Testimonials
What were your concerns/worries/excitement about having a baby during this time of COVID-19?
I was 24 weeks pregnant when COVID hit and I essentially went into lockdown immediately. Along with the rest of the public, I did not know what the risks were, especially for pregnant individuals, and did not want to take any chances. Without a doubt, the hardest part of having a baby during COVID-19 is the social distancing. My husband and I have not been able to be with our loved ones during the extremely vulnerable time that is pregnancy and the postpartum period. It was hard to not be able to share and celebrate the birth of our daughter as we would have if there were not a pandemic. We had to cancel baby showers and avoid contact with loved ones. We could not have visitors at the hospital and our friend could not attend the birth to provide doula services. However, it has been a practice in resilience, and our families, friends, and community continue to adapt to these challenges and find ways to show us love regardless of our circumstances.
Which of the supports did you access?
My husband and I used the Family Connects program after the birth of our daughter.
How did they help you during pregnancy or after birth?
Tasha is extremely skilled at supporting new moms and it was nice to have her and the Family Connects program as a lifeline as we navigated bringing home a newborn for the first time. We knew Tasha would be an asset before we signed up for the program because we had heard such great things from other parents that she supported in the past. We had a virtual visit since home visiting was not an option due to COVID. Tasha answered our questions and helped alleviate our anxieties about our daughter’s physical health, her sleeping and eating patterns, and my mental and physical health postpartum.
Anything else you want to add:
Many of us are familiar with the phrase “it takes a village” and I think all families would agree with that statement. However, COVID-19 has compromised our villages in ways we could not have predicted. Family supports like [Family Connects Watauga] are essential now more than ever. All families need support at some point, but the special challenges that we face during a global pandemic make programs like Family Connects a lifeline.
