Pregnancy During a Pandemic

The test stirp shows a positive result. I'm pregnant. That makes more sense on why I have been feeling this way now. Excited, nervous, happy, scared. Scared, why am I scared? Things in the world are changing and not in a good way. I know things are always changing some for the good and some for the bad. Finding out I'm pregnant at this time in life is not ideal.

Global Pandemic is all over the news and social media. COVID 19 is a virus that spreads though contact and is spreading across the globe. Starting in China and making its way across the world. At first it slowly made its way to the United States and slowly across the country. Everyone thought nothing of it in the beginning. I was one of them.

It seemed like it was something you see in a movie. Not as dramatic but still movie like. It was and still is all over the news everyday. All news channels and all over social media. Cases being reported closer to home. My city reported it with cases starting out in the double digits. Then over a short amount of time it grew.

Shortly before all of it started to reach the United States my family and I planned on moving to our new place. Our attention wasn't on the news we had enough to worry about on our plates. The stress of leaving our old place and moving to our new place. Packing and moving boxes and furniture is always a pain no matter what the circumstances are. Just a part of life.

So here we are at our new place a family of four and my parents. It was a big relief on our shoulders. My husband and kids, my parents and I relaxing finally after the move. Slowly making the new place feel like home. I have been feeling tired lately. Maybe it was just the stress that lead up to the move, the move it self or I was just lazy. I just left it at that. I chuckled to myself thinking I was just lazy. Little did I know I was carrying a baby in me.

After the first week in our new place things were wonderful. Enjoying the time with my family. My husband pretty much working very close to home. He works on property. The kids loved going outside to the courtyard right outside out apartment. Our son starting his new school then the following week spring break. It was going great. Then the news started getting my attention more. With the COVID 19 spreading more and numbers of cases growing the school districts closing for a couple of weeks. Extending my sons spring break. Felt like it was a good choice considering the states need to try to help slow the spread of the virus.

Thinking it was a temporary thing was something we all should have not done. Closures were happening all over the state now and in other states as well. Ok now things were getting more serious. Still kept our heads up and continued to watch the news. Is this really happening?

Over the first month of living in our new place my son started his new school for a week then went on spring break then was told his school was closed for the next few weeks. Shortly after that business were told to close unless the were considered essential. The way of life as we know it was going to be something we didn't expect. Luckily my husband was considered an essential worker along with my mom. They both were safe for working still.

The news continued to give us daily updates of more bad news. More closures following guidelines for people to follow to protect themselves from the virus. Social distancing, washing hand frequently, don't touch your face so much, 6ft rule. I felt weird but just thought it was things happening in the world and close to home. Things we never would think would happen to us.

My thoughts started to run wild in my head. With the way I have been feeling and slowly noticing that some of my pants are starting to feel a little tight I started to think I might be pregnant. Could I be? I talked to my husband about it and we agreed to get a test and find out. If I'm not then I better watch what I eat. If I am...well that's where the fear comes in. Not just about being pregnant, but being pregnant with all this virus talk going around.

It's a Friday, the kiddos are getting ready for dinner and my husband just got off of work. He takes the car to buy a test. We eat dinner and afterwards I take the test. Knowing whatever the results I'm taking another test in a few days again but in the morning. I leave the test in the bathroom and let my husband see the results first. Positive. Excitement and a little bit of nervousness from me. He is excited but we wait till the next test in a couple days.

A few days later I take the test and I see the results...positive. Very excited but deep down I'm scared. Just the day before the state issued more closures including clinics. Any and all clinics are closed. Hospitals are the only thing open. Doctors are involved with patients infected with COVID 19. All other patients are not being looked at unless life and death situation. OB/GYNs are closed. How do I go about getting confirmation of my pregnancy for my insurance? How do I get started with my prenatal care if clinics are closed and not accepting any patients? What do I do?

For the next week I make calls all over the place. No one is seeing any patients. The news is sending out more bad news in regards to COVID 19. Schools are still closed for another month. Places are starting to limit how many people they are letting in to shop. Hand sanitizer, paper towels, toilet paper, and in some stores meats are had to find or just don't even exist anymore. People are starting to horde these items or they are just overwhelmed with customers that the stores are running out.

My mind continues to race and I'm stressing. How far along am I? When will I get an appointment? Is the baby ok? Was that a kick? A kick. I can feel a kick. I passed it off as gas bubbles, but now that I know I'm pregnant now I know that was a kick. Google searches all on my phone. "How far a long can you be pregnant before you can feel the baby kick?" "How far along can you be pregnant before you start showing?"

I look in the mirror and really look at myself I'm not just gaining weight. This is pregnancy weight. How far along am I? You can tell I'm pregnant. It's been a few weeks since I have taken the test. I bring these thoughts to my husbands attention. We just don't know. Hoping I'm not that far along. Maybe we still have months to go. Maybe I'm just stressing too much I need to relax.

