The editor:
No one is prepared for pregnancy, parenthood, and most especially, no one is prepared for a worldwide pandemic.
I want to start off by expressing our excitement at becoming first-time parents. Like most first-timers, we are a combination of excitement, happiness, joy, mixed with anxiety and fear of the unknown. The unknown of parenthood, also unfortunately, includes the unknown of the current state of our country and our world.
I wanted to share a few realities of pregnancy during a pandemic. I鈥檝e attended all my appointments including ultrasounds, on my own. My husband has had to hear all information second hand. He has never heard the baby鈥檚 heartbeat, or experienced the wild and crazy moment of 鈥淗ey that鈥檚 my baby in there!鈥�
And for that I am a little sad. As a first-time mom, experiencing pregnancy and prenatal care, I have had to carry that load alone. I鈥檝e stepped outside my comfort zone and had to be pretty darn brave.
I have only seen my doctor in person twice. Once in the first trimester, I was at seven weeks, and recently during my second trimester at 19 weeks. I have only been weighed twice, blood pressure checked twice, and we鈥檝e listened to his heartbeat once. I am now over 20 weeks and halfway through my pregnancy.
Those that have experienced prenatal care, know this is not a 鈥榥ormal鈥� experience. But COVID-19 is not a normal experience. Over the phone appointments will continue into the new year.
We are all making sacrifices to help stem the spread of COVID-19 and by not putting myself in harm鈥檚 way (this can be argued I鈥檓 sure) by going to the hospital or doctor offices, I am helping to keep myself, baby and others safe. I know that other medical care has been postponed, including cancer treatments, surgeries, and other in-patient or hospital care, due to COVID-19.
Our families are from Ontario and as a result, have not been able to see the growing baby belly or experience the joy of becoming grandparents. We are unsure what the spring looks like or what giving birth during a pandemic will look like, but I continue to hope that my husband will be able to take part in our child鈥檚 arrival.
We know that many have experienced their own challenges and difficulties during the pandemic and no one has been left untouched by the impacts of COVID-19, but that I ask you to be inspired by our story and to continue to work together and do our (your) part, so that for those that need the care, can continue to be looked after.
Happy Holidays, Estevan, and stay safe.
听
Sarah Dobos,
Estevan
听
