Giving birth during coronavirus outbreak
Expecting mothers in the Valencia region tell us of their preparations and fears
INFECTED with COVID-19, separated from your baby, and isolated from loved ones. This is the nightmare scenario many pregnant women fear while waiting to give birth during the coronavirus outbreak. as reported in Costa Blanca News this week.
We spoke to two women preparing for what should be a happy event during these uncertain times.
Inma Pons, a secondary teacher and counsellor from Valencia,was due to have a cesarean section last week and was understandably concerned. Unlike in her two previous cesareans, her husband will not be able to accompany her into theatre in the Casa de la Salud hospital.
She explained: “Yes, I am afraid. A cesarean is something to be taken seriously under normal circumstances, so even more so knowing there is coronavirus around.
“I have pregnant friends, for example one gave birth recently and everything was fine. In her case it was a natural birth and she went home earlier. But there is a general fear mainly about catching the virus and that when you give birth, they separate you from your baby and you can’t be with him. That would be a horrible situation; infected with coronavirus, separated from your baby, as well as isolated from loved ones.
“There are strict measures. I’ll have to wear gloves and a mask during the birth and my husband won’t be able to come with me into surgery, something which is causing me a lot of anxiety, because it’s not the same going into surgery alone as being accompanied by your partner. Once in the room there won’t be anyone else except my husband and my baby with me and of course no visitors are allowed. Also, instead of the usual 3-4 days in hospital for a cesarean it will be 48 hours, the less time spent in hospital the better.
“I would have liked it if one hospital had been set aside to deal with non-coronavirus cases, especially births, pediatric appointments and people in higher risk categories.”
Meanwhile the rest of the family have to stay away. Inma said: “My children will stay with my sister and about that I’m quite relaxed as I know they’ll be well cared for, although I’m sad that they’ll miss the birth of their baby brother. It’s also a shame for the rest of my family because they’ll meet their new nephew/grandson by videocall, and I think that will be very sad”
Mother-of-two María Amparo Cervera is due to give birth around May 14 and has been staying at home, following government advice, not even going out for food.
Hers is a normal pregnancy apart from the normal aches and pains of the third trimester and expected to be a natural birth.
The 30-year-old businesswoman from La Pobla de Vallbona explained that while she’s not afraid of the coronavirus itself particularly, she fears more the limitations and the consequences that it may bring.
Although she’s now assured of having her husband with her during the birth, she is worried. They will be confined to their room during the entire hospital stay and during the labour itself she’ll have to wear a face mask.
She said: “I’m also afraid that there won’t be enough qualified health workers to look after me because they’re infected.”
Amparo is due to give birth at Manises Hospital but has not even considered changing that for a home birth. She said: “If this turns into the Walking Dead, I’ll stay at home rather than go to my death, but I prefer a hospital.
“My midwife told me that they are perfectly prepared for births and that it will be like two hospitals in one, that is, one part for people who are not infected and normal things; you can still have a heart attack, still be run over by a car and give birth. And the other part for coronavirus patients.”
She continued: “They’ve cancelled all my checkups except the one I have on May 6 which is absolutely essential as it’s the last one just before the birth. They have to see if the baby’s weight is ok, if he’s in position.
“Last time I went to the hospital there was nobody, not a soul. But now it looks like a war zone, they’ve put up giant white tents, I’ve never seen anything like it.
As for preparation for the baby Amparo said: “I haven’t managed to buy everything I need. I’m trying to do it online and it’s very difficult, there’s overdemand. If anyone goes out shopping, they buy me a few things, like yesterday my mother got me some nappies, baby cologne, soaps those sorts of things.”
catherine@catherinedolan.net