Giving birth to a baby during a global pandemic comes with its own set of risks and complications. While you are thrilled to be a mom, you cannot help but worry about what the future holds for you and your family. When I was pregnant with my baby, I had several concerns about how things would work out in the end. My doctor had scheduled a C-section at 39 weeks and 6 days. It was a scary time to be pregnant. As I entered the 4th trimester, I started worrying about the unknown complications that the pandemic would bring for me and my baby. What if I test positive before the delivery? Would I be able to take care of my baby? Will they allow me to breastfeed? Will my husband be allowed to visit soon after the delivery?
Navigating through all the unknowns can be stressful, but I’m glad we made it through. As soon as I heard the little screams and cries of my baby, I was relieved to know that my baby was indeed healthy. But I knew things were only about to get more challenging from here on out. The breastfeeding difficulties, the late-night feedings, diaper duties, postpartum recovery, sleepless nights…the list is never-ending.
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When I held my baby in my arms and attempted to breastfeed, it finally dawned on me that I just had a baby. As I lay in bed in my mesh panties, the pain from my C-section incision started to kick in. I knew it was a rough road ahead, but I had prepared myself for everything that was to come. The doctor informed us that we would be able to leave the hospital the next day. But I wasn’t ready to leave yet. As soon as I step out of the hospital, I will be solely responsible for the little human in my arms. What if I’m not ready yet? As I wheeled to the hospital exit with my baby waiting for my husband to get his car, I was looking forward to being home.
I barely remember the next 24 hours. I held my baby close to my chest and tried to breastfeed. After a few attempts, my baby was able to latch on properly. That’s one thing taken care of, I thought. Our fridge was stocked and we had all the baby and mommy essentials we needed. My husband and I had looked up a weekly meal plan on YouTube, which helped save us several hours in the kitchen. While I was focused on taking care of my little one and making sure he is properly breastfed, I was determined not to compromise on my diet either, especially since we had no one to rely on during the pandemic.
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Even though the government has eased the lockdown, I didn’t want to invite my mom over to help me with my newborn. She is over 50 and suffers from a few health conditions, and is at a higher risk of contracting the virus. We had also restricted guests coming over to meet the baby.
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My whole day was now consumed by breastfeeding, checking the baby’s poop for any health issues, and making sure he got enough sleep. Any little time I got to myself, I decided to rest and take power naps.
Taking care of a newborn baby is never easy. But when the uncertainty of the virus looms large on the horizon, you find yourself feeling anxious and worried most times. I was thankful for having a network of friends and family whom I could rely on. Whenever I had any questions or concerns, I made sure to talk to my doctor instead of just seeking information from online sources which can sometimes pave the way to more anxiety. The rest of the time I spent kissing, cuddling, and soaking in the newborn smell.
