Check in with your pregnant friends.
Because the weight of the coronavirus pandemic isn't what they thought they'd be carrying. And it's doing its darndest to prevent joy.
Pregnant women are trying to manage fear over serious health concerns that didn't exist just a couple weeks ago.
Along with their hormones, the world has gone wild.
They aren't sure what this new and mysterious health threat means for them—or their babies.
Information on how coronavirus might impact pregnancy, unborn babies, and infants remains limited. One news story says they are among the most vulnerable, while another says they are no more vulnerable than the general population.
So what, and who, are pregnant women to believe?
They know that pregnancy causes changes to the immune system, and they fear this places them at a higher risk than we have yet to discover.
They aren't sure just how dangerous the coronavirus might be for their babies, but they fear the worst because when it comes to their children, that's what mothers do.
They worry they'll have to give birth without their support people due to restrictions that hospitals are putting into place.
They wonder if hospitals will even have room for them, or if it's even safe to go there.
They are disappointed that family members may not be able to visit them after they give birth.
They don't know if they'll be able to get diapers or formula when needed.
What if their babies get sick? Will the necessary care be available? What do they make of bringing a baby into the world amidst a health crisis?
They don't know if they'll have access to needed support after their babies are born due to social distancing and the inability to participate in normal social interactions.
Will their mothers or sisters or grandmothers be able to come help after their babies arrive?
Will their babies be okay?
Suddenly, a virus is threatening the entire world.
Suddenly, pregnancy doesn't look as it should.
Suddenly, anxiety has grabbed ahold of these mamas.
And they don't know what to expect while they're expecting.
Let's keep reaching out to the elderly and immunocompromised. Let's keep taking care of each other as best we can. Let's keep praying.
But let's reach out to our pregnant friends too, because they are worried about their babies.
Let's pray for their health and peace of mind. Let's pray that their needs are met, physically and emotionally. Let's pray that joy finds them.
And let's pray for their babies.
This post originally appeared here. Be sure to follow Jenny on Facebook for more on her incomplete and imperfect family.
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