ATLANTA — Expectant moms are preparing for one of the most emotional and beautiful experiences of their lives.
Now, they’re faced with delivering their baby in hospitals with COVID-19 patients, without family at their side.
"My tour of the hospital got canceled. My birthing class got canceled," listed LaTosha Key McDade.
She is expecting her first child on May 5. She never expected to be delivering her baby during a pandemic. Her plans for a doula and having her mom by her side during delivery have all been canceled.
"This is their first grand-baby. They’re kind of disappointed but they’ll be here at the house," she said.
It's a new normal for expectant mother during the pandemic.
"I think some birth plans are going to have to change," explained Dr. Sujatha Reddy. "I checked with Northside (Hospital), where I work, and right now, for labor and delivery, Northside is saying a mom can pick one person to stay with her."
Key McDade is scheduled to deliver her baby at Northside.
"My husband will be the one person, that’s it," she said. “It’s kind of like, I waited all this time to have a baby, and now when I finally want to have a baby the world is literally shut down.”
There is not a lot of research on the effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women, but Dr. Reddy said their immune systems are already slightly suppressed. She said the most important thing for pregnant women could do is stay at home.
Still, LaTosha is optimistic. As a cancer survivor, she said she's learned a valuable lesson in coping with the unknown.
"You got to control the controllable, and this something that is non controllable."