IPM May 20

Pregnancy During a Pandemic
Pregnant with twins and now in her second trimester, mom-of-one (soon to be
three!) Natasha Mills fills us in on what it’s like to be pregnant during a pandemic.
Q. How are you doing? How has your pregnancy been so far?
A. I’m doing as well as I can be expected with twins during a
global pandemic! It’s crazy to think that a public health crisis of
this magnitude only comes around once in a century, and here I
am living that time with two growing babies in my belly.
So far the pregnancy has been manageable, although the first
trimester had me completely debilitated with morning sickness.
Now in the second trimester, I’ve definitely begun eating for
three, but am also starting to feel quite uncomfortable. You
could say I’m secretly grateful for the ability to stay at home in
loungewear as I grow!
Q. Where are you planning to give birth? At home? At the
hospital?
A. I’m definitely planning for a hospital birth. The twins will
be likely be a C-section as my son was—he turned out to be a
very big boy. I have a comforting relationship with my experienced
maternity doctors. I know I’ll be in the best hands there.
Q. Who will attend the birth? Partner? Parents?
A. With the new hospital rules in place, only one visitor will
be allowed to accompany me and that will be my husband. It’s
unfortunate to think our son and both sets of parents will likely
be unable to meet the twins until I’m released from hospital 3-4
days later, but I’m hopeful that restriction may change in time
for their arrival later this summer.
Q. How do you feel being pregnant right now, amidst everything
that’s going on?
A. Bittersweet. It’s almost ideal to be hiding in the home
amidst my growing discomfort, and it takes a bit of the pressure
away to be social in setting dates with friends and family.
I’ve had the ability to really take in this pregnancy so far on
a mental and physical level. Time is flying by, but it has also
paradoxically slowed down all the same. On the flip side—as
a true introverted extrovert—I miss my fiends and family immensely.
I miss hugs and gatherings.
Q. What’s been the biggest challenge of being pregnant
during a pandemic?
A. One of the greatest challenges so far is not being able to
14 Island Parent @Home