 Managing COVID-19 & Pregnancy
COVID-19 has left many in a state of confusion and worry. When dealing with a pregnancy in the middle of this pandemic, a lot of questions can arise. A mother’s first concern becomes the health of her pregnancy or newborn. While we wish to provide answers to all of your questions, it’s unfortunately too soon to say anything definitively. The CDC simply hasn’t had enough time to collect the needed data to make conclusions. As a nation and community, all we can do is remain calm and vigilant. We can monitor our health, practice social distancing, stay home, and limit our travels. When we find ourselves having to run an errand, we can practice cleanliness. It’s important to stay calm in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. When looking into new reports covering Coronavirus, check the source and compare the information to updates from the CDC and the WHO. If you are unsure about an article or something you have heard, you can call your OB-GYN to see if they can confirm. While not much is known about COVID-19, we will cover what is known in this blog. What Is Covid-19? COVID-19 is a respiratory virus. This virus is part of the coronavirus family, which is actually a collection of different viruses. Some of these related viruses are SARS-COV and MERS-COV. These two viruses are now under control, but it took time to understand them and how to combat them. COVID-19 is the latest coronavirus and affects the human respiratory system. The known symptoms are difficulty breathing, coughing, and fever. How Can You Get COVID-19? It is mainly believed that COVID-19 is spread from person to person by respiratory droplets through coughing and sneezing. This virus gains entrance into your body by contact with your eyes, nose, and mouth. Based on a new study COVID-19 can also live on surfaces and in an aerosolized form anywhere from a few hours to a few days, although those time frames could change as we gather more data. Will This Endanger My Pregnancy?Many pregnant women worry that Covid-19 will be passed to their child, or that their pregnancy makes them more likely to become sick. A lot of misinformation on this topic is being spread across social media and other corners of the internet. The CDC has said that it’s just too soon to make any concrete statements. In a few cases, women with COVID-19 have been documented to have pregnancy problems and preterm births, but the CDC has assured that it’s too soon to say if the two are actually related. What they do know is that it’s important to make sure you protect yourself. How can you do that? You can cover your coughs with your elbow, keep a six-foot distance from others when you are in public, avoid those who are sick, wash your hands, and avoid touching your face. It’s important to limit stress and worries as much as possible while pregnant for your own health and the development of your baby. How Should I Protect My Newborn? The best way to protect your newborn is to keep yourself clean and maintain a clean environment. Limit visitors and maintain social distancing if you and your newborn need to leave the house. Is It Safe To Breastfeed? Based on what the CDC currently knows, it is safe to breastfeed, but should be talked about with your doctor. The CDC has monitored women who have given birth while testing as COVID-19 positive and have found no traces of the virus in breast milk. The CDC asks that mothers who breastfeed take precautions while doing so, such as washing your hands beforehand and wearing a mask if possible if symptoms are present or have tested positive. What Can I Do to Help? This is where social distancing is the most important. Maintaining a six-foot distance between everyone allows a safer way to interact. Make sure you are covering all of the common sense procedures mentioned above, such as cleanliness, covering your cough with your elbow and most importantly, making sure to stay home if you are sick. If you have recently traveled abroad or come into contact with someone who has been exposed to COVID-19, take measures to self-quarantine and communicate your situation with your doctor. The best way Americans can help our community, leadership, and medical staff is by limiting contact with others, not joining groups larger than ten, and avoiding travel, vacations, and community gatherings. The most important thing that can be done is to stay calm and to maintain hope for a brighter future By visiting the below sites you can learn more and stay up to date with any changes. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/index.html https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen https://www.coronavirus.gov/
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 And just like THAT...it's FALL! The weather is beginning to get cooler, school is in session and the leaves are starting to turn. I love living in a place that has evident changes all four seasons. Every time a new season rolls around it’s like a little reminder that we change too. That in our lives we go through times of growth, times of expectant waiting, times where we need to let go of things…and fall is my favorite. When I see those leaves changing into their beautiful red and golden hues it takes my breath away. It’s almost like God is painting the scenery to say “Hey, check this out, look at the intricate detail in these leaves. Slow down and bask in my glory displayed.” And then of course, there’s stepping on crunchy leaves, who doesn’t enjoy that? Then again, sometimes I feel like that crunchy leaf. Shriveled, dried up, and on the ground waiting to be stepped on. Today’s world is tough. Being a parent is even tougher at times. The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is incredibly true. We all reach a breaking point, we all get worn down, we all say things we shouldn’t and do things we regret.
