By Simone Limbu
The arrival of a new baby to love and care for can be one of the most exciting and joyful times in a mother’s life.
While pregnancy is often portrayed as the happiest time of one’s life, it can be overwhelming and can trigger a variety of emotions leading to mental health issues, particularly during the pandemic.
Self-care is essential for expecting mothers to relieve stress and connect with their bodies and babies on a deeper level during pregnancy.
Maya Gurung, 33, an office coordinator who is expecting her first child said: “I am always nervous or anxious about the baby’s well-being.” She said that the constant physical changes she is experiencing during pregnancy as well as the stress of working from home due to pandemic has caused her anxiety at times.
“I find that going for a walk with my fur baby helps me de-stress, so does taking time for myself to do things like taking baths and give myself skincare and manicures,” said Gurung, who has a small mixed-breed dog called Pico.
“I’m mentally prepared to become a mother; I’m happy because I can bring our birth partner with me during delivery; that’s what I most want.”
Biwesh Green, Maya’s husband, said: “I can only imagine how difficult it must be for expectant mothers; as a husband, I research about pregnancy, watch videos and be there to encourage, reassure, and show affection.” He also suggests going for a walk with your partner and being prepared for both partners to gain weight.
According to obstetric data obtained from the participants’ medical records, the estimated rate of high anxiety during pregnancy was 35%.
Suvecha Gurung, 35, is GP practitioner and a new mum (no relation to Maya). She said: “During pregnancy, women’s bodies go through several physiological changes that make them vulnerable to infections that can be dangerous to both mum and baby, so they must prioritise self-care, which is also important for the foetus’s normal growth and development.”
Due to the pandemic, family were not allowed to be there when she gave birth, and nobody was allowed to visit her in hospital. “My husband was not allowed to stay to minimise the risk of infection in the hospital. It was a bitter experience.”
Gurung also felt she missed out on opportunities to meet other pregnant women and share their experiences because she was unable to attend antenatal classes. Due to being vulnerable during her pregnancy, she had to self-isolate herself at home, so practising yoga, walking, dancing, mindful breathing and spending time with her family helped her cope with the situation.
“The pandemic had a major impact on the healthcare system. The NHS was under a lot of pressure. Not only because of an increase in staff illnesses and self-isolation caused by Covid but also because an increasing number of people were being admitted to hospitals with illness,” said Gurung. “Many routine investigations and hospital appointments were cancelled, putting patient safety in jeopardy.”
The GP practitioner strongly advises pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their babies from the Covid-19 virus.
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