Pregnancy is a special time full of excitement, but for expectant mothers facing the outbreak of COVID-19, the opposite could be true. Fear, anxiety and uncertainty have now become commonplace.1
Initial studies have shown that children who were born to mothers infected with COVID-19 were born free of the virus.2 In addition to that, there were no traces of the virus in the mothers’ breast milk or amniotic fluid. However, while these studies have shown positive results, there is still a lot to be anxious about. 

Here are a number of ways to help you cope with all that stress and anxiety on your journey to motherhood:

Take a media break and unplug.
Repeatedly watching updates about the pandemic can fuel your anxiety. Limit the time you spend watching, reading or listening to the news each day. 
Instead, do something you love, whether it's cooking, reading a book or watching your favorite movies. Find the perfect balance of being informed and focusing on your mental health.

Take time to unwind
Try to focus on what you are grateful for, like your little one! You have a growing light inside of you, and one day, the world will get to share in that joy with you.

  • Try meditating, deep breathing, or gentle stretching.
  • Create a gratitude list to remind you of the things you should be thankful for.
  • Take up a new hobby or rediscover an old one.
  • Spend this time by decorating your child’s nursery room or do online workouts such as dancing and yoga.

Focus on being healthy
Health is wealth! Focus on eating a healthy and nutritious diet that can help boost your immune system against being sick.
Get enough sleep consistently, and of course, practice good hygiene.
Action is the antidote to anxiety. By following these safety precautions you are taking a step in protecting yourself and your child from being infected:

  • Frequently wash your hands for 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth and nose.
  • Avoid large crowds. Stay at home as much as possible.
  • Practice social distancing.

Connect with others
With social distancing, you can still connect to your loved ones online. Thanks to our modern technology, keeping in touch with our family and friends has been easier.
By calling and video chatting you can feel closer to your loved ones even when you're miles away. Look for online support groups and forums for pregnant women and new parents to discover more helpful tips when it comes to motherhood.

This is a difficult time for all of us, but it is during these dark moments in our life that we find new ways to shine. We will get through this. Remind yourself of what is certain, take time to re-establish a connection with the present moment, ground yourself, and most importantly, focus on nurturing your growing child.

For more information about COVID-19, you may visit this link.

 

Sources:
1 Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention. 16 April 2020. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Stress & Coping
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-str...

2 World Health Organization. 8 April 2020. Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

2World Health Organization. 18 March 2020. Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-and-pregnancy-a...