LANSING, Mich. — Months into the pandemic, many Americans are still being forced to making big changes to their lives. That includes pregnant women – who face an entirely new set of challenges. For some, it means changing their birth plan. As Amanda Brandeis learned, more expecting mothers are considering their options outside of the hospital.
Celeste Saunders is 36-weeks pregnant and she shared: “goodness. we’ve been planning this for five years!”
Last December each second of waiting, and moment spent hoping, was erased when Celeste Saunders and her husband got the news.
“wow i’m pregnant! haha!”
But Celeste never imagined she'd bring a baby into the world without her support system by her side.
“You just realize that you do need support. pregnancy does bring out a lot of emotions, it’s an emotional rollercoaster.”
She was alone for each milestone captured in these ultrasound pictures.
"It’s a big deal, the heartbeat, it’s a big deal, having to tell him what i saw.”
Her husband couldn't come to doctor's visits because of safety protocols.
“After I found out, for one my mom couldn’t possibly make it because of the risks, i wanted to make sure i did have the support.”
So celeste researched childbirth options outside of the hospital, eventually settling on a birthing center with a medically trained midwife, along with a doula for physical and emotional support.
Jennifer Cole a certified birth doula explained that “there was definitely an uptick in inquiries in the birth community, at least here in San Diego, about options outside of hospital.”
Cole will be with Celeste when she gives birth, along with her husband.
Because many hospitals are only allowing one support person, Cole’s gone virtual with many clients, facetiming them during childbirth.
Elliott Main, MD of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative shared that “like school, it's not the same as being in the classroom but it’s better than nothing at all.”
Main leads an organization created to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.
“It’s a scary time because, particularly in the beginning of the pandemic, there were so many unknowns.”
Mothers initially faced the possibility of being quarantined from their baby if they tested positive for COVID-19 – but main says they’ve learned babies are rarely infected.
“I think the important thing about COVID-19 is that we’re moving from a time of fear to a time of better understanding.”
“Every pregnancy is different, every mother is different, so it’s not a cookie-cutter answer”
Cole says she is happy that women are learning they have options, especially at a time when so much of life feels out of our control.
Celeste “having more options right now is… empowering.”
Expecting mothers can search online for doulas in their area through nonprofits like Dona International. Some cities and hospitals also offer volunteer doula support for low-income women.
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