A message on Black Maternal Health Week: How I’m handling my second COVID Pregnancy

I gave birth to my first daughter at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in June of 2020. Halfway through my pregnancy stay at home orders came down, leaving so many families – including my own – dealing with uncertainty when it came to their birth plans. Some had to switch to home birth, while earlier on, some gave birth alone. It was a rough time for many, especially Black women navigating the healthcare system. For my family, that meant we wouldn’t have autonomy with the providers we saw. This was troubling as there are multiple factors that impact the birth experience of Black women, such as implicit bias and structural racism and that is before throwing a global pandemic into the mix. Having no autonomy and being separated from the medical team who knew us and loved us drastically changed our experience in tangible ways. Emotionally exhausted from attending appointments without my spouse, worn from having to experience unkind and overworked providers, and looking forward to giving birth without my doula being present, we opted for a scheduled C-section. You can read about the experiences that followed that here: Florida mothers of color, seeking better care, turn to midwives and doulas 

 I thought that by the time we’d expand our family again, this panini machine would be over. However, after a short drive to take my daughter to daycare and hours of nausea later, my husband and I learned the impossible had occurred: we were pregnant, and without the assistance of ART ( I know you all were wondering.). I am now 6 months along with our second daughter . The healthcare system, while imperfect, has adjusted, and when I give birth this summer, I will have both my husband and my doula present. Here are 4 things I did and am currently doing to optimize my autonomy and proactively advocate for myself during my second COVID pregnancy: 

1. I selected a provider that respects me. The first thing I did when I found out I was pregnant this time around was getting the earliest appointment available with the provider of my choice. I didn’t need to see her until at least 8 weeks gestation, but my previous experiences made it more important for me to get on the calendar much sooner so I wouldn’t be subject to scheduling constraints. I have a provider that respects me, and values that I am an informed patient who will ask questions. If we ever feel she could potentially be unavailable, she looks for backup providers that she trusts would be a good fit for me. So far, the continuity of care has been uninterrupted, and it has done wonders for my peace of mind and confidence. Being “seen” makes a world of difference and I want anyone reading this to know, that if you are uncomfortable with your provider, it is ok to find another and never too late in your pregnancy to move to a provider that makes you feel valued.  
2. I hired a doula. This was a no brainer for me,  and I opted to use the same person I had during my first pregnancy. Studies show that doulas are helpful for everyone while also driving down the likelihood of a C-section. Because racial disparities are a reality in healthcare,  doulas should be kept in mind to optimize Black maternal health outcomes; I debrief with mine before and after every appointment to make sure I am not missing questions that need to be covered. She is also a homebirth midwife so she even does appointments with me at home and my daughter loves to join in to find baby sisters heartbeat. Her presence has been a treat for our whole family. 
3. I am prepared for the expected and bracing myself for the unexpected. Pregnancy and birth can be unpredictable and there will always be factors outside of your control. I chose to create a birth plan and meet with my provider to discuss how I could optimize that plan for my family. Remaining low risk, doing my best to remain active, get rest, watch my blood sugar, and bracing myself for laboring at home before heading to the hospital, are all things I’m working through. I also deleted social media. This was 100% due to realizing I wanted to protect my mental health during my pregnancy; the byproduct is peace of mind and more focus on my family. 
4. I am protecting my peace. This is easier said than done, especially after experiencing a loss before having Nandi. But I can say, reducing the panic calls has done wonders for me learning to trust my body. I have been here before and know what to expect, and as such, have gone above and beyond to limit the information I take in that could unravel my emotions.  I have surrounded myself with people who love and support me and want me to trust my body just as much as I do.

 If you are like me and navigating the healthcare system for another pregnancy during the pandemic, feel free to reach out with questions or assistance with finding resources in your area. It takes a village. I will be sure to update everyone on my birth experience once little one is here to share how this pregnancy is difference from my last.

In the meantime, I've linked a few resources below that I have found helpful during this pregnancy and my last:

·      Black Mamas Matter Alliance

·      Every Mother Counts

·      Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs

·      Nation Birth Equity Collaborative