Oh, mamas-to-be; our hearts go out to you. Amid pregnancy joy, you are pregnant in one of the most unique experiences any of us here at Overlake have experienced: the COVID-19 pandemic. You deserve to grieve all of the things that are not what you planned them to be, while also needing to prepare for what expecting during the COVID 19 pandemic means for you.
Here at our OB/GYN offices, we follow the prenatal care guidelines set by the WA State Department of Health to keep everyone as safe as possible, while still providing exceptional quality of care.
We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to maintain high-quality prenatal and postpartum care. That is the ultimate goal for all of our OB patients. Please know that you and your baby are safe with us. All of our practice’s COVID-19 protocols are designed with your health and safety in mind.
Healthcare as Usual (For the Most Part…)
To that end, it is business as usual – only a little different than you may have experienced if you’ve been pregnant in the past.
Prenatal and postpartum care is our priority
To be honest, the medical community is still watching and waiting to learn more about how coronavirus affects babies in utero. Currently, we’ve based all of our care practices on other, similar cases of flu – such as previous SARS and MERS viruses. In both cases, the viruses were not passed to the baby via the placenta, and this seems to be the case for COVID-19.
Skipping prenatal appointments due to fears around contracting coronavirus are understandable, but not advisable.
Read our post, 5 Important Benefits of Prenatal Care, and then call our office to speak to your physician or midwife about your fears so we can alleviate your concern.
Things may be more virtual
To protect you from contracting COVID, some of your prenatal appointments may be done virtually, rather than in our office. Telemedicine visits take place via phone or secure video software. They are thorough and address many of the same things that your in-person visits are designed to accomplish.
In addition to your in-person weigh-ins, routine pregnancy tests, and measuring the beautiful belly, these telemedicine visits can reduce the amount of time you spend in our office, minimizing potential exposure to COVID.
Most likely you’ll visit our office
Currently, we’re seeing the majority of our expecting patients in person, in our office, as usual. There are only a handful of things that have changed:
- You are required to wear a mask while inside our building(s)/office(s)
- You will be screened for COVID symptoms each time
- We ask that you come alone or with a single companion whenever possible. It’s best to leave other children at home if you can.
- We highly recommend using hand sanitizer and/or washing your hands when you come in, and when you come out, using the 20-second washing rule.
- Try to avoid touching your face to diminish your exposure to potential coronavirus droplets
We remain in close touch with our patients. We promise to find the safest and best way to provide you and your developing baby with the attention and care you deserve.
Take Good Care of Your Pregnant Body
While it may be tempting to reach for all of your favorite snack foods and to hunker down inside, turn that urge around and make sure the choices you are making are healthy for you and baby. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) says the best thing you can do stay physically healthy right now is to:
Eat a healthy diet
By now, you should have plenty of information from your physician or midwife about your pregnancy diet, including foods to prioritize and foods to avoid until after the baby is born. Make sure the bulk of your diet consists of lean protein, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole-grains, high-fiber, and that prenatal vitamin!
Exercise
Get outdoors and exercise at least once a day. In addition to helping you manage your pregnancy weight and maintaining overall health), exercise is an automatic stress reliever. It is proven to reduce most of the physical discomforts of pregnancy, and exercise helps you sleep better at night.
Plenty of sleep
It’s not always easy to sleep well, particularly during the third trimester, when your belly continues to grow, and you have to get up once or more per night to use the bathroom. Try to establish a healthy bedtime routine to support your circadian rhythm and use pillows and bolsters to provide a variety of healthy sleep positions.
Never hesitate to call us, (425) 454-3366, if you have any questions about your pregnancy or your concerns around expecting and delivering your baby during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Overlake OB/GYN offices are here for you 24/7.