Write a Letter to your friend inquiring about her health and her family in this period of coranavirus
Answers
Explanation:
Even with concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, women the world over are continuing to give birth during this time, safely and with the support of their partners and their care teams.
Today’s delivery rooms are models of cleanliness and safety. Numerous protocols for preventing contamination not only minimize the risk of infection but also help to ensure every birth is as joyful and meaningful as ever. Here are commonly asked questions about giving birth during this unprecedented time.
HOW HAVE PRENATAL VISITS CHANGED?
For a busy obstetrical practice seeking to minimize the risk of infection, limiting the number of people coming and going makes good sense. Most practices now limit the number of in-person visits for prenatal care.
For a low-risk pregnancy, a minimum of four essential points of care require an in-person visit:
An initial visit to confirm the pregnancy and order lab tests
An ultrasound after 20 weeks to determine the baby’s size, rate of growth, and anatomy
A diabetes screening and any necessary vaccinations, usually around 28 weeks
A visit at 36 weeks to test for strep and confirm the baby is not in breech position.
High-risk pregnancies may require additional in-person visits to ensure the health of baby and mother. Aside from the actual delivery, most medical offices require the mother to come alone to her appointment.
IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL VISIT?
Your doctor can best determine how many in-person visits you will need, and will likely instruct you on setting up a telemedicine visit—virtual prenatal visits that allow the OB to remotely keep tabs on your pregnancy. She may monitor your sleep and nutrition habits, ask questions about the baby’s movements, answer any questions, and more.
Virtual visits require access to a device that provides face-to-face communication (video chat), a stable internet connection, and a degree of technological savvy. Some patients with no internet connection or who share their devices or connections with others in their household can’t rely on this method. While some communities provide such services to those who need them, some women may simply need to come in for all their prenatal appointments, though the number may be reduced.
IS IN-HOME MONITORING AN OPTION?
Some pregnant women prefer taking a more active role in their prenatal care. Using in-home medical devices, they take their own blood pressure, listen to their baby’s heartbeat, or test their blood sugar—all tests that would normally take place during in-person prenatal visits. These practices may require the purchase of special equipment and data must be carefully collected, recorded, and reported to the doctor in a timely manner. Not all obstetricians are onboard with this approach, so be sure to have a conversation with your doctor before you buy any equipment.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOCTOR
The uppermost question in the minds of most expectant mothers is what to do if you become ill with COVID-19. If you have a fever or cough, or if believe you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, call your OB-GYN or primary care provider for advice. If you experience any emergency symptoms, such as sudden confusion or shortness of breath, call 911 or seek urgent care right away.
All other questions about keeping yourself and your unborn baby safe and healthy throughout your pregnancy and delivery should be directed to your obstetrical care team. Your doctor is the best person to evaluate you for potential exposure or symptoms, and to determine the need for testing, whether for the virus or any other complication.
Other questions you might want to ask your doctor during a prenatal visit, whether in-person or virtual, include:
Can I pass the virus to my unborn child?
If I get sick with COVID-19, can I still breastfeed?
What should I do to avoid exposure to COVID-19 at my job?
Should my partner and I decline all social invitations or avoid travel?
Should I be tested if I only suspect I’ve been exposed to the virus?
The comprehensive knowledge base about COVID-19 continues to expand as the health care profession quickly learns new lessons about how to manage the virus. Your doctor can reassure you with facts and guidance that should lower your anxiety and the undesirable stress it can provoke. If you are following general good-health guidelines, practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing, and always wearing a mask when among people who don’t live with you, you are providing your baby with the very best prenatal care that you can.
WORKS CITED
Brewster, Ariel. “This is how prenatal care is changing because of coronavirus—and possibly staying that way.”Today’s Parent. May 22, 2020.