A Checklist for Childbirth in the Age of Coronavirus

As if childbirth itself isn’t stressful enough, having a baby during the current pandemic adds more weight to a new mom’s shoulders. Both prenatal and postpartum, a new mom should be filled with excitement for their little one, not worrying about a worldwide health scare. Luckily, good preparation can alleviate many of the worst fears and make the situation less daunting for everyone. This checklist will help navigate the uncertainty and most importantly, help you prioritize what’s most important: the health of a new mom and her precious bundle of joy.  

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Stay Home

Most of us are socially distancing in stores, restaurants, etc., but it’s especially important for new moms to stay out of the public as much as possible and avoid crowds. The less exposure to others, the lower the chance is of getting the virus. This could mean swapping some in-person OB/GYN appointments to virtual ones, ordering groceries online, and scheduling some postpartum virtual check-ups for your baby. There will be plenty of time to rush around in the coming years; for now, you should focus on relaxing in comfy loungewear styles with a good book or Netflix series at home.


Prep the Baby’s Things


Prepping the baby’s room, clothing, and diapers is a fun activity that most new moms enjoy. While Covid-19 has put a damper on things like in-person baby showers and shopping trips, it’s still possible to order everything online and have it delivered. You’ll want to have extra of everything from bottles to baby wipes so that you don’t have to dash out quickly to the store because you need something. Having everything ready means you can stay inside with your baby while you heal.


Build a Virtual Support System


You might have pictured your whole family waiting in the lobby while you gave birth. Well, needless to say, Covid-19 has put a damper on hospital visitors. If you can only have your partner there with you in person, perhaps you can have your parents or siblings video call you to be there with you virtually.



Organize to have weekly calls once the baby is born, both with family and friends. When you are at home dealing with all the hormones and stress of the new baby, it can be very isolating. To combat post-partum depression and feelings of loneliness, consider joining a virtual new mom’s group online to share everything that is going on with you and your new baby.


Take Care of Your Mental Health


On that note, aim to prioritize your mental and physical health by staying active. Small daily exercises like going for a walk or doing a virtual yoga class can make a world of a difference for the health and happiness of a new mother. Meditation apps like Headspace are a great way to press the reset button on a stressful day. You can also start a journal, both to record the experiences of being a new mom and also to have a creative outlet during this challenging year.


Keep your chin up and know that while this may not look like the pregnancy you envisioned, you and your baby will be stronger because of it! Just remember how amazing you are for literally growing a tiny person inside of you -- and how happy you will be to hold them for the first time. 

Coronashelter by Tarmo Juhola

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An ambulance caravan on its way to New York to help out with the Coronavirus outbreak.

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Pandemic by Naka Isurita

Art inspired by a Coronavirus known as COVID-19.

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Coronavirus, Cold or the Flu - what's the difference?

Coronavirus known as COVID-19 has spread its tentacles all over the globe and forcing counties into lockdown. Borders are being shut and counties that had since maintained open-borders are being forced shut. COVID-19 has been classified as a pandemic and its effects are going to be felt for years to come.


In countries in Europe like Italy and Spain, the virus has created a shortfall of beds and emergency medical staff. Not everyone with symptoms can be tested as there are not many tests to go around. The same can be seen happening in the United States.


Not everyone with a flu or the common cold needs to get tested. Below we will list a few helpful tips on how to know when to take a Coronavirus test. The Flur, Cold and some allergies have common symptoms and may well be confused as one for the other. It is therefore important to firstly not panic but do a self diagnosis and determine if you need to seek immediate medical attention for the Coronavirus.


Important tips in self-diagnosis of Coronavirus.

• Cough alone might be due to pollution
• Fever with cold might just be your allergies playing-up
• Fever with cold and cough is most likely the Flu
• Fever with Cough and Breathlessness is a clear indicator of the Coronavirus
• The Flu starts with a runny nose, followed by cough and fever. If you get the flu but don’t have any travel history to places infected by COVID-19. You can wait it out.
• Mild flu-like symptoms are no cause for panic. However, if you are experiencing breathlessness and shortness of breath, accompanied by flu-like symptoms it is highly advisable to get yourself checked out immediately
• Flu-like symptoms with breathing issues and respiratory difficulties needed to be attended to with immediate effect

Please take a look at the chart below to check Coronavirus signs and symptoms.

