HELENA — Expecting moms in Montana are seeing a new way of normal, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Some of those changes include beginning alone at doctor visits to seeing new doctors bi-weekly that are not their normal obstetrician.
There is a big reason, why, that’s related to both the expecting mom and the baby.
“For expecting moms, they are at an increased risk of developing complications from the COVID virus,” said Betsy Williams who is the Director of our Women and Children’s Unit.
One of those expecting Montana moms is Taylor Schraudner who is in her third trimester.
“It’s added a little bit of stress in terms of, you know, the coronavirus could peak in Montana around mid-April and that will be the time the baby will come into the world, so wanting to make sure we get in and get out,” she said.
St. Peter’s Health in Helena is limiting the number of visitors, down to one at the hospital to help combat the potential spread of the virus.
“Normally, the waiting room in packed and you know you get to see cute babies or other mothers, now it's nobody,” Schraudner said.
It's also reported that pregnant women are not always granted the same doctor, bi-weekly women are seeing different doctors.
“One is in the hospital for two weeks, and one is in the office and they are routing every two weeks because they assume one will probably get sick. And so, I might with a new provider that I never met before last week, which was different, and that could the person who deceivers my baby who knows.” Schraudner said.
“This a really special time, in people’s lives, and it’s something that is going to continue. We can’t slow it down, I mean, this is part of life. And we want to be able to support that and help moms anyway we can,” Williams said.
For Schraudner, she is staying the present and trying to be as positive as she can, “I have two outcomes, two objectives baby is healthy that I am healthy, and so if that means having a baby by myself with a doctor so be it.”