Life in the Time of Coronavirus
The New Mother Who Gave Birth Without Knowing If She Was Exposed
The latest in our series about how this pandemic affects our lives, our loved ones, our work, and our way of life
Life in the Time of Coronavirus is a new GEN series where we are interviewing people across the country who have had their lives upended or are experiencing the stress of the unknown.
When Sarah, who is using a pseudonym, became pregnant late last summer, she had a reasonable idea of what to expect. This would be her second time giving birth, and as a lawyer and former legislative aide, she’s used to high-stress scenarios. But she lives in Northern California, and as the coronavirus pandemic drew closer to her doorstep, it was hard not to feel anxious in the midst of all the uncertainty.
Sarah felt confident her doctor and the hospital were doing their best to adjust protocols in response to the pandemic as they received information, but the situation and guidance in the county and state were changing rapidly. Then, just two days before her scheduled induction, and despite having taken precautions, she learned she might have been exposed to Covid-19.
