Over 300,000 babies are born each month in the United States. So if you’re pregnant and dealing with the challenges of COVID 19, you’re not the only one out there in your position. You may feel alone. We all do to some degree, tucked away in our homes. You may be furtively dashing out to doctor’s appointments and worrying about your exposure in this environment. Other than a short perusal of the baby aisle at the grocery store or Target, any shopping is probably occurring online - which is probably not at all what you expected. As long as you are feeling well, you’re likely trying to stay positive. But probably you can’t help but feel a bit cheated.
Maybe your due date coincided with the arrival of the Coronavirus in March and you’re through the hurdle or pregnancy. In that case you’re likely sheltering in place by now with a newborn. This is probably a relief compared to what you went through getting to this comparatively “safe” place. Possibly you carefully planned your pregnancy, maybe even enduring fertility treatments. You probably dutifully attended all your prenatal appointments and took your vitamins. You did all the things we used to do before, and took for granted: shopping in actual stores for baby items as well as your own maternity clothes. Taking prenatal yoga classes. Celebrating each sonogram with your partner. Joining with family and friends for a baby shower. Attending Lamaze classes and maybe working with a doula.
But then, when the big moment arrived, things were probably quite different from what you had expected. The hospital likely imposed special procedures such as extra testing to assure the health and safety of you, your baby, your partner and your family members. Hopefully you were able to have support leading up, during, and immediately following your birth. Even if this was the case, though, you may find yourself feeling sad and angry that your birth experience was not what you had imagined it would be. You may be having some struggles with your physical recovery from the birth, particularly if there was any significant trauma or series of unexpected medical events. You may feel cheated out of a pivotal life moment.
Everyone may be telling you that you are lucky. You and the baby are healthy. And you see this. But, still, you don’t feel that lucky. You are struggling through these first days and weeks. And there’s nowhere to get a break from it all. There’s no mall to stroll around. Getting a meal out consists of picking it up at the curb. You are stuck in the house with a lovable, but needy, little person – 24/7.
Quite likely you have heard of postpartum depression (PPD). There’s much more awareness and education these days about this. It’s important, though, to consider the real possibility that – even if you have no significant prior mental health history – PPD could happen to you. Even those of us that are fairly well adjusted and aren’t going through the postpartum hormonal swings or staying up half the night tending to an infant are struggling to stay positive and keep everything steady emotionally. One scan of the daily headlines is enough to put mental health in peril for all of us.
Simply put, adding the variable of pregnancy and delivery to the COVID-19 cocktail that we’re all drinking puts you at a higher risk of developing postpartum depression and/or anxiety. Don’t be afraid to look at what’s going on with you straight on, give it a name, and get the help you need. You and your baby will be healthier. And staying well is critical for all of us in these uncertain times.