Having a baby can be hard work, but imagine adding a deadly virus, lockdowns and isolation from your family. Anxious parents are not only navigating the normalities of pregnancy, but parents are facing the unknown of COVID-19. The pandemic has been with us longer than a baby spends in a womb. The “corona-babies” have now joined us or are weeks away from seeing earth’s light.
Nicole Gallant is a registered nurse for the London Health Science Center and works in the birthing ward, she said that there have been quite few positive patients and nurses.
“We just actually came out of an outbreak on antenatal, we had 2 nurses that tested positive and then the patient ended up testing positive 3 days after. They actually declared an outbreak after the 2 nurses contracted the virus from outside the hospital.”
Even though the nurses contracted the virus outside the hospital, it caused “havoc” and led to mothers to quarantine from their newborns.
“They couldn’t see their baby for 14 days and this has happenend to women that have already had a hard time in their pregnancy and possibly have already lost a child or had a baby born prematurely. Everyone came back negative in the unit, but it dosent matter.”
Londoner, Liane Bloxam, is a mother to 3 and gave birth to her newest addition during the pandemic. She said she was thankful that she had experience with pregnancy before giving birth during the pandemic. There were a number of outbreaks in the hospital, so Bloxam decided to use a midwife service. Even though she chose an alternative experience it did not subtract health-and-safety protocols like wearing a mask during delivery.
“Including pushing and everything. They told me this is a rule but we know that it is a big ask. I knew that they were going to be compassionate. The labour happened really fast so I didn’t even notice wearing the mask.”
Matt Sloss, 29, is going to be a first-time parent. He expressed that he is missing out on many appointments and experiences like hearing the heartbeat for the first time.
“Not having those experiences takes everything away. You don’t have the same feeling of you wife or girlfriend being pregnant. So, when you go to these appointments. It gears you up for what’s ahead. It would have done a lot for me to becoming a dad.”
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