UPDATE:

A new study coming out of Wuhan Medical Treatment Expert Group for COVID-19 now claim that out of a clinical study conducted on 204 patients during the early stages of the outbreak - many were admitted later to hospital because they had no respiratory symptoms for instead showed only digestive symptoms.This would include Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain and Loss of Appetite.According to the study some patients were not diagnosed initially because they did not displayed respiratory symptoms. It's something that needs to be considered, since the study suggests that digestive symptoms also play key part of the diagnosis of the Coronavirus.

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How does Coronavirus spread?

Similar to the Flu, The Coronavirus - known as COVID-19, is spread from person-to-person. The virus needs a host to survive and can only survive inside of a human body. There is no clear proof as to how long the virus is able to survive outside of a host.


COVID-19 spreads when droplets of bodily fluids such as mucus or saliva from an infected person comes into contact with a healthy person. When an infected individual coughs or sneezes, these droplets are dispersed into the air and land on surfaces. When a healthy person accidentally touches these tiny droplets and then rubs their eyes, nose or mouth with an infected hand, COVID-19 finds  a way into the person’s body and then things get complicated when the virus reaches the lungs.


The disease is not carried in the air, although fresh droplets from an infected person can survive for a limited amount of time in the air. It is therefore highly advisable to not touch surfaces and keep hands clear by washing with soap and water, using hand sanitizers and avoid touching of the nose, eyes and mouth.


Transmission of the disease happens from person to person, and it is therefore highly advisable to maintain social distancing. If you live in an area where people have been infected with the Coronavirus, then avoid shaking hands, stay at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from people when talking.


The incubation period of coronavirus is between 1 to 14 days. Symptoms can appear anytime between this period.


It is also advisable to maintain distance between live animals in infected areas.


How long can the Coronavirus stay outside on a host?


Right now there is no real clear answer to this question but experts believe that it can remain alive on a surface from several hours to several days. It is important therefore to keep the home clean especially in areas known to have infected cases.


The most effective way to avoid COVID-19 is to stay home. Wash your hands regularly and avoid rubbing your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands. All the virus needs is an entry point - keeping it away from the entry points into your body is the best bet.


Masks can only protect to some extent entry through a person’s mouth and nose. Eyes still provide a risk factor. Keeping the place  where you live sanitized and maintaining constant social distancing is the most effective way to avoid coming into contact with the virus.

Pandemic Art inspired by Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please click on image to expand. Image source here. Artist profile here. Looks like future mechanisms to quarantine people. 

What can people do to protect themselves and others from getting the new Coronavirus?

Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Facts

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus are a large family of diseases which can effect both humans and animals. There are actually several types of Coronaviruses known to cause respiratory illnesses. The most recent one that began in Wuhan, China. Is a Coronovirus knows as Coronovirus Disease 2019, know as COVID-19.



What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the most recently discovered Coronavirus. This infectious disease was unknown before its recent discovery in Wuhan China, during the month of December 2019.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

People with the above symptoms must immediately seek medical attention. Difficulty in breathing, aches and pains, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat and diarrhea, need to seek immediate medical attention. The symptoms might begin gradually and then develop into a full-scale-outburst. Most patients recovery fully without needing special treatment. Older people and others with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop a serial illness.

How does COVID-19 spread?

The disease can spread through small droplets from an infected person's nose or mouth, which can happen when a person coughs or exhales. When these droplets land or a surface or objects, and in turn are touched by another person, who then proceeds to touch either their eyes, nose or mouth - this leads to the spread of the disease. The disease can also spread when a person breaths in these droplets from an infected person. That's what it's advisable to stay at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who's infected.

Are people of Asian origin more prone to catching the disease?

The answer is NO - anyone coming in contact with the disease is vulnerable. COVID-19 can affect people of any race.

How do I protect myself and others from catching the Coronavirus?

Wash Hands frequently - use water, soap or a hand sanitizer (wash for at least 20 seconds.) Frequent washing will help remove the virus from your hands, which it otherwise might find a way of entering the body through the eyes, nose or mouth, through frequent touching or rubbing.

Avoid touching or rubbing your face - the entry point for the virus is through the eyes, nose and mouth.

If you need to cough or sneeze use a tissue and discard the same after use.