New parents should feel positive about having a child irrespective of the environment around. Experts suggest and share some tips to deal positively with the threat perception related to the new born. By Team Viva

The thought of bringing the child into the world is filled with phases of happiness, fear and anxiety. It is difficult to imagine what new parents are going through in the post-COVID world.

It has affected the plans of new parents and expectant couples. Parenthood is a blessing and it is a priceless feeling when you welcome your baby for the first time into this world. Nothing can ever come close to this emotion.

But during this these times of crisis, when there is a threat perception related to the new born, the realities of parenthood have changed and this makes it important to ensure that positivity engulfs the new parents even more today.

The ad world too is taking note. Recently, Pampers India released a film #WelcomeToTheWorld for the newborn babies with reference to the current context. At a time when a new mother is experiencing emotional upheaval, it captures her strength and positive outlook for her baby and portrays the true essence of the new world that will unfold for her newborn with each step and each milestone.

Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Gynecologists and Obstetrician and IVF Expert, Nurture IVF Centre says that the expectant couples need to understand that everyone who’s in the hospital or is going through a checkup is not COVID positive. And even if you contract an infection, there are chances that it would be a mild infection and not something related to Corona.”

This is a lot of threat perception related to the newborns. Dhanvarsha Dadhich from Jodhpur is expecting her second child. She says: “I am just so scared of carrying this baby. Not just delivery but taking care of the child has become a scary task. I fear stepping out of my room as my area is a Corona hotspot."

Dr Archana says that this is a new disease and there are very few studies related to it. So it would be difficult for anyone to comment on what would be the chances of a new born. “We just need to keep in mind the three portals of infection for the baby. First is the mother herself. So she needs to ensure that she maintains distance, use masks and take necessary relevant precautions. The other point of contact is the hospital where you deliver. Anybody who’s about to deliver should choose their hospital very wisely. You should only deliver in a hospital which COVID tests all its pregnant women. Any good maternity will test the mother before taking her into the labour room. Try and avoid multi-speciality hospital where people from all kinds of ailments are likely to come. The general public has a higher chance of getting infected as compared to a pregnant woman because she is home bound and takes better care. The third place where the baby can get infected is when you are visiting a paediatrician. So ensure that you go only when it's really necessary. Consult through video conferences and for things like immunization, go only when your paediatrics tell you that it is urgent.” Though are various drawbacks of video conferencing as there is never a replacement for seeing a doctor. Doctors cannot judge many diseases unless they physically see the patient. But then, any good doctor will tell you to come to them if they are not getting adequate information through video conferencing.

It is also very important to understand that this fear of Corona will only make you feel anxious. “It is going to stay for at least two years. Women, their families and extended families need to get out of this phobia. Pregnant women are entering hospitals like Eskimos. They are covered from head to toe. This heat will smother them. So this fear has to go,” says Dr Archana.

Pointing towards the silver lining, she says that a lot of male partners will get the chance to look after their wives and babies which they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. That's a plus. “Also, having a baby around this time gives you the opportunity to interact with him/her as you are homebound. If you are not stepping out and maintaining your quarantine, then your baby is not going to contract infections. In this scenario, other diseases that are specific to summer and would have occurred otherwise will also not happen,” says she. 

The new parents should follow all the necessary precautions — stay indoors, avoid meeting people or seeing vendors, don't get domestic helps who come daily, prefer the ones who stays within the house, eat well to increase your vitality, drink a lot water, keep exercising so that your lung capacity remains high, breathe fresh air, walk on your terrace or balcony. These are some of the little things one needs to take care of.

“Other than that being a new parent you have to condition yourself being positive irrespective of the environment around,” says Dr Archana.