We are going to be brutally honest with you: planning a pregnancy and going through delivery and post-natal care was not the easiest of feats during “normal times”, and it will certainly not get easier in this period. However, if you’re thinking about starting a family with the help of fertility treatments, there’s bright hope for the future! You can consider options like home insemination, which is a fertility treatment procedure that you can do on your own, and in the comfort of your home without the need to visit a doctor’s office! Because a large portion of healthcare resources have been diverted to accommodate coronavirus patients, it’s only natural that you feel frustrated while trying to get some attention drawn to your baby bump. Here are a few tips to help you get through this without unnecessary struggle:

CONSIDER A HOME  BIRTH

Giving birth in the hospital has its benefits. You get round the clock care and nurses to attend to your every need. Your baby is monitored every hour, and you get to all the attention you need.

In the current situation, however, you may find that this kind of medical attention may not be the same as it was before the pandemic.

That being the case, giving birth at home would be the way to go. To prepare, you can have a midwife come and stay over a few weeks before the expected due date. It would be better if she doesn’t have to leave every day and come back the next day.  This will minimise the risk of her contracting the virus and bringing it home to you, your family and the newborn baby.

In preparation, you can set aside a room or bed where you’ll be giving birth. The midwife will help to get everything that will be needed for safe delivery. She may also offer specialist advice on pain management during the process. You don’t have to move from the hospital to your home, so this is much safer and way more convenient.  You get to be surrounded by everyone you love, and you can give birth in a familiar environment. 

HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU WITH SHOPPING

You should stay at home and ask someone else to go out and get you anything you need instead. An online baby clothes store is an excellent way of getting your shopping done with minimal physical contact. It will help to minimise the risk of contracting the virus through contact with sick persons or infected surfaces as you do your shopping in crowded grocery stores and malls.

You could list all the items you need including food, clothing and personal effects. Having your partner help you out is a good idea, and it is even better if you have a female partner, family member or friend to help you out with shopping items such as babies clothes and maternity outfits. It is essential that you stay in and don’t go out unless it is necessary. 

GET THAT MATERNITY LEAVE

Working from home should make it easier for you to carry on with your job as your baby bump grows. If, however,  you feel like you will not be able to work well with your pregnancy, you should talk to your boss and ask for maternity leave.

Pregnancy may make it uncomfortable to work even from home, especially in the last trimester. If you find yourself losing attention every few minutes, getting tired constantly, worrying about your mental health and even getting physical pain,  go right ahead and submit a letter of request for maternity leave.  You should not have a problem getting approval, and if your boss is a woman, she may be in a better position to sympathise and give it to you as soon as you request it. 

Take that time to prepare yourself to give birth and take care of your mental health.  Make all your plans in good time and follow through to make sure that there’s no chance of you losing control when the time comes. 

MAKE SOLID PLANS AND SHARE THEM WITH SOMEONE CLOSE

 Planning is the key to getting through your pregnancy and childbirth with minor incidence. The best way to go about it is to make detailed plans for everything a few months before the expected delivery date.  This may include planning for shopping for baby clothes  (i.e. hats and caps)   and personal needs as well as mental and physical preparation for childbirth. It would help if you also made a  detailed plan of how you expect thugs to go during the delivery and afterwards.  It would be best if you then shared the plan with your partner, family or anyone close who will be there for you during the process. This will help them follow through if, for some reason, you are not able to do so yourself. You will find that planning significantly reduces the headache of figuring out what to do after the baby is here. 

COMMUNICATE 

Communication is another key to a successful pregnancy and delivery.  You should reach out to everyone concerned, including your family( both nuclear and extended) as well as close friends may want to come to visit when the baby is here.  Let them know that you will need them to keep a distance in light of the current situation. This will help to maintain mutual respect and prevent hard feelings when people learn that they will not be allowed to visit and hold the baby.

In conclusion, you are stronger than you think. Take good care of yourself, eat well, take care of your mental health and communicate with people. You are also allowed to pamper yourself, considering that you are carrying a little human for nine months and will be responsible for their well being for the next few decades. Don’t forget to ask for help when you need it. You will find that you don’t need to do much to give birth to your baby successfully and take care of them, even in lockdown.