The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the healthcare sector for many patients including pregnant women. The information related to COVID-19 and pregnancy is constantly evolving during this pandemic. Though pregnancy is certainly an exciting time for every woman, one of the causes is uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic is adding up more stress and anxiety in some people. Read on to know how pregnant women are having a difficult time during the COVID-19 crisis.
Some signs and symptoms of high stress at the time of pregnancy are:
- change in your appetite
- feelings of worry and fear related to pregnancy and delivery
- poor quality of sleep
- problems in concentrating
Pregnant women can try these stress-relieving practices:
- Desist from looking at the physical media or watching the news all the time. Evenings should be free from unwinding and promoting good sleep.
- Ask your private gynecologist in London about online antenatal classes that are great ways to meet and speak with other pregnant women.
- Try deep breathing, gentle stretching, or meditating.
- Take proper care of your relationships by connecting with family and friends over the phone or through video conferences.
- Get a sufficient amount of sleep by going to bed at the proper time and restricting screen time.
- Maintain a well-balanced diet and take part in regular exercises. Eat well and remain active to keep your body fit and healthy during mental illness.
- Take a new hobby or revive an old one like playing an instrument or reading a storybook. Women may even enjoy making handmade toys or blankets for would-be-born babies or decorating a nursery.
- Make use of online forums and support groups for pregnant women and new parents.
- Taking the help of online counseling as therapy may help anyone who is suffering from depression, stress, or anxiety.
- Ask for further help as your partner shares an equal responsibility to take care of the unborn child or ask your neighbor to accompany you for grocery shopping.
If a woman is experiencing mental distress, then it is advised to consult with a doctor or counselor soon.
Depression during pregnancy is a common thing and can be treated. Even if they need to maintain physical distancing, pregnant women do not face depression or other health concerns alone.
Physical distancing during pregnancy
You should not be in close contact with others, particularly large groups of people that can lessen the transmission of this deadly coronavirus.
Many areas have passed safer-at-home or shelter-at-home policies that dishearten people from going out except for essential travel like going to grocery stores, pharmacies, or other necessary visits.
It is necessary to attend prenatal appointments, but make aware some of these appointments happen over the phone.
Modern technology allows doctors to change the way how they help people including pregnant women.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it is suggested that pregnant women speak with the doctor to know how often they need to go for in-person visits.
You can contact your nearest gynecology clinic where the doctors may offer video calls online which is known as telemedicine. They can even recommend spacing out ultrasound appointments or other in-person visits to lessen the risk of transmission for women.
If possible, having a partner or delivery service secure items can lessen a pregnant woman’s direct exposure to the public.
People should wash their hands properly at the time of returning from the grocery store or an outside walk.
COVID-19 effects at the time of pregnancy
Since COVID-19 is a newly developed health crisis, experts have not been able to detect its effects on a pregnant woman. So, they are completely unsure if pregnant women are at greater risk of being infected with COVID-19 or experiencing severe symptoms and whether they might pass this virus to their would-be-born babies.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no evidence on the fact that pregnant women are at greater risk for experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms than the common population.
As per the study of nine pregnant women in their third trimester with COVID-19 and pneumonia symptoms in Wuhan, China, it was found that one baby tested positive for the virus in the 36 hours after birth.
However, the tests of the umbilical cord and placenta of women were negative which could mean the newborn has contracted the virus after birth than in the womb. The sample size was very small which makes concluding very difficult.
According to another study, 38 percent of pregnant women had tested positive for COVID-19 in China who did not find their symptoms to be more severe than the ones affecting the general population.
The study did not report the spread of COVID-19 to any babies or any maternal deaths.
When you need to self-isolate
If a pregnant woman shows symptoms of COVID-19 like coughing, shortness of breath, or fever, then she should call a doctor immediately.
The doctor can provide necessary suggestions about whether or not COVID-19 testing is needed.
If the symptoms are mild, then the doctor will probably ask her to self-isolate.
There are home treatments available that consist of taking acetaminophen for fever, resting, and drinking lots of water.
If you have difficulty in breathing or a high fever, then these are signs that urgent care is necessary. You should call the hospital before arriving at the emergency room so that they may take necessary precautions accordingly.
You may give birth alone without visitors
Some hospitals have restricted the visitors for the anticipated future during childbirth to protect healthcare staff and other patients from this deadly virus. The number of support people who enter the delivery room may differ from hospital to hospital.
