26 Stories During COVID-19: Pregnancy, Childbirth and Beyond
DISCLAIMER: I am a certified birth doula, public-health enthusiast, and passionate scientific fact-finder, but I am NOT a doctor or medical advisor. I’ve compiled these results as closely as I could to what respondents actually said while maintaining anonymity.
Two weeks ago it hit me like a ton of bricks that “normal” as I knew it no longer existed. And two weeks from now we will have a WHOLE new set of realizations. Not to mention that the rate of change in just one day equates to about 100 days…
And, like many of you, this means that it’s no longer “business as usual.” Quite frankly, “business as usual” feels insensitive and all together irrelevant when it’s not somehow speaking to our fundamental fears, anxieties, and uncertainties.
So… to the experts I went. Experts meaning all of YOU! Who better to help understand how this strange new “normal” is making an impact than those who are living it right now.
Here were a few things that quickly became clear to me from the feedback I received:
Even without the stress and uncertainty of COVID-19, there are PLENTY of things that cause stress at any stage in women’s pregnancy and postpartum journey.
Throughout all stages of pregnancy and postpartum, the group experiencing the most acute anxiety about the effects of COVID-19 are moms in their third trimester of pregnancy.
Again, outside of COVID-19, moms to be and new moms experience significant gaps in information; gaps that are only accentuated by the daily changes in information about the global pandemic.
Let’s drill down a bit further…
What is your biggest challenge currently? Why?
53% of respondents had challenges that related directly to the impacts of COVID-19. This swayed heavily towards women who are already pregnant - 75% of whom expressed challenges directly related to coronavirus.
Here’s what they had to say in relation to the current pandemic:
Heightened health risks:
On top of the normal pressures of staying healthy during pregnancy, women were more worried about getting sick
Impacted support systems:
Women are concerned about the importance of, and disconnection from social systems. “I don’t want to be locked up in a house with no visitors, but I don’t want to be unsmart and exposed.”
Lack of security for regular appointments and newborn care due to the impact on the health system.
Information overwhelm:
Striking the right balance of enough evidence-based information from the right people (providers, support persons, trusted friends and family) without falling into the fear of information overload (news outlets, unsolicited advice). Plus… how to parse out which information fits into each category!
Increased emotional burden:
Even women who feel well educated and informed are crippled by the fear of the unknown. "My toddler doesn’t understand why we are quarantined and my unborn baby doesn’t understand why we are quarantined and I’m so stressed. My fear builds with the unknown.” Anxiety or fear of the unknown stood out as the single most common challenge amidst coronavirus.
Compounding negative stress feedback loop…women are stressed about the fact that they are more stressed.
Any one of the stressors could use significant unpacking, not to mention the myriad of other novelties women are dealing with. One group almost exclusively mentioned challenges that were completely unrelated to COVID-19 - this was new moms (0-6 months).
Here’s what they had to say about the challenges they’re facing:
“Feeding my son solids”
“Teething and when to start solids”
“Balancing work and being a new mom”
“Managing time between three children”
“Lack of Sleep”
Please rate your current level of anxiety, fear or uncertainty from 1-7
62% of women reported anxiety of 5, 6, or 7.
1=low anxiety, 7=high anxiety
What are you most anxious, fearful or uncertain of currently? Why?
73% of responses related directly to impacts of COVID-19 (compared with 53% from above). Responses spread evenly across all stages in the pregnancy journey, whereas the answers for biggest challenges were most directly related to coronavirus for women who are currently pregnant.
Here’s what they had to say in relation to the current pandemic:
General life stressors:
Anxiety about losing a job and finances in general
How the virus affects everyday life - "Who wants to bring a baby into a world like this?”
Impacts to giving birth:
The most common response was fear and anxiety around the number of support persons allowed during labor and delivery and immediate postpartum.
“Even the thought of having to deliver for my first time without my husband is TERRIFYING.”
Being separated from your baby if mom contracts the virus
Not being able to share this time with loved ones
Keeping children safe and healthy:
The pressure of protecting children from the virus on TOP of the normal pressures to keep children safe feels really heavy.
There couldn’t possibly be headspace for any other worries, could there? Think again. Here were some of the other things on their minds:
“I’m anxious to have my first son after two girls”
“Miscarriage”
“When will the baby come?”
“How will I respond to being a mother?”
“I get anxious about [my baby] sleeping” & “something happening when he’s asleep”
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the information and/or support you have received from all sources based on your current stage in your journey (not yet pregnant - postpartum (beyond!))
While above I noted “information overwhelm” as a challenge in relation to COVID-19, 88% of respondents reported a mid-high level satisfaction with information they have received in relation to their current stage in their pregnancy journey (not just information related to COVID-19).
1=low satisfaction 7=high satisfaction
What's missing? What information, support or content would you like to receive more of?
Only 23% of respondents reported that information in relation to COVID-19 is exclusively what is missing. The majority of respondents reported gaps in validated information about what to expect at each stage of the journey. Furthermore, how to decide what actions to take once they receive said information.
Here’s what respondents at each stage of their journey had to say:
Thinking about getting pregnant
What exact steps to take when you first get pregnant, and what the options are at each stage of the journey. There seems to be so much information unloaded when you first see a provider, but a checklist of what to know, what to do, and when to do it would be helpful.
What does postpartum rehab look like?
Understanding parenting styles (i.e. setting boundaries within a family)
Pregnant | 1st or 2nd trimester
COVID-19:
Boundaries concerning COVID-19 - “What exactly should pregnant people be setting in place?”
What specific precautions will my provider be taking to keep everyone safe?
How to feel prepared when birthing classes have been canceled
Keeping up with the latest COVID-19 research
Everything else:
How to know what questions to ask, and when
Pregnant | 3rd trimester
COVID-19:
What we can learn from other women who have given birth during the pandemic
How to stay sane in postpartum during a pandemic. Postpartum can already be an isolating time without already having to be isolated during pregnancy.
Everything else:
What to take from word of mouth information (which often feels the most concerning)
What things are going to look like when my baby is born (especially week 1!)
Postpartum | 0-6 months
COVID-19:
How to navigate provider bias: Even if you’re armed with information about all things pregnancy and childbirth, it’s not always better. Providers assume that you know everything and overlook the importance of making sure you have the information you need at each stage.
How to navigate information overwhelm from sources that are driven by fear (i.e. media)
Everything else:
How to make an informed decision when information from friends, family, support persons and providers does not align
Immediate postpartum breastfeeding help
Postpartum 6 months and beyond
Information that normalizes all options available for women in postpartum. For example, if you aren’t ever exposed to information about women breastfeeding for longer than 1 year, it’s hard to feel like breastfeeding for longer is normal.
Simple and trustworthy information about how to handle infant health emergencies. Good old Google often leads to anxiety and information overload.
This is A LOT of information to process - hats of to those of you who stuck with me.
My hope is that after reading this you are reminded of the shared experience so many women have through preconception, pregnancy and beyond.
Finally, let me leave you with a few parting affirmations:
I trust that each part of my journey will unfold just how it is meant to.
When I look within, I have all the answers for what feels best for me, my baby and my family.
I have the courage to confidently handle anything within my control. I have the wisdom to let go of all the things I cannot.
- Loving you from afar as always -
xx,
@crdoula
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