Monday January 13th, 2020 was the day that everything changed. The extended absence of my monthly visitor led me to believe that it was more than just stress this time around. Sure enough, the test displayed that little positive sign. Being that this is my first pregnancy I was initially overwhelmed with feelings of shock, fear, and a while later, excitement.
After an extremely painful and scary battle between feelings and choices the choice was made to go through with everything. After ending up at my obstetrician’s office for an emergency ultrasound due to some unwanted bleeding, I heard his heartbeat for the first time. 121 bpm. Overwhelmed once again by those same feelings of shock, fear, and excitement, everything became so real.
Once most of our feelings turned to excitement, we began to look forward to all the things that you hear parents-to-be talk about. Pregnancy photoshoots, gender reveal parties, baby showers, and having your closest ones by your side when your little person enters the world. By the end of January, the situation around COVID-19 was intensifying around the world and starting to become an issue in America, but we never really thought that small town America here in Montana would be affected. By the end of March Montanans were ordered to stay home. By this point it was up in the air whether we could count on being able to partake in all the pregnancy events.
Slowly the news came that only I could attend my pre-natal appointments. Photoshoots became out of the question as people, including ourselves, were not willing to risk any potential exposure. Our gender reveal party consisted of my boyfriend and I. Our baby shower has been moved to an online platform considering recent case spikes and health concerns. As of this point it is looking like the only person allowed in the delivery room with me will one support person.
Pregnancy has been nothing like I had thought or hoped it would be. While I realize that not all aspects of pregnancy can be planned, as things can change at a moment’s notice, I think that the hardest part of my experience has been having no idea what is coming next. The stress and anxiety that comes with not having answers to my questions and those of family has been astronomical.
If I could offer one piece of advice to those in the same boat as me, it would be to stay calm and only focus on what we have control over. On the other side, if I could offer words of advice to those who have a supporting role in a pregnancy right now it would be to make the extra effort. Times are tough during pregnancy as it is. The immense unknown and isolation in today’s world for pregnant women makes it even worse. Don’t forget to check up on us a little more. Don’t forget to ask how WE are doing. While it is important to ask how baby is, it is also so very important to make sure that mama is doing good where she is at.
Stay safe and healthy!
Intuitive Health & Living 