Top 10 Things To Keep In Mind If You Are Delivering Amid Lockdown
As expectant parents, you must have planned every minute detail regarding the delivery of your new-born, months before the due date. What you may not have planned for is a pandemic during your pregnancy.
It is a scary time and COVID-19 is a serious adversary. It might be scarier if you are pregnant during these unsettling times, and forced to stay at home, not knowing what to do when the time comes. There is a lot of fake news about the virus being circulated on internet and across social media. It is confusing and difficult to filter out the real news. To help you soothe your anxieties about childbirth, we have curated a list of things you must keep in mind if you are delivering during the lockdown.
1. Keep Anxiety At Bay
It is easier said than done. Being anxious can negatively affect the well-being of both the baby and the mother. It can also interfere with your decision-making during the times of need. To keep a clear mind for when the moment arrives, practice a calm mindset from beforehand. Focus on the things that you can control. For example, your diet, your mental and physical health, the kind of information that you consume. If you feel anxiety creeping up, meditate, or distract yourself with the activities you enjoy.
2. Do Not Change Your Delivery Plan
If you already have a birth plan in place, it is best to stick to it to avoid last minute confusions. If you opted for a hospital delivery, try to reach a hospital on time. Hospitals across the country have taken precautions so that pregnant women are not exposed to other patients in the hospital. Don’t decide to attempt a last-minute home-birth, as it requires months of planning, research, and preparation.
3. Visitors Policy
Hospitals have restricted the number of visitors in the maternity ward for the safety of babies and mothers. You may have one support person present with you in the delivery room. If your husband is under quarantine or stranded in another city due to the nationwide lockdown, do not panic. The medical professionals will make sure that you are well-attended to.
4. Take Precautionary Measures
Till now, research shows no evidence that pregnant women are at a higher risk from this virus than the rest of the population. Yet, expectant mothers could be generally more vulnerable than the rest of us. Hence, take precautions to protect yourself from the virus. Make sure that you follow medical advice at all times.
5. Showing Symptoms Of The Virus
In case you notice symptoms like fever, cough, or difficulty in breathing, reach out to a healthcare provider immediately and get tested. Pregnant women are prioritized for testing. Don’t hesitate to avail of this opportunity.
6. Worried If The Virus Can Pass On To Your Child
Research is still inconclusive if a mother can pass the virus on to her newborn. Till now, no trace of the virus has been detected in the samples of amniotic fluid or breast milk. In most known cases, mothers did not pass the virus onto their newborns. In the cases it did happen, the newborns only showed mild symptoms of the disease. Yet, if you are tested positive, do not panic, and follow medical advice.
7. Contact With The Newborn
Practice precautionary measures when touching your new-born:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your baby.
- Wear a mask.
- Practice respiratory hygiene while breastfeeding.
The safety of your baby should be a priority.
8. Breastfeeding Your Newborn
From what we know so far, it is safe to breastfeed your baby even if you are tested positive for Coronavirus. Experts encourage breastfeeding even in these circumstances. In case you are paranoid, but still need to express milk, you can use a breast pump to pump the milk out and discard it. You can also pump the milk and ask your husband or the nursing staff to bottle-feed your baby.
9. Postpone The Visits From Your Family And Friends
Becoming a mother is a life-changing experience for anyone. You may want to share this heartwarming experience with everyone you know, and it is quite reasonable of you to want that. However, instead of entertaining personal visits from your friends and family, face-time with them to share your new-found happiness. This is not only to safeguard your well-being, but also the well-being of your friends and family.
10. Keep The Immunizations On Track
After the birth of your newborn, make sure that they get their immunizations as per the schedule. Maintain social distancing, but don’t miss out on the dates of vaccination. When you are visiting the hospital, be sure to take the necessary preventive measures to protect yourself and your newborn.
If you have any further concerns regarding delivering amid this lockdown, feel free to ask us in the comments below. We will do our best to provide you with informed and prompt answers.
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