There are few, if any, aspects of our lives that have not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Certainly, every aspect of medical care has changed, including obstetrics and women’s experience of pregnancy. Glenmed Professional Healthcare Solutions looks at the changes in the experience of pregnancy – changes that are likely to stay with us for a long time.
COVID-19 Puts Additional Stress on Mothers-to-be
Pregnancy is already quite a stressful event. COVID-19 has added more anxiety. As well as the ordinary concerns that go with pregnancy, mothers-to-be now have to deal with the additional worries surrounding the possibility of COVID-19 infection. Most medical professionals around the world regard pregnant women as highly vulnerable. If infected they are more likely to be hospitalized and require ventilation. The risk of preterm birth also increases.
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What Are the Additional Risks?
Pregnant women need to be particularly careful to avoid infection because the virus presents increased risks both for them and their babies. COVID-19 has been linked to abnormalities in the placenta, for example. It has not yet been established whether the virus has any effect on the unborn fetus. At this point, due to the fact that the virus is almost never found in newborns from COVID-positive mothers, the risk to the fetus does seem minimal. However, this is an unknown quantity at this point – and the lack of knowledge creates uncertainty and anxiety.
One of the main risks for expectant moms at this time is increased stress. It is well known that stress has major physical effects on us. Faced with uncertainty and increased concern by medical caregivers, pregnant women are likely to experience more stress than usual during their term. This can be exacerbated by the periods of isolation they will have to endure during pregnancy and childbirth.
The hospital experience has changed a lot as well. Expecting couples will find themselves facing more restrictions during their time in the maternity ward. Overall, there will be a greater call for social isolation, which has its benefits, but it also separates expecting mothers from their support structures, which can also result in increased stress. The effect of this will differ from individual to individual, but the fact remains that caregivers and spouses will have to do their best to reduce stress in mothers-to-be.
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