The effect of COVID on pregnancy & prenatal visits
Pregnancy over the past few decades is increasingly a ‘couple’ event. Both mother and father to be are involved in perinatal visits from the very beginning. However, COVID has created a seismic shift in how parents choose to be involved in the leadup to birth.
Fifty years ago, fathers were rarely involved in the pregnancy. Rather, the role of fathers was to provide financial support for the family. Pregnancy and prenatal visits were left to the mother. Since the 80’s, fathers have become more involved in the birth of children, mirroring societal shifts from provider to shared care of young ones.
COVID has heralded a shift in hospital policy around pregnancy internationally. Hospitals have insisted on perinatal visits involving the midwife/nurse/doctor and the expectant mother, exclusively. This has meant that fathers are largely excluded from this important time.
COVID has sent pregnancy and child birth back in time to an era when only mothers were involved in the pregnancy and perinatal visits. Fathers arrive just in time to receive their new born babies.
This is being reported in other parts of the world, not only Australia. However, we are yet to understand the implications for mothers, fathers and indeed, infants’ growth trajectories. Anecdotal evidence suggests increased maternal stress, in the absence of partner support. This is especially true for the prenatal period. A time that can often feature emotional upheaval especially around scanning and growth milestones.
We might also expect for fathers to be less prepared for the reality of new life, than if they had been involved in each step prior to birth.
Finally, there is evidence to suggest that maternal and paternal stress during the perinatal period can have consequences for the mental health and stress responses of young children.
Recommendations for pregnancy during COVID
Given that COVID is not going anywhere soon, it is important that we acknowledge these inevitable changes to pregnancy and child birth. Wherever possible, mothers and fathers need to jointly insist on their mutual attendance at each and every visit, especially when these occur via telehealth consultation.
I’d encourage all expecting parents to build a relationship with their obstetrician/midwife, to ensure that contact continues between formal appointments. Couples should discuss and develop questions along their journey together that can be directed to their carer whenever the need arises.
let your partner know about the details of each visit. Get them to the foetal heartbeat through your tummy, show them scans and other relevant information. I have written elsewhere about the importance of well developed birthplan. Co-author this plan with both partners in mind, and ensure that both of you have an equal say.
We cannot allow several decades of increasingly shared involvement by both parents to be erased.
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