Some women might prefer the option of home birth as an option to ensure they can have their family members or partner with them.
Though this is an option for some people, it is noteworthy to know that COVID-19 procedures might postpone your entry to the hospital when there are complications at the time of childbirth.
Important questions to ask your doctor
The pandemic has led many pregnant women to face certain changes in their birth plans that may cause uncertainty and stress. Having all the necessary information may help them to stay in control and lessen the anxiety.
Some questions to ask the doctor are:
- How can the office hours or accessibility change?
- Are there online options for antenatal classes where I can talk to other pregnant women?
- How will I know if I am safe when visiting the doctor’s office or going to the hospital?
- How can I expect COVID-19 concerns to affect my delivery at the hospital?
- Will there be changes for certain medications that I might receive or the number of people present in the delivery room?
A woman may ask her doctor about any condition-specific or area-specific changes.
Pregnant women might feel extra stress, depression, or anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. But even though they may be self-isolating, they do not need to face these problems alone.
It is always a good decision for pregnant women to focus on the elements that they can control, including physical distancing and self-care.
Make sure you stay in regular contact by fixing an appointment with your private gynaecologist in London who can help to alleviate worries about your health and take proper care of the childbirth.
What Can You do to Help Others?
For many pregnant women, reaching out for help and support throughout their pregnancy is a must regardless of what is going on in the wider world. The support can reassure them, guide them through the different stages, and mean they don’t feel alone in this, even if they physically are alone. Beyond Covid, pregnant women are still going to need support, some more than others. In the future, there is no saying what other epidemics or events will happen that will increase the numbers of women needing more mental health support. Outside events and situations taking place, such as Covid-19, have only highlighted the importance of ensuring that there are appropriate services and professionals out there that can help.
Therefore, the need to train up individuals and encourage more to take the plunge to join the healthcare industry has never been more vital. Particularly when it concerns mental health services for pregnant women, encouraging more people to change careers or choose a career in the healthcare sector in the first place needs to be the focus.
Fortunately, thanks to tech advances being made in the education sector, studying online to work in healthcare is more than possible, making it easily accessible to more people to do this. With more people able to take courses online, services can meet the high demands and ensure that the support is provided for all those who need it.
If you want to do more to help others facing situations like this, then you should look into taking a mental health counselling degree. Such a degree will prepare you for the licensed counselor exam and everything beyond this, ensuring that you can start making a difference to more people. As this is such an in-demand area, you will have job security while making a positive impact.
Plus, while you may choose to focus solely on supporting the mental health of pregnant women, remember there is a much wider group of people out there who will also need help and support too.
Why Mental Health Matters?
There are, of course, other ways that you can enter the healthcare field and work with pregnant women, but being there to support a mother-to-be with her mental health is just as important as the physical side of the pregnancy. Many may have concerns about their health, the impact of diseases, like Covid, the birth, while struggling with depression and anxiety throughout. With mood swings affecting almost all pregnant women, too, if the support isn’t there for them, they may not seek out the help they need. Stress can, unfortunately, lead to further health problems
For those who are pregnant, you must make sure that when you start to experience these feelings and emotions that you speak to someone. Whether it is a partner, family member, or a professional, reaching out to those who can provide the support you need is exactly what you need when going through your pregnancy, but especially when there are much bigger events taking place in the world out of your control. The sooner that you seek out treatment, the better you will feel, and the more you can enjoy your pregnancy.
If you do seek out professional help, make sure to inform them of your full medical history, including any mental health issues you may have experienced in the past, no matter how long ago. As a professional, you should make sure this is one of the first questions you always ask your patient.
If you are not pregnant but know people who are, whether these are close family members or friends, make sure that you are encouraging them to focus on their mental health. However, tread carefully with this, make sure to carefully listen, reassure them, and be patient. While they may not be keen to speak to a professional straight away, be patient and stay calm about it. Pushing them to go will not help. Instead, try and help them understand the importance of never missing mental health checks. Research how best to approach the subject of them getting the support they need, and you could even offer to go with them.
The Future of Mental Health Care for Pregnant Women
As time goes on, the hope is that all women can seek the mental health care support they need during their pregnancy, regardless of what is going on. By reading guides like this, pregnant women can understand how to take care of their mental health, but those looking to do more can also come away with some wisdom.