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LIFE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS
The Pregnant Woman Who Is Afraid to Give Birth in a Hospital
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.
Nikki Kay is a 37-year-old from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. She is about to give birth to her third child as she navigates a hospital system overwhelmed by the coronavirus, while also grieving over the death of a beloved family member.
My due date is this week, and the world is upside down. Three months ago, I knew just what my life would look like today. One night, I’d go into labor. My husband would drive me to the hospital, where we’d meet my doula, and after a few hours, we would have a baby. After our requisite two-day hospital stay, we’d have a get-together with friends and family to meet the baby. My older two kids would still be in school for a few months, leaving me plenty of time to bond with the baby while they were away.
That was then. Now I’m set to give birth during the middle of a global pandemic…