Schools are closed for the rest of the year. Online schooling has been started and I haven't left the house in a month now. Since we found out my husband and I agree it wasn't safe for my or the kids to leave the house with the virus still spreading. Cases in the hundreds now. The counties around us have cases in the thousands. The safety and health for my family and unborn child is all I can think of.

Deaths are being reported along with some recoveries. Still confirmed cases of COVID 19 are still climbing not just in my stated but across the world. People wear masks when going out to the store. People are showing no regard for their health or the health of others. They are living their life like nothing is happening. Protests and people are getting angry. So many without jobs. So many risking their lives to take that step in being essential workers. So many taking the risk of their lives to still go out and do whatever they want with no regard for public safety.

When it comes to grocery shopping we do curbside pick up. Trying to reduce the risk of being exposed to other people. Luckily my dad has taken that risk for us to go and pick it up for us. If there is things we need to actually go and find ourselves my parents take that risk and go to the stores. Protected by masks and hand sanitizer they go and get it. It's crazy to think we have to do this.

Finally a little bit of good news. 5 weeks have passed since I have first took my pregnancy test. Some restrictions are being loosened meaning some clinics are starting to open back up along with other places. But my main concern is the clinics. I could care less about restaurants or malls.

My phone calls start back up. A glimmer of hope is on the horizon. One clinic that is free is open. I call with fingers crossed, they are doing virtual appointments for now with the promise of the next week having in office appointments. I set up my virtual appointment with the hope of an in office visit close behind so I can send in what I need to prove my pregnancy to get my insurance. Virtual appointment went well. All is looking good...for now.

They give me numbers to call to get an in office visit. The run around is all I get. No one will see me if I don't have insurance. I can't get insurance if I don't have proof I'm pregnant. Running in circles with no progress. I still have no clue as to how far along I am. I am definitely showing now. I can feel the baby kicking and my husband can also feel. More google searches. My mind is steadily racing day in and day out. Trouble sleeping now. Hips hurting.

My husband tells me to try not to stress things will get better soon. My parents try to tell me the same. Things will get better just focus on eating right and staying hydrated. Nurses that I have spoken to have told me the same and to keep track of kick counts. If I have an emergency to go to the ER. I am getting the feeling of being overwhelmed. I try to hid it. If I feel like I'm on the verge of tears I hide in the bathroom. My husband knows and he comforts me when I come out.

I try to keep calm but not knowing how far along I am or how the baby is growing is killing me inside. It's hard to not worry. It's hard to stay strong. But I try my hardest to keep my head up.

Homeschooling is kind of tough for my son since he was at his new school for only 4 days this year. He wants to do zoom with his classmates and teacher but he hardly knows them. He tries his best and his teacher is proud of how he jumped into learning with them and catching on to what they are learning compared to his other school.

The news delivers more unsettling news. Kids are getting a rare illness connected to COVID 19. Great another thing to worry about. I know it's rare but it is spreading. It already has been detected in some kids in my state.

With all of this going on we worry about our oldest son not being able to visit this summer. He lives with his mother in Washington. He is out of school also doing online learning. We talk to him on the phone and he plays online games with our other son. It's hard knowing we probably won't be able to have him this summer. We only get him for the summer. I know my husband is sad about it and he tries to hide it.

We all have our own worries about this COVID 19. It has effected so much that we have taken for granted. Simple things like going to the store, going to the movies, going to the park. Life has changed a lot.

With all the changes we have seen some things stay the same. Some people have no regards for anyone else. They just don't care. Too much nonsense in the world even with a global pandemic going on.

Even with all this going on I still worry about an appointment. Finally another ray of hope. I finally reach a clinic that will see me in person. The only problem is that I have to pay out of pocket. It will have to do in order to get the proof I need to get my insurance moving along. I set the appointment.

Nervous but excited about going to my appointment since finding out I'm pregnant. I have a mask I need to wear when I go in. I can't have anyone with me. They will check my temperature before I am allowed in.

The day comes I'm off to my appointment. Just like expected they check my temperature and make sure I'm wearing my mask, once I'm cleared they allow me in. The office has patients in the waiting room. Chairs are placed 6 feet apart. Markers are placed on the floor in front of the receptionist desk to help with social distancing. Everyone is wearing a mask. Behind me by the entrance doors you can hear one of the nurses, that check the temps, tell one of the ladies walking in they can't come in unless they have a mask. The lady gets upset and leaves but comes back shortly with a mask. I can't help think to myself why she would not want to wear one. But I guess not everyone thinks like me.

