Pandemic Pregnancy: COVID-19 Stress on Pregnant Women and New Mothers

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Jennifer C. Ablow of the University of Oregon and Elinor Sullivan of the University of Oregon Health and Science

(Conversation) Pregnancy can be stressful to say the least, but COVID-19 presents new challenges for newborn parents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified pregnant women as a vulnerable population. When infected, you are more likely to be hospitalized, require ventilation, and increase your risk of preterm birth.

Economists predict that a pandemic could reduce the birth of at least 500,000 people in the United States. Decide not to get pregnant during a pandemic, one of five countries worldwide and the only country that does not require paid maternity leave for non-federal employees, classified as high income by the World Bank I understand that workers.

As a scholar studying prenatal and postnatal stress, maternal nutrition, and childhood brain development, we find that pandemics have dramatically changed the experience of pregnancy.

We are part of an international study to understand how women who are expecting or have given birth are affected by pandemic-related stress. It turns out that the mother is worried about catching the virus, infecting the newborn and keeping the child safe in infancy. And this stress is already on top of the high stress load for pregnant women and new mothers.

risk

COVID-19-positive pregnancies are associated with placental abnormalities. These abnormalities can affect the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. The long-term effects of the virus on developing children are still unknown.

However, it seems unlikely that a developing fetus will get COVID-19 from an infected mother. COVID-19 requires a receptor molecule to cause infection. Recent studies suggest that the placenta contains very low levels of the molecules needed to make receptors. This finding may explain why the virus is rarely found in newborns of COVID-19-positive mothers.

However, there are other concerns, such as the impact of stress on the maternal mother.

Humans face stress every day. The physiological response to stress is well known. It leads to the release of hormones, especially cortisol, into the bloodstream. You need stress even during pregnancy. During a typical pregnancy, maternal cortisol increases 2- to 4-fold. It is normal and important for the development of fetal organ systems such as the lungs, liver and central nervous system.

However, people react differently to the same stressful situation for many reasons. Young age, racial and ethnic disparities, poor education, poor preparation for pregnancy, and traumatic history are several factors that can exacerbate the effects of stress. Appropriate stress-bearing social support, access to support resources, and financial stability are needed.

Otherwise, continuous exposure to great stress leads to relentless activation of the stress response. Chronic or toxic stress in pregnant women is associated with comorbidities such as gestational diabetes, fetal stunting, low birth weight, neurodevelopmental disorders, and preeclampsia (hypertension).

Lack of control and information exacerbates stress. How much stress is added to the stress levels of pregnant women and new mothers, such as not knowing how long the stress will last.

Birth itself

The hospitalization experience of pregnant couples is now very different. There is a water bath. The hospital is also walking around. At most facilities, only one support person can attend during childbirth. If any parent tests positive for COVID-19 during hospitalization, they are afraid to leave the baby. These things are often more stressful.

There are still risks when the family returns home. Infants can get sick from infected parents. Children with COVID-19 are generally less ill than adults, with the exception of infants. Due to their immature respiratory and immune system, they are at increased risk of illness compared to older children.

In the face of this possibility, infant parents are advised to be socially isolated. While this has several benefits, isolation reduces access to childcare and other types of social support when most needed.

COPE survey

Follow women who are expecting or have given birth during a pandemic to understand how they are affected by pandemic-related stress as part of a study of COVID-19 and perinatal experience. doing. The first review of data from more than 500 Oregon women reveals that they are quite stressed. Reported levels of depression and anxiety cause anxiety.

About 75% say that pandemics have a major impact on their daily lives. Stress tells us that it is due to social isolation, loneliness, changes in hospital procedures, concerns about postnatal care, and lack of social support due to the need for quarantine.

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Good news: You can reduce prenatal stress during a pandemic. A strong social support network is important. When new parents are exhausted and vulnerable to postpartum depression, they need friends and family. COVID-19 makes face-to-face support difficult, but technologies like Facetime and Zoom can be connectors, if not impossible. Prenatal care for online groups is another possibility. The same is true for relaxation and mindfulness techniques. A healthy diet, good sleep, and exercise can also help.

Why these women need more help than ever before

Community healthcare professionals with pregnant clients can reduce stress by ensuring that their basic needs are met. It’s not just food, housing and insurance anymore. The additional needs that were once considered like Internet services are now essential.

Unfortunately, apart from the Internet, federal programs that support access to food, housing, and insurance vary widely from state to state. Without a unified federal obligation, social health inequalities will widen further.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) offers 12 weeks of work protection leave. However, this is unpaid and only applies if you work for a company with more than 50 employees. Many families, especially single mothers, reject this offer. They need income. Parental leave is associated with healthier babies. As they grow, they bring better long-term results. Investing in parental leave saves money in the long run.

Restructuring national policies to meet basic needs will help reduce the challenges faced by this poorly serviced group. Without that support, stress from COVID-19 can have long-term, multigenerational effects on pregnant couples and their children.

This article was republished from Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/pregnancy-during-a-pandemic-the-stress-of-covid-19-on-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers-is-showing-142466..