Giving birth during COVID-19 pandemic

By Naomi Parris 

Like many first-time mothers, Nickacey Munroe, was anticipating her baby’s arrival in the world, however, the young woman felt somewhat fearful not for her actual birth, but for the life her child would have to live if he or she were to grow up in the current crisis the world is facing.

Munroe, who found out she was pregnant just before Guyana recorded its first case COVID-19 case, revealed that the least of her fears were centred on the virus since she was informed by her doctors that her baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck.
“My water bag never broke, the umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck but wasn’t causing any issue at the point but there was no amniotic fluid there which caused me to deliver before the estimated delivery date,” the young mother said.

She added, “I was least concerned about the virus when the doctor told me to tell my family to bring my bag I’m getting admitted, but after I thought of what his childhood life would be like if people don’t stay inside”.

Munroe told the Pepperpot Magazine that she had hoped to give birth naturally, however after having a failed induction, she was rushed to the theatre to have an emergency Cesarean Section (C-section) which at the time was frightening to her.
“Let me tell you… This C-section thing is not easy,” she disclosed.
Nevertheless, Munroe received what anyone would call “the best birthday gift in the world” as she gave birth to a healthy bouncy baby boy just a few days after her 20th birthday.
‘I thought I had the flu’

Admitting that she was unaware of her pregnancy, Munroe noted that when she started experiencing symptoms, she assumed it was just a regular flu.
“I had the flu; well I thought it was the flu after which I had to go to the health centre because to my surprise the “flu” worsened… I got medication then I was advised to take a pregnancy test which I did, then boom there it was two strokes on the stick,” she explained.

After finding out she was pregnant, Munroe related that while the feeling was unorthodox, she and spouse took all the necessary measures to secure their child’s future. “We were both happy at that point but it wasn’t like the fish out of water kind of happy yet we took instant measures like setting up a joint bank account to save towards the child.”
She added that overall, her pregnancy was normal and was not quite what she was expecting since she experienced very little sickness and little changes aside from the usual weight gain and traditional mood swings.

‘It’s a feeling I can’t explain’
Despite being incoherent from the anaesthesia during her C-section, Munroe recalled her very first moments with her baby boy as one she has yet to find words to describe.
“I heard him cry before I saw him, and when I saw him, tears rolled down my eyes and I was filled with joy as the nurse held him up… I was upset when they took him away but, in my mind, I thought I was dreaming I still can’t believe that I had a real baby, a whole baby,” she stated.

Adding that her entire outlook on life has changed, Munroe stated that her life now feels surreal as she is adjusting to the new and greatest addition in her life. “It’s not an imagination you wake up every morning and do what you think is right for yourself and child,” she said.

Noting that her child is all she ever thinks about, Munroe added that nothing else in her life seems to hold any importance aside from her newborn baby.

“I don’t care about nothing now, he comes first in every aspect and I’m more concerned about him. I don’t even want to go anywhere without him; it’s a feeling that’s hard to explain but once having a child that child becomes your everything and you really don’t care about no one else,” she gushed.