But now, the Coronavirus outbreak has initiated a whole load of new worries and uncertainties.
Let’s face it, a few weeks ago, not one of us could have ever anticipated the prospect that we could all end up going into lock-down and being advised by the government to self-isolate. And yet here we are - in the midst of a global pandemic that is quite literally wiping out thousands upon thousands of people.
It’s absolutely terrifying. And as a pregnant woman, I think I speak for all of those who are classed as ‘high risk’ (and not high risk, for that matter!) that this really is a very stressful & unpleasant time.
So, with all of this in mind, I thought I’d put pen to paper and share a blog post about what it’s like to be a pregnant woman during the Coronavirus outbreak. I want to remind other pregnant women that they really aren’t alone and that the utmost important thing is that we take care of ourselves and our babies more than ever.
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| 'Things Will Be Fine' |
So...
1. What is it like to be pregnant and in lockdown?
In a word? Weird.
To be honest, I try not to think about it too much & I’m using this time to really recuperate and refresh myself as best I possibly can. But yeah, it’s a strange feeling.
At this point in my pregnancy I thought I’d be planning some kind of baby shower or at least seeing my friends/family to show off my bump, but instead, I’m keeping them updated with my progress via FaceTime and the Houseparty app. My friends haven’t seen me at all since I started showing, and at this rate, they probably won’t see me until the baby has been born - which is just so bizarre.
Another thing that’s particularly odd about this time for me is that I can’t even nip into the shop for essentials. When Marc and I need to get groceries, he goes in on his own and I either wait in the car or at home. The supermarkets are obviously doing all that they can to keep people safe right now, but I’m not taking any risks, and if I can avoid physical contact with people, then that’s what I am doing.
2. What can you do to stay positive when pregnant and in lockdown?
For me, some days are better than others at the moment - which I suppose is pretty normal. I’m really doing my best to just stay optimistic right now & I’m trying not to think too far ahead as I feel that the uncertainty of not knowing how long lockdown will last for is something that could really impact how I feel. So instead, I try to fill my time with things that make me feel good & lift my mood.
Spending time with Elvis, our dog, reading and cooking are all things that I’m really enjoying right now. Also, as we’ve just moved house, I’m loving just moving things around & sourcing home inspiration from places like Pinterest and my favourite home magazines. 25 Beautiful Homes is definitely my favourite!
A few other top tips for staying positive in lockdown include:
Clean the house - I’ve heard so many people say this already, but if usually you struggle to find the time to spruce your house up, then now really is the perfect time to get things clean and tidy!
Get fit! - I’m no gym bunny, but I do love doing home workouts and I love going on nice long walks. Right now, none of us can go out as much as we would like to, but there are plenty of things we can continue to do from home! I love that there’s so much fresh content emerging on YouTube encouraging people to do home workouts. There are even some nice gentle workouts for pregnant women!
Get organised - I don’t know about you, but if the space around me isn’t organised, then I just don’t function the same. I like organisation as it helps me to think more clearly and it naturally de-clutters my mind. If your wardrobe is looking a bit messy or your kitchen cupboards are a bit all over the place, then why not set aside a couple of hours to getting everything in order? I promise you’ll feel better for it.
FaceTime friends and family - or if you haven’t already, download the Houseparty app! This app is great for engaging in conversation with multiple people at once in a group video chat. A lot of people are doing quizzes and things with their family & friends to keep things fresh and fun, which I think is lovely.
3. What is the best way to prevent contracting the coronavirus when pregnant?
If like me, you’re pregnant right now & all of this is feeling very intense, then I completely understand. The good news is, if you DO contract Covid 19, professionals are confident that your baby will be absolutely fine.
With that said, it’s essential that we are cautious and we do all that we can to protect ourselves from the virus - and prevention is actually very simple...
STAY AT HOME.
Staying at home in your own, safe, clean environment is the best thing you can do at this time. Prioritise your health by keeping yourself indoors with whomever you share your home with, washing your hands regularly and as always, maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. Eating lots of fruit and vegetables has never been more important than it is right now, as all those vitamins are vital when fighting off nasty germs!
4. What should you do if you’re pregnant and are showing Coronavirus symptoms?
If you’re pregnant and you’re displaying Coronavirus symptoms, then first and foremost, it’s absolutely imperative that you self-isolate. At the moment, professionals are confident that there is no correlation between the seriousness of Coronavirus and whether or not a person is pregnant, which is very reassuring. However, if you are deeply concerned, my advice would be to first try and speak to your midwife, or failing that, call the NHS 111 service. The only issue with this is that there are understandably a huge number of people taking advantage of this service, so you may find that you are waiting a very long time to speak to someone. If you can, it might be worth arranging a telephone appointment with your GP - I’ve had a couple of these with my doctor throughout my pregnancy.
5. What should you do if you’re feeling depressed or anxious whilst pregnant?
Depression and anxiety when pregnant is no longer a taboo subject - and why should it be? It’s completely normal. I’ve experienced frequent waves of anxiety relating to a whole bunch of different things whilst being pregnant, and of course, the Coronavirus pandemic really doesn’t help things.
Whether you’re worried about the impact of the virus or you’re experiencing more generalised anxiety or depression, the best thing to do is to speak to your GP and/or midwife. There is absolutely no shame in feeling anxious or depressed whilst pregnant, so be sure to take advantage of all the support you can get both from loved ones and professionals. Help will ALWAYS be on hand for you!
To close this blog post, I just thought I’d end things by reminding each and every one of you that you aren’t alone & that all of this is TEMPORARY. Things aren’t easy right now and not knowing what lies ahead is incredibly worrying, but together, we will get through this.
If you have any more pregnancy-related questions, whether these are on the subject of Covid-19 or not, I would love to hear from you, so please do drop me a message or comment in the box below.
If you enjoyed this pregnancy blog post, why not check out my other recent blog post 'How To Stay In Shape Whilst Pregnant'?
Until next time lovelies.
Lots of love,
Grace x
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