Coronavirus: Tips for Pregnant women

GUEST BLOGGER: Loraine Sibanda

Loraine Makhumalo Sibanda is a seasoned event planner, the founder of MIChiko PR. She is also the host of a Podcast show titled "Elevation with Makhumalo" and an award-nominated Blogger. Her blog, Umakhumalo is all about life lessons, reviews and so much more. She recently started a new blog series that journals her journey as an expecting mummy. Her feature piece is about just that. Expecting a baby during a pandemic can cause any woman to feel anxious. And Loraine is here with tips for pregnant women on how to deal with that anxiety and as well as some useful information every expecting mother should know.

Expecting your bundle of joy this year? Congratulations to you and the family. Having a child is a blessing and also an exciting time ahead not just during the pregnancy but thereafter. Unfortunately with the breakout of the coronavirus, it can be an overwhelming time for all expectant mums. Here are some tips for pregnant women on how to deal with anxiety during this period of a lockdown. Some of the tips still apply even if your country is not yet under the lockdown.

TIPS FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS TO REDUCE ANXIETY All expecting Moms need to be well informed during the lockdown. However I find social media to be very overwhelming and so I choose how much time I spend on it. I don't watch the news as much because every other channel you turn to they are talking about the pandemic. As an expectant Mom you might already be ill from things like fatigue, morning sickness or just having a tough pregnancy. I would definitely recommend only positive news or information to reduce anxiety as well as the following: Listening to some great music and dancing Baking Doing some online courses Watching inspirational YouTube videos Writing that book you always wanted to write Starting that blog Taking care of your hair, your skin and having some me-time. Reading your favorite books again

A Typical Day During Lockdown As a self-employed woman, I work from home but unfortunately the nature of my business has been affected by the lockdown. So my day is less work-related. I wake up between 6 am and 8 am. My morning involves morning prayers, breakfast, checking my emails, blog and social media. I then enjoy some quality time with my mother, who is around to help me with the baby. The rest of the day is all about working on my writing, watching birthing videos and making lunch and supper for the family. I then end the day with some exercise before bedtime. Staying Healthy during Lockdown I suggest eating fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water. I make sure I don't miss out on my regular walks and squats. This helps me to stay fit and to prepare myself for the D-Day. As tempted as you may be to just relax, the last thing you want to do is be ill-prepared. Prenatal Checkups During a Pandemic I was so anxious when I heard the word "lockdown" because all I could think of was "what about my checkups"? But thank goodness our leaders in South Africa added prenatal checkups as an essential service. The last thing you want us to worry about is the baby and whether you can move around or not. All Moms must just take the necessary precaution when moving around. Cover and protect yourself and sanitize as much as you can especially because you are in a public place accessed by a lot of people every day. Unfortunately there is no short cut here ladies. the state of your baby is important so you cannot miss your appointment on your scheduled date. Having a Support System Moms should find online support through Facebook groups for new Moms, WhatsApp groups, family, friends and spiritual mentors. Nurses and Doctors at the hospital can also support you and provide you with valuable information. I know sometimes they can appear unapproachable but they can be very helpful. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg has amazing nurses and Doctors as well as counselors to help expecting mums. As a public facility, they serve many people, but mums must feel free to ask for advice or help.

Remember this your pregnancy, your baby and your journey so do as much as you can to enjoy it, be prepared, stay positive and enjoy the experience.