What’s amazing about the leaves changing and falling is that it’s not just one leaf. It’s a bunch of them, enough to make a pile to jump in. You are not alone in the struggle to parent, or even not parenting. Every single person goes through tough times. You are not alone. One of the biggest lessons my kids get from me is…. wait for it…..apologizing. I have to apologize a lot. Nothing is quite as humbling as having to apologize to the people you are supposed to be responsible for because you were acting their age. But you know what, I’ve noticed that they have started apologizing without being prompted. So even in remedying my mistakes they are learning. Any gardener will tell you that pruning is an essential part of healthy plants. Dead leaves and buds must be snipped of in order to make way for new, fresh, beautiful growth. So when we fail, and find ourselves dried up, crumpled and on the ground waiting to be stepped on, we need to remember that without that fall, new growth couldn’t come. Maybe we need to apologize or make a plan to stop a certain behavior or habit. Enlist help—find a parenting support group, hang out at the library and meet some people, reconnect with old friends or family. We all go through it. You are not alone.  Can you believe it is August already? Public school starts in less than a month! (I’m pretty sure I just heard an audible groan) It’s been a busy and exciting summer here at the Center: we had our #relationshipgoals Group to hang out with some awesome teens and discuss what healthy relationships look like; you guys rocked with our annual Change-A-Life Baby Bottle Drive fundraiser; our Life Center office got a mini face lift with new furniture in our counseling rooms (thanks to our awesome supporters!!!!), and the addition of a Mommy Corner in our Baby Boutique; we were so blessed with donations that we did a free rummage sale to bless the community; AND we have given out diapers at the Free Lunch sites and the Wisner Market. WHEW!
In the busyness and excitement of the Summer, though, it is so important to take a step back and really look at those around you. Take time to enjoy the little moments of doing nothing, listen to the child that never seems to stop talking, go feed the birds with your parents, read a book together, play with the squirt guns, and eat ice cream before dinner. Watch funny videos together like Bad Lip Reading “Seagulls” and “Watch Out for my Body Rolls” (both of these may have been played in our office earlier…..) and laugh out loud together. Recent tragedies remind us that we never know when our time is up. In light of that: do you know that you are amazing? That you are loved and that you have a purpose? That you impact the world every day whether you know it or not? You are an absolute rock star because you are YOU. You were created to bring glory to God and He delights in you. If you're a parent...it's a tough job, so be sure to take time for you. Being a young person is tough in today’s world, take advice from those you look up to and know your value. Proverbs 6 tells us to “Keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you.” And even more so, be reading the Bible because that is where you learn more about the God who created you and where your value and purpose come from.  By Linda Buice, STPRC volunteer
As stated in the previous blog post, The Southern Tier PRC is committed to their mission of being a resource for the community. Becoming a parent is an important journey and we want to provide the support you may need along the way. Our Life Center’s dedicated peer counselors can help you with emotional and educational support as well as making you aware of resources available. We can help you to prepare for your child or help in those early infancy and toddler years. We offer a special program called Earn While You Learn. Not only does this program provide parenting lessons and information, you will be able to earn Baby Bucks while you do it. These Baby Bucks can then be used in our boutique to purchase items for your child. You will find items that include clothing (from newborn sizes to 5T), larger baby items (strollers, playpens, etc.) and much more! Each person in this program will have an opportunity to work with a peer counselor to select a personalized plan for topics you would like to cover. Examples of possible topics:
These are just a few of the possible topics. We want to help you be the best parent you can be. If you haven’t stopped in to see us, please do. Our qualified peer-counselors will help you with the support you need. Our services are kept confidential. Contact us today for an appointment. By: Linda Buice, STPRC Volunteer The Southern Tier PRC is committed to being a resource for the community. While being a parent is a wonderful experience, it is a journey that may require support, resources and education. There is not a manual for being a parent but there are ways to prepare. We feel that educated parents are empowered parents. One of our facilities is dedicated to educating and supporting parents through the pregnancy and even beyond. We want to help you prepare for your child or help you after. Raising a child is one of the most important things you will do. Let us help you be the best parent you can be. We would like to invite you to take a look at our inviting facility. It is a welcoming and happy place. Our next posts will detail programs that we offer and our boutique. So if you feel overwhelmed or just needing some help getting ready for parenthood, we would love to get to know you and begin the journey together. Location Monday 9:00-4:30 601 Pennsylvania Avenue Tuesday 9:00 -4:30 Elmira, NY 14904 Wednesday 9:00-4:30 607-737-6952 Thursday 9:00-4:30 Friday CLOSED Our Life Center has a variety of resources available as well qualified peer-counselors. Our services are kept confidential. We are here to help you. Contact us today for an appointment. Waiting Room Private Client Session Room
