around the world, people have continued to grow their families regardless of the economic, epidemiological, and emotional circumstances they have faced.
Bringing new life into the world is no walk in the park (and even going for a walk in the park is more challenging than it was pre-COVID!) but it is one of the most awesome, BADASS things that one can do in life!
Are you pregnant or did you recently have a baby during this pandemic? If you have any questions or need help with locating health related resources, I would love to hear from you.
Post written by Jessi Noskiewicz, BA, RMT
Jessi is a Registered Massage Therapist at Continuum Wellness. She is currently on parental leave until January 2021.
Jessi Noskiewicz, BA, RMT