Squared Up Into The Pregnancy Phase In The Times Of Covid-19? Here’s Everything You Need To Know!

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The coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to an abrupt halt. It has muddled people with unresolved questions that have left them with a vague picture of COVID 19 in terms of its many causes and effects. The one section that seems to be especially ambiguous in these trying times is the ‘pregnant women’. Pregnancy is a phase where a woman can feel multiple emotions. With Coronavirus coming into the picture, a lot of to-be-mothers are left daunted with uncertainties and fairly so! But here is a thing-Optimism is the opium for all those hullabaloos popping up in the mind. In these times of open-ended possibilities, we talked to a Dr. Manisha Singh (MBBS, DGO, DNB – Obstetrics & Gynecology) at Fortis Hospital, to converge and make sense of all that is disjunct with respect to ‘Coronavirus and Pregnancy’.

Precautions! What to do?

Coronavirus is a subject that is still being widely studied by the researchers. This in itself makes it obvious that it is in the best interest of all people, especially pregnant women to stay indoors and maintain isolation because there may not be an immediate and sure shot solution for COVID 19 infected pregnant women. “When pregnant women get even normal fever, it is always recommended to get a detailed consultation.”, says Dr. Manisha Singh, a senior gynecologist at Fortis hospital. Coronavirus has been spreading all over the world like wildfire. In these times, it is imperative to follow the guidelines provided by the World Health Organisations because everyone irrespective of their existing physical conditions is indiscriminately susceptible to the Coronavirus. “So far we have not dealt with a pregnant woman with COVID 19 but with all that is going on, if a woman gets a high temperature, she must without much ado consult a doctor.” However, WHO on their FAQ section does not mention pregnant women in the high-risk category. In addition, Dr. Singh says that pregnant women should keep in mind to be very honest about their partner’s travel history to the doctors besides keeping general precautions.

Can the Coronavirus be transmitted from mother to baby?

With scant availability of data, the recommendations coming in from various reports across the world are contradictory. Dr. Manisha says that while studies are still evolving, so far it does not precisely indicate that newborns can contract the virus from their mothers. However, she continues, it is a good idea to isolate the baby from the mother as soon as they are born. Her advice aligns with a number of worldwide reports including China and the US. According to the WHO, so far no sample of the virus has been found in amniotic fluid or breast milk. It is still a matter of contention if the COVID 19 can be passed on to the babies from the mothers.

Can pregnant women with Coronavirus breastfeed?

The World Health Organisation says, ‘YES’. Since the virus sample has so far not been found in breast milk, women depending on their wish may/may not opt to breastfeed. Dr. Manisha reiterates that coronavirus is still an open-ended subject and we can never be sure what we learn about it tomorrow so it is important for mothers to be mindful at all times. WHO gives a nod to breastfeeding on conditions such as utmost care for respiratory hygiene, washing hands before and after touching the baby and regularly cleaning the surface that may have come in contact with the infected mother.

In addition, if the mothers feel too weak to be able to breastfeed, they can resort to ‘expressing milk’, ‘Relactation’ and ‘Donor milk’ as alternate options.

Delivery of the baby- C-Section or Normal

In the case of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, WHO advises that normal delivery is the best way to go about it. However, the Caesarean section should be considered only if medically necessary or justified. Moreover, the report also states that the “mode of birth should be individualized and based on women’s preferences alongside obstetric indication.”

Has the COVID 19 lockdown affected pregnant women’s visits and timely consultations?

Dr. Manisha says, “We have definitely limited the patient’s visits to the hospital but we are available for them 24*7 over the call. We keep a tab on their health by constantly staying in touch. However, if there ever arises a need to see a doctor even for a mild fever, we are always around and hospitals are always open.” It is advisable to take adequate precautions while visiting a hospital such as masks, sanitizers, etc.

The psychological effect of coronavirus lockdown on pregnant women

The coronavirus lockdown phase is quite a testing time for everyone in general. Therefore it is quite understandable that pregnancy, which is already an emotionally charged phase in a woman’s life may in a lot of ways affect their mental space. Dr. Manisha suggests that during these times of emotional turmoil, women should always keep in touch with their closest confidante and share everything without any fear of judgment. It is important to talk to someone and feel free to be able to speak up. Most importantly, talk to the doctors, they are always listening and they can always be trusted. A wise person once said, “No question is a silly question, especially during pregnancy.” In addition, physical exercises like walking and yoga coupled with a few minutes of meditation every day can release all that oxytocin and make one feel happier and refreshed.

In conclusion, pregnancy is a beautiful time in the lives of all women and no matter what the circumstances are, it can always be made special with people who matter. Love flavored with some excitement and covered by precautions can surely help one get through this phase of pregnancy with ease. On an optimistic note, while you square up to official WHO guidelines, don’t forget to stop and embrace each moment that is going to bring you a lifetime of joy, happiness and uncontained aspirations for the future.

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Remember the times when our mothers used to give up on their dreams so that they could build ours?

