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By Chantal Wagner

Tips for expecting mothers and parents during COVID-19 pandemic

Mar 18, 2020 | 6:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB -It might feel overwhelming if you are an expecting mother or a parent to young children during the COVID-19 pandemic as you try and limit the spread of the virus.

According to Jodi Breitkreuz a registered nurse in Medicine Hat and owner of The Mama Coach, parents are encouraged to limit visitors, clean surfaces, and sanitize toys daily.

If you are pregnant during this time, she says using the current data, it does not appear that pregnant women are at increased risk of COVID-19.

Breitkreuz says it’s not believed that infected pregnant women can pass the virus to her unborn baby.

“But with that said, historically pregnant women have been more susceptible to viruses in a similar family such as SARS and H1N1. We don’t believe that infected pregnant women can pass this virus to their fetuses. And we’re not sure that it can cause pre-term delivery.”

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As for mothers who are breastfeeding, she says the concern is not the transmission of the virus through breast milk. The concern is that an infected mother could pass the virus to her baby through respiratory droplets while breastfeeding.

But women should not stop breastfeeding if they have COVID-19. Breitkreuz says, rather, mothers are encouraged to wear a mask while feeding if coughing or sneezing, and to consider pumping your breast milk and have someone who isn’t sick feed your baby via bottle.

If you have kids at home, she says children thrive on consistency, and that it’s best to continue routine when they’re out of school.

“I’m really suggesting with the families that I’m working with they keep the heavy emotional conversations for when their kids aren’t around and try to find appropriate ways to talk to their little ones about what’s going on.”

She adds government-run prenatal classes have been cancelled so more resources and prenatal education can be accessed virtually by visiting this link.