When a baby arrives, be it planned or not, there is excitement. They are a new addition to a family and a community.
As a labor and delivery nurse, I see each arrival as unique from another. There is a great sense of relief and humility when all is well with both mother and baby and the recovery is going well.
Outside of that, is the marvel of this little human who has arrived. I always enjoy seeing the family members who came to visit the new baby. I am always in awe of the older siblings who come to meet the new member of the family. The grandparents come to see another generation begin. I was blessed to have my family visit when I had a baby, and it was something I looked forward to with the birth of each of my children.
Fast forward to the year 2020, and COVID-19. The pandemic has changed a lot of things in our labor and delivery unit. Laboring mothers can only bring one support person with them when preparing to deliver their baby or babies. It could be their spouse, partner, mother, sister, or friend. But even that support person cannot be in the age range that is most at risk for contracting COVID-19. A mother must choose carefully who she will bring to her labor environment. After the baby comes, there are no visitors allowed. The unit I work on has been so quiet since this change was put in practice. The traffic of visitors is absent and at times, the father or partner is there for the birth and has to return home to be with other younger children. With this, new mothers have at times ended up being alone in the hospital. Some love the quiet time with their newborns; others miss their partners and the alone time as a couple, bonding with the baby together.
There are times when things do not go as planned. A baby is born and has trouble breathing, or needs extra support. In some instances, the baby has had to be transferred to the NICU. This creates a separation between mother and baby and during the pandemic, as extra measures for safety have to be in place. The parents may not be able to be with their baby for a while in the NICU.
As a labor and delivery nurse, when caring for our patients and their families, we are wearing masks and eye protection the entire time we are on the unit. I know this is necessary during this time, but also find it very impersonal. Will our patients remember us after they leave? When I had my babies, I remembered each nurse that took care of me. Some of them I still stay in touch with to this day.
I like to relate to my patients personally, so not being able to smile back or communicate more with an expression has been a challenge. I miss sharing smiles and hearty laughs with my coworkers, without masks. But during this time, wearing protective gear is a small sacrifice we have to make, to ensure our safety and that of those we take care of.
When I discharge a new mother from the hospital, making sure that they have the support they need is very important. When social distancing was being strictly enforced, I needed to make sure my patient was being assessed for postpartum depression. The risks of depression can be heightened right now with all the changes, fear, unknowns, and isolation from family and friends. I make sure to remind her partner or close family to remain attuned to her mood and emotions. Postpartum depression can creep up quietly and quickly, putting the new mother and her new baby at risk.
I love my job and I hope most things return to what used to be normal, but not everything. There is a new appreciation for trying to go the extra mile to help mothers and their families feel extra special and cared for during these uncertain times, as they welcome a new life into the world, and I hope that continues. A baby’s birth remains a miracle, even during a pandemic.
