Pregnant in a Pandemic
Today, Sunday 4/19/2020, marks 35 weeks pregnant and if I’m being honest I’m terrified. Hello, my name is Taylor and I’m an African American women who’s pregnant in a pandemic.
Coronavirus/COVID-19 is attacking millions of people around the world, and has been since November of 2019. It wasn’t until recently, specifically March 2020, that the United States has taken a serious stand on people staying in their homes and self-isolating to avoid further spread of the virus. As a result, we left school at the beginning of March for spring break and will not return until next school year.
While this has been a God-send for my aching body, my ever-full bladder, and my ability to cope with the end stages of pregnancy, it has taken a little toll on my mind.
I’ve had time ALL.DAY.EVERY.SINGLE.DAY to wonder about the birthing experience.
“Will he be an easy baby to deliver? How will my body deal with the birthing process? Will he survive labor and make it home with us? African American women are more likely to die during childbirth than any other race of women, will I become a part of that number?”
Dramatic? Maybe to some people, but to me these are real thoughts future mothers are thinking these days.
That coupled with my anxieties about only having my husband there with me terrifies me. I love my husband to the end of the earth and there’s nothing I can ever imagine needing that he cannot provide for us….but there’s something about a mother’s presence that cannot ever be replaced. Mom’s listen differently, they’ve known you your entire life, they can read the fear even when it’s not spoken. I need my mom to be there with us, but she can’t. If I’m being honest I want our son to stay in long enough for hospitals to loosen their visitor restrictions to two people but I know that probably won’t happen.
As I continue to journey through the territory of having my first child in the most strange and unprecedented time in our society, I have a prayer for all of the expectant mothers that will be delivering during this time.
“ Heavenly father, we thank you for every immeasurable blessing you’ve provided to us. We thank you God for being the creator and sustainer of life and for entrusting us to carry the future generation of your chosen children. We appreciate your presence as a way-maker and miracle worker and, as such, we come in this season desiring your protection over our upcoming labor and delivery experiences. We’re petitioning you to calm our anxious hearts and wrap us in your arms assuring us that all will be well, with our babies, with our own health and with the health of those accompanying us through this process. God we know what statistics say, but we also know that we serve a God who specializes in making examples using His power for His children. Therefore, we ask that you walk with us during our individual experiences and provide the strength we need to make it to the finish line of our pregnancies; welcoming our beautiful babies into the world. Now God, please be with us as we check into very empty hospitals and provide angels to protect our bodies from viruses and diseases. Lord please allow our experiences in childbirth to be blessed and anointed, and allow us to bring our babies into this world healthy and unharmed. God we know that you can do it, therefore we stand on your word and declare, “IT IS SO!” All shall be well. In Jesus name, amen.
Stay encouraged mama’s, there’s nothing we cannot accomplish with God on our side. He promised NEVER to leave us alone….