Written by: Linda Buice, STPRC volunteer
Our peer-counselors will help you dispel the myths about adoption and explore the types of adoptions available. Before you make a decision we want to help you know all of your options. Open adoption is one choice available and is defined as an adoption that involves contact between biological and adoptive parents and sometimes between biological parents and the adopted child.[1]This is a broad definition and individual situations might look different based on the choices and needs of each client. Open adoption options might include:
In a closed adoption, the birth parents and the adoptive families will not have contact with one another. This is private and the identities of each party are not known.[3]The Pregnancy Resource Center is not an adoption agency, but can help connect you with agencies that specialize in them. Our qualified peer-counselors will connect you with an adoption agency that can help you make an adoption plan that will work for you. The STPRC can even help you prepare questions ahead of the contact. As stated in the previous blog post, not only is adoption an opportunity for your future, it also ensures the future of your unborn child by providing what you may not be able to give at this time in your life. There are many wonderful families looking for adoption opportunities. We can help connect you to reputable adoption agencies and even facilitate a meeting between the agency and you in the STPRC’s office. The Southern Tier Pregnancy Resource Center has a variety of other resources available as well as qualified peer-counselors. Our services are kept confidential. We are here to help you. Contact us today for an appointment. [1]"Open Adoption." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 7 June 2017. [2]Reisser, TeriMA, MFT. “Adoption Options.” Parenting, Focus on the Family, 2010. [3]Reisser, TeriMA, MFT. “Adoption Options.” Parenting, Focus on the Family, 2010. Written by: Linda Buice, STPRC volunteer
Our peer-counselors are here to help you become better informed about all of your choices. We’ve looked closely at abortion and the risks and now are looking at alternatives. In the previous post we looked at single parenting. Adoption may be an option other than single-parenting which may help bring peace of mind for both you and the future of your unborn child. Before you decide if adoption is the right choice for you, it is important to have all the information and not make a choice based on emotion. Let us help you get the information you need. Consider some reasons why adoption might be the right choice. Perhaps it might give you the opportunity to pursue your own dreams whether they are educational or financial. Maybe it will be a chance to just move forward in life until you are ready to parent. Studies done on mothers who released their children for adoption indicated that those mothers had more favorable social, economic, and educational outcomes than the single parenting mothers. Some other compelling results include these mothers were more likely to:
We have resources to help you become better informed about adoption as well as peer-counselors that can help go through myths about adoption that are unfounded. Information available on the Internet or from others might not be accurate. We can assist you in looking at adoption and your situation. Our next blog will address the types of adoption. The Southern Tier Pregnancy Resource Center has a variety of resources available as well as qualified peer-counselors to help you become better informed and give you the support you need. Our services are kept confidential. Your pregnancy outcome is your decision, we are here to help. Contact us today for an appointment. [1]Is Adoption Right for Me? Lake Forest: Adoption Network Law Center, n.d. Print. [2]"Adopt." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 1 June 2016. Top of Form Adoption is defined as taking on the legal responsibility as parent of a child that is not your biological child.[2] By: Linda Buice, STPRC Volunteer