Yes, while most of them couldn’t really rebuild their dreams and found the content in their children’s’, a few of them dared to start from ground zero.

Malvika Mathur is one such mum who lived for her children first and then followed her passion and fulfilled her dream of creating something which’s not only mind-fulfilling but also sustainable and people-friendly!

Early life

Born in a close-knit joint family of the Shikohabad, Uttar Pradesh, she was a girl with big dreams but lesser options. Married at an early age, she always had this passion for designing since childhood and for keeping this passion alive, she used to create and curate clothes for several friends she made in several places due to her husband’s job.

And on moving back to India, Malvika’s daughter encouraged her to live her dream, which sprouted LabelEeshav in 2011 — a one-stop-shop for all garment requirements; interestingly named after her kids Eesha and Aarav.

“I had no formal education or training as a designer,” says Malvika, “I completed my masters in Political Science and did a diploma in Business Administration from the University of California.” “Love for my country pulled me back,” Malvika travelled across the globe due to her husband’s job before finally settling down in India in 2008.

The dream of bringing change

Being someone who always has been a curvy (overweight) person all her life, finding the perfect outfit was also a challenge for Malvika. She takes ‘body shaming’ as a person issue, a personal subject as she had to face it, faced bullying and always had to struggle due to the stereotypical world we live in. And that is what motivated her more to design clothes for the ‘real women’!

“In my journey, I have met a lot of beautiful souls who were scarred and scared and vulnerable as people had ripped them off their confidence. While designing clothes for them and making them feel confident, I felt as if I am putting a balm on my own wounds. Their smiles and confidence were my real achievements,” says the 44YO entrepreneur who encourages more women to showcase their talent.

What is LabellEshav?

Malvika calls it a one-stop-shop which cater from 0 months onwards — stands for sustainable fashion, eliminates the middle man and connect the consumers to the weavers directly. The idea is also to recreate and remodel existing clothes to avoid more landfill. The venture also supports small women artisans by selling their handmade accessories directly to the audience.

“It gives me immense happiness to provide a platform to these women who have creative skills but lack of mediums to bring it across due to either societal or family or marital shackles. LabellEshav is just a platform for these talented women to shine out from the convenience of their home,” Malvika continues.

The ‘passion to profession’ moment

“The colours, vibrancy arts of weaving always mesmerized me! Chanderis, Mahaeshwaris, Banarasis — they all have an unparallel elegance while the Dabu, Ajrakh, Lehariya offers so much to play around,” says the Gurgaon mother who breathed every thread of fabric all her life.

The execution was not easy, of course, but Malvika was determined to bring this up in any case. She believes in the 3Ps more than the theoretical knowledge — Passion, Patience & Perseverance. Honesty, hard work, and consistency, as she says, can take someone miles. All you need to do is to identify your niche instead of feeling insecure.

The underrated condition of ‘Handcraft’

Malvika wouldn’t be the first one telling me this! A lot of women I talked to before have confessed that people in our country do not give ‘Handcraft/ Handmade Products’ the attention, love, and value that they deserve. And probably this is why a lot of self-made artists vanish away before coming to the limelight of glory and appreciation even once.

“With Labelleshav, I wish to stand hand in hand with our weavers, get their crafts across the globe, and get them the acknowledgement & appreciation they deserve. It’s all about the connection, trust and honesty with these artisans,” Malvika further continues. With her venture, she doesn’t only want to make a full stop on the body-shaming theory but also wants to provide employment to artisans/ homemakers as much as possible.

Malvika clearly understands how much issues like body-shaming, employment or even giving up on dreams impact an individual. And thus, she prioritizes mental health more than anything. What according to her is still a taboo in a lot of Indian households and just a new buzz or fad among the millennials, is a serious issue which must not be overlooked. She works closely with an NPO named ‘youth for world peace’ to acknowledge the same.

Blinded by Brands

Malvika says that most of the people in India are guided by branding due to which small businesses with equal or better quality struggles.

“I’d urge people to be more polite to service providers and request them to buy from small vendors as they struggle more,” Malvika says. “When we do not think of bargaining with brands or shops in malls, we can also give this thought of being considerate towards the local vendors. After all, even a pinch of kindness goes a long way!”

Malvika lost her father at the age of 10, but she believes he never stopped watching over and guiding her. She believes in being true to herself, her work and not living in the past or holding any regrets.

Future plans

She further wants to expand her business to provide employment opportunities to more artisans and homemakers. “We are humans, and we tend to make mistakes. Let’s not pull each other down but try to extend a helping hand,” she says.

In the end, she encourages people to accept themselves as they are — despite their physical appearance. Most of the apparel on Labelleshav’s website is worn by Malvika’s daughters, Eesha & Kainat, to which she says, “I strongly believe that what my daughters can wear would be wearable and safe for anyone!” She concludes with quoting George Bernhard Shaw’s line, ‘A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.’

Infano encourages every woman to come forward, stand for each other and follow their dreams despite all the struggles and hardships. If you know someone whose story must be heard, please tag us in the comments below!