Pregnancy In Global Pandemic: Prenatal Care And Preparation During The COVID-19 Outbreak

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Pregnancy and giving birth is a period of preparation and anticipation. However, amid anxiety amid the COVID-19 pandemic, expectant mothers may feel added fear and anxiety. As you deal with motherhood with mental health issues, you want only the best for your newborn infant. At this moment, all of us are going the extra mile to protect ourselves from harm brought by the virus. The anxiety that a pregnant woman experiences may even feel doubled now. How can you adjust your prenatal preparation in this uncertain time?

Prenatal Check-Up
You might be asking yourself, “Is it safe to continue my prenatal checkups?” Prenatal visits are highly essential to ensure the excellent condition of your health and your baby’s health. Given the current situation, physical distancing is the optimum measure that we can do to help avoid further spreading the virus, and healthcare appointments are affected by this policy.

More and more healthcare professionals are offering telehealthcare. Try to ask your obstetrician if there are available options to them that can decrease your clinic visits, depending on your pregnancy risks. It may also be helpful to obtain a copy of your health records, including your history of prenatal care, in the case of disruption or change in the services of your healthcare provider. Alex Peahl, M.D., says, “We have three key recommendations for patients receiving routine prenatal care: Limit clinic visits to those that require in-person services (like ultrasounds and lab tests); encourage virtual visits for care that can be done remotely; provide support to pregnant women creatively.”

Ask your doctor what the safest way to hold these checkups is. Be open with them and ask for guidance if you have any concerns about your health or your baby’s health. Your doctor is the person who knows best what actions you should take during this time.

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Where Should You Give Birth?
If you’re planning to give birth in a hospital or a healthcare clinic, it’s better to ask your midwife or your doctor where they assess would be the safest place for you to give birth. Giving birth at this particular time is indeed tricky. It may vary depending on your condition and from situation to situation.  

You may consider giving birth at home if your doctor deems possible. With the proper guidance and preparation, home birth can be a safe option for you to deliver your baby. 

During and After Delivery
You might be worried about spending time in the hospital during and after your delivery. As much as possible, hospitals are trying to minimize the number of people that come to their facility. They are strengthening the rules and protocols to further enhance the physical distancing inside the facility. Medical staff also put extra care on the isolation of wards of COVID-19 patients from other patients.

If you don’t have any complications in delivery, it may be possible to go home sooner with the advice of your doctor. You can discuss this in advance to your doctor before your birth. 

It is also vital to have someone beside you when you give birth, especially at this sensitive time, to provide you with support and encouragement. Having someone beside you during this time is very logical because it can help ease worry and anxiousness. 

Anxiety

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Ways of coping with anxiousness for expectant mothers vary from their condition and state of mind. Having a plan in place for your prenatal care can help give you a sense of control, but given the current circumstances, your planning may depend on the situation of where you live.

What you can do for starters is to decide on who you should call and what set of actions you should take when labor begins. 

Shopping for your baby’s needs can also help you relax and be excited for when the baby comes out. As a part of your prenatal care, make sure that you consume only healthy food and drinks, and avoid getting stressed. There are therapy for moms to do such as meditation, yoga, or music therapy, these boost mental and emotional health.

Conclusion
The best thing you can do at this time is to take all the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe. Try to practice home quarantine as much as possible to avoid any unnecessary contact from other people. 

If you have had contact from someone who confirmed favorable to having COVID-19 or you experience any symptoms, it is best to call your doctor first before coming in for a checkup. Based on your symptoms, they can determine whether you qualify for testing and evaluation. 

It is vital to establish a trusting relationship with your doctor or healthcare provider. Follow instructions from your doctor promptly to avoid any problems before, during, and after giving birth.