My Experience of Having a Baby During the Pandemic

Hey friends! So admist all of the chaos that is my life, and the chaos that Covid brought into everyone’s life these past two years, I didn’t really get to explain what having a baby was like during the pandemic. I know there were a lot of people having babies the same time as me, and there were a lot of worries, anxieties and and overall panic. I remember reading a joke meme on Facebook that said since everyone had to stay home, there would be a new generation, henceforth called the “Coronials”.

My daughter, Danika was born at the beginning of the Pandemic. Her due date was April 24, 2020, and I remember that we booked our baby shower for March 15, 2020. Since it was on the cusp of the stay at home order, I was worried that no one would come. However, the baby shower turned out all right, and all of the invitees still came.

I remember having my doctor’s appointments and asking my doctor where she stood on the matter. She basically said that there was not really any higher risk for expectant mothers than the average person my age. That was definitely a relief. At the beginning, I didn’t take any extra precautions, and to be honest, I was far less worried about the situation than many other new, expecting moms out there. I never did end up getting sick either, the entire time.

I was nervous about what it would be like actually going to the hospital during Covid. People were acting like every single person was dying, so of course, it made you wonder. The last few doctors appointments were unnerving. Usually I wanted my husband or mother there for support, but no one else was allowed in besides for me. I had some trouble finding care for my son, since my husband worked night shift at the time. I was actually afraid at the time that I would have to give birth on my own, with no support. There was news of that happening in New York City, but I heard they quickly changed that policy.

I delivered at the Sturgeon Hospital in St. Albert, and the policy was that you were allowed to have one support person with you. I had my husband there, but my mom would have liked to be there. However, we needed someone to stay and watch my older son anyway.

Personally, I detested wearing masks. Throughout the entire experience, I had a few anxiety attacks and trouble breathing with my mask on in public. I actually have severe asthma which enables me to get a deferral from wearing a mask. However, so other people felt safe, I continued wearing one throughout the Pandemic. I was trying to do “my part” for our society. In the hospital, it was required that everyone wear a mask if you were outside your room. That meant you had to wear one in the halls, and going to the bathroom. Unfortunately, because there was limited private room, (the hospital was saving private rooms for new moms with Covid) space was limited. We had to share a room with another couple for our overnight stay. My daughter was born at 6:52pm on Friday, May 1st, 2020, hence the overnight stay. There was a privacy curtain separating us, and I felt bad for the other couple because my daughter cried the entire night. Needless to say, I did not get any sleep.

During the birthing process, I didn’t have to wear a mask at all (thank goodness), and the hospital provided me with an emergency inhalor just in case. My husband however, had to wear one the entire time. When he left the hospital, technically we weren’t allowed to bring in any “outside” bags, meaning fast food bags, but you were allowed to put them in a purse or cooler bag. Of course, we weren’t allowed to have any visitors.

Compared to the birth of my son, where I had tons of people in my room, it was actually nice. I felt less stress because I could focus on my breathing and it was just me and my husband. I was as comfortable as one could be having a baby, and overall, it was relatively peaceful.

We were released the following day at about 12:00pm, and it was so nice being home. Since we were in the middle of a stay at home order, my only regret is that my family didn't get to meet my daughter until after she turned one. Only our parents and siblings got to see her before that point.

I suppose now, I am worried that our kids could still get sick, since the Covid vaccine is not safe for kids under 12. I am not sure how I feel about vaccines for kids, and the safety about them, considering all the information we now know. I do feel bad that my son has to wear a mask for a second year in a row, and to be honest, he doesn’t wear it half the time anyway, as probably most kids don’t.

If you are reading this, and you also had a baby during the Pandemic, how was your experience? Was it a positive or negative one? Let me know in the comments down below!

Ciao!

SAN