Photo: Courtesy of Cristy Saycon
saycon-sons
Raising Keiki in COVID-19 is a series of personal reflections of parents living on Oʻahu during the coronavirus pandemic. Some articles were written by the parent, while others talked story with HONOLULU Family.
It’s such a scary time for pregnant mothers. I gave birth during the coronavirus lockdown.
Before I went into labor, my brother-in-law was admitted to the hospital for COVID-19. Doctors sedated him for six weeks to keep a ventilator tube in his throat. It was a stressful time, and I was worried about him. (Her brother-in-law, Coby Torda, was finally able to take his first steps in May. Click here to read more.)
[Even before that] I was scared about giving birth in a hospital. I considered a home birth to reduce my chances of being exposed to the coronavirus, but I decided not to when I realized that home births are not covered by insurance. My midwife helped me deliver our son in a hospital, instead.
My contractions started at 6 a.m. Before my husband and I went to the hospital, we dropped off our two sons with Grandma. I felt guilty because she doesn’t live with us, and I was nervous about the coronavirus.
I wanted to have a natural birth at the hospital—without any epidural. We did the Bradley Method for our second child and planned to use the same method for this one. My midwife told me, going into labor, to ask for laughing gas because it’s just oxygen that helps you feel relaxed; it’s not like the epidural that is passed onto the baby.
I thought laughing gas would be fun to take off the pain a little bit when contractions were strong and close. So, I asked the nurse for it. She was like, “I’m sorry, we can’t give it to you because of the coronavirus.” They were concerned that if I had the virus, I could potentially breathe particles into the air.
So, I had a natural birth without painkillers. Fourteen hours of labor.
After I gave birth, the placenta got stuck inside of me. I didn’t even know that was possible! I asked, “Did I do something wrong?” They said, “It can happen.” To expel it, I had to push again. They gave me fentanyl, so I wouldn’t have to feel the pain as they pushed on my stomach and used tools. It took 40 minutes to come out. Then they left this balloon inside of me, overnight.
My midwife told me that if I had gone through with a home birth, I might have bled to death. I was lucky.
My baby swallowed amniotic fluids during delivery and was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. I was at the hospital for two nights after giving birth. The staff was checking most new mothers out of the hospital as soon as possible because of the coronavirus. If I hadn’t had an issue with the placenta, they would have sent me home the next morning. (I gave birth around 8 p.m.)
After being discharged from the hospital, my husband and I continued to visit our son every day in the NICU. They only let in one person at a time, so one of us would sit in the car while the other visited. We wore face masks, of course. They asked us to wash our hands, and hospital staff sanitized them with alcohol wipes. They took our temperatures each time.
Photo: Courtesy of Cristy Saycon
saycon-babycarseat-mask
My husband and I are both furloughed from our hotel jobs in Waikīkī. He has to call and email all the time about his unemployment claims. I’m on maternity leave and wouldn’t mind if they extend my furlough, because there is nobody who can watch my three kids during the pandemic.
My baby wakes up a lot at night to feed, and I help my kindergarten son with online learning, but I’m not super stressed about my middle child. I try to get him to do his preschool packets from his teachers.
It seems hospitals really are doing their best to protect us by minimizing the amount of people who come in. They screen everybody who comes into the hospital, and it’s clear that they’re serious about preventing spread of the virus. Nurses are always washing their hands before they talk to patients. And they didn’t come close to me, either. They kept their distance.
The doctor checked on our baby after one month. His breathing is clear. His weight gain is great!
After more than a month in the hospital, my brother-in-law is slowly being taken off sedation, so he can wake up. I am so glad and relieved because I was so worried for him and my brother, who is married to him.
When he fully recovers and returns home, I can’t wait for him to meet his new nephew!
(Note: Her brother-in-law, Corby Toda, recovered and was discharged from the hospital on May 29 after nearly two months.)
How To Help Furloughed Hospitality Workers and Their Families
From now through June 7, the "Stay Home now, Aloha Later" is a campaign to help the employees and families of furloughed hospitality workers in Hawaiʻi. They have been severely impacted by hotel and restaurant closures, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When you make a minimum donation of $20, you will receive an #AlohaLater ribbon and know that your contribution immediately goes to an emergency fund to help them. You will also receive special discounts and promotions when the hospitality businesses re-open. This list continues to grow.
To learn more and to donate, please visit alohalater.org.
