Seeing one pale and freshly wide-eyed human working to discover all the undiscovered colors, smells and soft touches of eager family fingers should have been the post-delivery experience of new mom Kristen Howell. Rather than being surrounded by blue balloons and cards etched with “Congrats!,” she was encircled by a cluster of nurses clad in gowns and N95 masks, waiting 70 minutes post delivery to exit so as to not create the transference of air pressure released into the hallway by opening the door.
As it turns out, 70 minutes is the timeline determined to kill any airborne molecules caused by excessive breathing while in labor. Coincidentally, it’s also the length of time necessary to become rather awkward.
Now an earmarked memory captured in time, it lightly grates against the hypothetical landmarks collaged from hundreds of movies, commercials and television shows. Counterfeit milestones, maybe. However, it doesn’t take away the fact that they feel, well, deserved.
If Hallmark doesn’t make a card for disappointing goal posts - it should. Due to the gestation period of certain life events, it’s not like you can just easily get a “do over.” At least that how Howell feels, although she still strongly advocates for the safety of her newborn, Calvin.
“My mom and my sister were supposed to come down from Wisconsin,” Howell said. “Who knows when they’ll even be able to see the baby. [My husband’s] parents have not held Calvin, they stay six feet away. No one has held him or touched him besides me and [my husband].”
While isolating is painful during a pivotal moment in her life, she’d still much rather be safe rather than sorry.
“If I were to contract something or if Calvin did, I’d never be able to forgive myself,” Howell said. “I take the precaution now … even though it sucks, big time.”
Jessica Cahill, a BSM certified nurse at Health Park in Fort Myers said that hospitals are taking the virus very seriously in the maternity ward. While many are nervous about contracting COVID-19, she says it’s still safer there then at home.
“Despite what people are thinking about with the virus, it is still safer to deliver at the hospital than at home,” Cahill said. “You never know what outcome could happen.”
For her patients, Cahill said that the vast majority are welcoming of the new guidelines, with some ironically feeling “less pressure” with only being allowed one individual in the room for the birth, instead of the whole family.
Ponte Vedra local, Megan Stinchcomb, is due July 9 for her first child.
“I didn’t get pregnant for the purpose of having a baby shower, but yeah, I did think it would be fun,” Stinchcomb said. “Even without the coronavirus, your social life changes a lot and I was anticipating it. It’s been disappointing, but at the same time, you know, people are dying. People are losing their jobs. There is a lot more at stake.”
Twelve packs of diapers aside, Stinchcomb said she really would just like to experience the “rite of passage” the same way her friends and family did. That is, with her friends and family.
“At the end of the day what is most important to me is having a healthy baby and this coronavirus will pass,” Stinchcomb said. “In the grand scheme of things, the virus is a temporary interruption and I get to be a parent for the rest of my life.”