As stated in previous blog posts, pregnancy is a life-changing moment for a woman and those close to her regardless of age. Let's discuss single parenting. The dictionary defines parenting as the process of taking care of children until they are old enough to take care of themselves or the things that parents do to raise a child.[1] Depending on your circumstances, parenting by yourself might seem impossible. This may feel especially true if you are single without support from others. Perhaps, you have not had good examples of parenting in your life. This could make you feel even more overwhelmed or leave you feeling totally unqualified. You don’t have to feel alone. We are here to help you explore all options completely and help you to know your rights. Each situation is different and is handled individually. Becoming completely informed about possible choices is the first step. Our help includes exploring the similarities and differences between adoption and single parenting. We can show you the resources and support available to you and also help you find answers to questions you might have about being a single parent. Our website mentions our Life Center which is at a nearby location. At this center we offer both pregnancy and parenting education in addition to material assistance. We also have support for fathers. The staff and volunteers of the STPRC believe that single moms and dads can be GREAT moms and dads. Please remember that parenting is not a journey you need to go through alone. Help and support is available to help you parent. We are here to support you by first talking with you confidentially about all of your options. If you choose to parent we want to walk alongside you through that journey by offering education, material assistance, and emotional and spiritual support. Mostly, we want to walk alongside you to witness you succeed as a loving and nurturing mom or dad! The Southern Tier Pregnancy Resource Center has a variety of resources available as well as qualified peer-counselors to help you become better informed and give you the support you need. Our services are kept confidential. We are here to help you. Contact us today for an appointment. [1]"Parenting." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 11 July 2016. By: Linda Buice, STPRC volunteer
As we discussed in our previous blogs, pregnancy is a life-changing moment for a women and those close to her regardless of age. It can be overwhelming and often abortion seems like the only option. Abortion can have long term emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual effects that last well beyond the procedure. To be better informed includes looking at the other choices thoroughly before you make any decisions for your future and the future of your baby. Let us help you look at other choices. You can choose to parent or perhaps, make an adoption plan. We will explore alternative choices to abortion in this series and will help you answer questions like the ones below.
Remember, the Southern Tier Pregnancy Resource Center has a variety of resources available as well as qualified peer-counselors to help you become better informed about the answers to these questions and other questions you might have. We are here to give the support you need and our services are kept confidential. We are here to help you. Contact us today for an appointment. By: Linda Buice, STPRC Volunteer
The spiritual effects of abortion are often not talked about or considered. As we stated in earlier posts, there are physical, psychological, and emotional risks to both the men and women involved with an abortion and decisions should not be rushed. Those risks have been researched and are well documented. Spiritual issues are usually not considered at all because what is going on inside is not tangible. Spirit is defined as the force that is within the person or the inner quality which gives the person the body energy and power. For some people they refer to being spiritual when they are talking about their faith. The word spiritual is defined as relating to the spirit of a person or their religion or religious beliefs. Both terms are talking about what is going on internally and that is something most women or men do not talk about and keep private. As stated in previous blog posts, there are many reasons why women think abortion is the only option. Maybe at that time in life it seems to be the only answer, but people grow and change with time. A perfect example would be Norma Mc Corvey who is the woman represented in Roe versus Wade 1973. She was the “Jane Roe”. Since that time she has taken a different stance and has tried to get the court to overturn their decision. With age she realized her thinking had been manipulated by others. Abortion can not only affect the spirit of the woman, but also those close to them. It can become a secret inside that is not talked about. When this happens, the pain inside may not go away and can cause other issues. Most women feel they are not allowed to talk about it. This may be especially true for women who attend church. So when considering the spiritual side that is within that no one sees, one has to think about the future. People grow and mature with age. Consider the following questions:
If you are feeling confused or overwhelmed, you are not alone. The Southern Tier Pregnancy Resource Center has a variety of resources available as well as trained peer-counselors to help you become better informed and give you the support you need. Our services are kept confidential. We are here to help you. Contact us today for an appointment. "Spirit." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. "Spiritual." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. "The Story of Norma McCorvey." End Roe. EndRoe.org Copyright © 2016 NCHLA. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. Layton, Pat. "Surrendering the Secret Overview." Surrenderingthesecret.com/. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. |
AuthorWritten by the staff and volunteers of the Southern Tier PRC. Archives
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