2020 Apr 5
“What if my labour is excruciatingly long?”
‘’What if the hospital can’t take me in?”
“What if the labour pain is more than I can handle?”
‘’What if I expose myself and my baby to COVID 19?”
As labour and delivery day draws near, it can certainly seem as if the “what ifs” are raging out of control and seems to be consuming your life. Your emotions are all over the place, trying to ensure the squatter in your uterus is fine and healthy, but the additional stress from everything else can be and always was overbearing. It is not just first time mums that feel this way. If your first pregnancy was easy the first time around, you worry that your second one will be hard; if your first one was hard, you’re terrified that history will repeat itself. And if you’ve never done this before, well, your imagination can simply go wild as you begin to imagine every worst-case scenario possible.
Now with COVID-19 ravaging our lives, it really does bring a layer of impossible stress which is supposed to be a time of calm and deep breathing. The stress of ensuring that a hospital can even take care of you during a time where our health care system is bleeding dry. As they prepare for one of the most intense and emotional experiences of their lives, they face the possibility of delivering babies in hospitals filled with COVID-19 patients — and plans they’ve made for where to give birth and who will be there with them are often now in question. We understand that it could be an extremely stressful time for all mother’s, especially those who are going into labour in the new future. Here are some tips to survive the rollercoaster ride that is labour.
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T CONTROL
“Labour is painful – There is no way of going around it, but we can control our attitude towards it. When we solely focus on the pain aspect, we lose sight of the bigger picture. Labour is part of the process of giving us something bigger and better.’’ – Dr. Theonie Anthonisz Chandrasena – Clinical psychologist and Mother of four.
As Dr. Theonie said, it is inevitably painful, but we need to adopt the right mindset going into this. It is obviously easier said than done, but make a conscious effort to come to peace with that fact. Seek support from your partner, friends, family, and professionals during this time for your physical and mental well being.
PROPER INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE CONSUMED
Sometimes the unknown is the scariest part. Take active steps in purchasing or acquiring reliable information like visiting a medical professional, reputed websites, and books. Understand the process and try to have a better idea about the long journey you are about to embark on.
When women receive the latest reliable research and information, they are empowered to make informed choices about their health and bodies and the health of their baby.
So far scientists have found no evidence that mothers who test positive for COVID-19 can transmit it to their fetuses in utero. Pregnancy and childbirth do not seem to aggravate the typical course of symptoms. Once the baby is born, the CDC recommends a temporary mother-infant separation for mothers who have COVID-19 and offers guidance on breastfeeding precautions.
“Be extra neurotic and extra overprotective and extra hygienic with your hand-washing and face-washing,” said Dr Harvey Karp, a longtime paediatrician and author of several blockbuster parenting books. “You have to plan for all contingencies so stay informed and consult your doctor.”
ONLINE PRE-NATAL CLASSES AND SUPPORT GROUPS
In the past few years, pre-natal classes have become a popular way for new moms and dads to get these worrying questions answered at the back of their mind. The classes provide a friendly and welcoming environment where knowledgeable instructors and professionals can address all of your questions, concerns and ideas. They also give you a chance to learn what to expect and how to best prepare yourself for the ups and downs of pregnancy.
With social distancing and strict hygiene measures being implemented now even hospital appointments are done with extreme caution and do not allow for people to come with the pregnant person. It is difficult for a mother to transmit a virus to a fetus, which is protected by the amniotic sac in the uterus. Even a mother who is sick cannot pass the disease to her unborn child. However, there are risks of transmission after childbirth. Therefore, being on constant alert is crucial.
DE-STIGMATIZE THE ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF BIRTH
With modern innovation and technology, we have so many ways of not ‘having’ to deal with the pain. It is not your job to have to put yourself through the pain if you don’t want to. There are so many alternative methods that can be adopted.
If you have reservations about the pain, you can always opt for a cesarean; even if you have reservations of going under the knife, there is also gas or epidurals that could aid you through this process.
Studies show that alternative birth methods are very popular. The waterbirth rates have risen steadily and stabilized at around 40-50% of the spontaneous births. Home births are also becoming more popular amongst women who want to give birth without medical intervention, in a comfortable, familiar environment. What we need to do is destigmatize these methods – you are not weak for opting for any of these methods.
Labour is the most painful thing you would go through in life, your body knows that and even has an automatic memory wipe. Most women do not remember the pain they went through doing labour, but while that won’t provide you with immediate respite, it is good to know. Everything ultimately boils down to you and your baby. Make the best choice for you both.