Finally get called back for the usual vitals check and the pee in the cup. All normal and routine. Now in the room waiting for my doctor. A short wait then he comes in with a nurse and we talk about what I have been feeling and what he will prescribe me. Then he tells me that I will have the sonogram and depending on how far a long I am they will be able to tell me what I will be having and when I'm due.

Waiting for the sonogram tech to call me in my mind is starting to rest a bit. Just glad I'm here finally after a long 6 weeks. First time getting the sonogram done and it hits me I'm alone in here. My husband won't be able to see and hear the heartbeat for the first time. I can't record so I can share with him when he gets off of work that night. The tech turns the monitor on and there my baby is, the heartbeat is so strong, my heart fills with pure love and I can feel tears welling up in my eyes.

I ask if it is possible to see the sex of my baby and if they can to please write it down. I don't want to know till I can share with my husband. They agree and get an envelope ready. I am just so relieved to see the baby is strong and growing. The sonogram tech does the measurements and reveals some very shocking news to me. I am, at the time of the sonogram, 33 weeks 6 days along. With a due date of June 23, 2020. I was in shock I thought he said 23 weeks and he corrected me and said 33 weeks. I could not believe I have gone this far without knowing I was pregnant. Well if I would have been able to go back when I first found out I would have been 27 weeks. But at that still I can't believe I didn't know. But they reassured me that it does happen.

I felt a little bad that it took me so long to even think I was pregnant. But in the end it does happen and I stopped feeling bad. I just had to keep looking forward. I was happy that once I first took that test my husband went to get me some prenatal pills to take to get started on my prenatal care. Once I was done with the sonogram I went back to the waiting room to see if I was going to have any blood work done and the rest of my prenatal care started now that they know how far along I am.

While I'm in the waiting room I update my husband at work how my appointment is going so far and send a picture of the sonogram. He calls me and askes how far along I am. I tell him 33 weeks and 6 days with a due date of June 23, 2020. His response is hilarious. I had to turn the volume down on my phone cause I was getting funny looks. "How can that be?!? You're due next month! I was expecting at least a few more months." I couldn't help but laugh a little. It really was a little funny. After talking with him for a few minutes and reassuring him that it is correct we hung up and the nurse called me in. I was expecting to have my blood work done but that was not the case.

They told me that since I was so far along they could not take me as a patient and they classified me as "high risk pregnancy". They told me I can take a paper stating I'm high risk to another clinic that has a specialist to take me on as a patient. To me it made no sense to turn me away since I'm "high risk". So I just took the paper and left. Upset at the fact that they turned me away.

Stress was rising again cause now I had to find a doctor that would accept me as a high risk pregnancy. But now that I have my proof of pregnancy I can get my insurance moving along. Still that is gonna take awhile. So I look online for OB/GYNs in my area that accept my insurance. Calls are made with no luck.

Too late into my pregnancy to be seen? How is that possible? I was told I'm considered high risk, why wouldn't I get seen if that was the case? It just doesn't make any sense.

Some doctors are limited on how many new patients they can take in. Others tell me they will call me back within a week to see if they will accept my insurance. Even though their website says they accept it I don't see why they have to get it approved first. Not sure if this is all related to the COVID 19 pandemic or if it has always been like this. Either way it is a stressful time.

For the next couple weeks I still have been searching near and far to see what clinic and OB/GYN will see me. Dead ends is all I run into. My belly is getting bigger and baby is really moving and causing pain. Having SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) is not fun. Not serious but still painful most days. Hopefully once I have the baby it will all go away. Till then I just deal with it and the try not to stress over this whole mess of a situation.

Now as I type this I still have yet to have any type of appointment set up. Still waiting on doctors to call me back with some sort of good news. I steadily call every day to make sure I'm not pushed off to the side. The waiting game is not fun. As of today I am 36 weeks 2 days into my pregnancy. June 23, 2020 is coming quickly.

At least I am pre-registered for delivery at two different hospitals near me. At least that is taken care of if it comes to the day when I go into labor I am registered. Now the only thing I really worry about is how will it be when I go in.

Will I have my husband with me in the room? Will I have to wear a mask while delivering? Will I be tested for COVID 19? I have heard many different stories from different women from different parts of the country and some from different parts of the world. These women have recently given birth with in the last two weeks. Some women were completely alone...no one was allowed in with them. Some had to wear a mask during delivery. Some were tested before having the baby. Some were sent home same day after giving birth.

I'm so worried about how the situation will be when the time comes. Things may change by the time my delivery day comes. Hopefully for the better. I don't want to do this completely alone. Not in this pandemic. For now we just count down the days. No baby shower, no visits from family or to visit family. Just home till all of this passes over. So now all I'm doing as I finish this up is thank the gods for blessing I was given and the strength to make it through all of this with the support of my husband and family.

Once I have the baby and is safely back home I will continue with the next part. Till then stay safe everyone. We will get through this.