Ethan Dorsett, holds up his new baby boy Nolan for the baby’s grandparents to see. Ethan was the only one allowed to be with his wife Haley at the hospital.
Giving birth during a pandemic raises the anxiety level for women for various reasons. They worry about possibly transferring the virus, if dormant, and they cannot get the support of family and friends, who during normal times would be waiting in the lobby to see the newborn.
“Never in a million years did my husband and I think we would be giving birth during a pandemic,” said Haley
Dorsett, a first-time mom who gave birth in April at Ascension Seton Hays. “It’s different than what we had ever imaged.”
Dorsett pictured a room packed with family and friends, visitors in and out celebrating her son, Nolan. Instead of
this large festivity, the Dorsetts got their own intimate celebration with mom, dad and baby. During this time, she got some moments of peace without a single word of news about the coronavirus. Her television was tuned to entertainment and no one mentioned the pandemic.
“It was one of the most amazing experiences,” Dorsett recalled. “It’s not what we would have wanted, but I think it was a blessing in disguise; we had the chance to bond with no distractions.”
Mothers are now entering hospitals with added worries. The pandemic has reshaped the way women plan their births, from designating only one person to go to the hospital with them, to some mothers choosing to give birth at home. Hospitals need to take extra precautions as well to protect their patients and staff.
Having experienced the new challenges leading up to labor, Dorsett found that everything worked out perfectly, perhaps better than she expected. She wants expecting mothers not to worry or stress too much about the coronavirus or some of the privileges that have been taken away because of it.
“I was on edge, especially in the weeks leading up to Nolan’s delivery,” explained Dorsett, who is a nurse. “I felt like I was about to have an anxiety attack when I went to work thinking he would be exposed. Then with policies changing every day, I was very fearful about being alone through it. But being in the hospital, it was a great experience.”
Somewhere in the process, it seems that the coronavirus got washed away, with only subtle reminders that somewhere outside the maternity ward, a pandemic is taking place.
Brenda Brown, Registered Nurse in the maternity ward at Ascension Seton Hays, said that everyone gets their temperature taken when they go into the maternity ward. The person walking into the room with the mom has to get their temperature taken as well and everyone in the room must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The hospital staff must also stay at a safe distance. Brown is so precautious that she tries to quarantine herself from her family and does not go grocery shopping.
The biggest worry Brown has heard from mothers is being asymptomatic for COVID-19, afraid to pass the virus on to their child. Besides that, the mothers tend to have the typical worries and questions for childbirth and aftercare. She now advises moms not to go grocery shopping to stay safe.
“It has been more challenging since being home,” Dorsett said. “Even going to the pediatrician is a very different experience. When we get to the office we have to text and do the visits in the morning. We don’t see anyone but the nurse and provider. It’s fine to me now, but we are adapting to the situation and realizing we need to stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread.”
The Dorsett family has been doing their share to protect Nolan from the virus. They have paid special attention to hand washing and proper hygiene, intensely cleaning the house and taking all the proper precautions. Dorsett said she feels like a mama bear protecting her cub, ensuring the safest environment for her baby.
Similar to the hospital, the Dorsett family screens people going to their home for a visit. The Dorsetts have accepted a few visitors and most of the time it’s Nolan’s grandparents who do not visit often.
The first time they met him was through the hospital’s glass window, where they stood outside and held a sign just to get a glimpse. They jokingly said that had the maternity ward been on the second floor, they would have brought a ladder to see their grandchild.
Technology has been a key player in helping parents share their precious moments with friends and family. Brown said she takes photos for parents, so they can remember the moments and pass them on.
The nurses taking care of Dorsett also took photos every step of the way. Not experiencing the process felt heartbreaking to Nolan’s grandparents, so the Dorsetts messaged them photos every step of the way, from preparation to skin-to-skin contact. They even use video chats to show Nolan to their friends and family.
Dorsett felt tranquil thanks to the support and help of the nurses around her. She supports mothers’ decisions to give birth however they choose, especially in times of heightened anxiety, but she is glad she chose her route.
“I can’t brag enough about the nurses who took all the fear and anxiety away,” Dorsett said. “Everything melted away.”
