Pregnant with COVID
My experience being pregnant and contracting COVID-19. This was and still is an unpleasant experience, but in my case, it’s not completely unbearable.
My Story:
Why didn’t I get a vaccine? I asked my OB/GYN if I should and in sum they said, what’s another month or so until after you give birth? And I was like yes, definitely. Was this a mistake? I have no idea… Who knows what would have happened if I had the vaccine.
At 35 weeks pregnant, I figured I had COVID-19. My mother-in-law, who watches my daughter 2 days a week, and father-in-law tested positive for COVID the Saturday before Easter.
Easter is my holiday (it was the only one available when we bought our house). I was so sad about it. After texting my entire immediate family letting them know Easter was canceled, I took a depression nap.
Easter Sunday, my husband and daughter were tested for COVID; I was not since I did not have direct contact with my in-laws that past week. They both received positive results Monday. I then scheduled a test for the following day. I know my husband (who had 1 of 2 shots of the vaccine) had more of a cold, and it seems my daughter did as well. Wednesday I had word, I was also positive – no surprise there.
Back to Tuesday, my in-laws (who thankfully felt much better) took my daughter for the week so my husband and I could work from home now that she couldn’t go to daycare. Tuesday I had pretty light symptoms, headache, cold-like. I was kind of in denial, hoping I would test negative. By Wednesday afternoon I was feeling like I had the flu, and took the afternoon off of work to nap. Thursday, I didn’t go to work (I am a majority remote worker) and barely got out of bed.
Symptoms:
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Chills
- Fatigue
Being preggo you can’t take the good over-the-counter drugs, so I was stuck with Tylenol.
Friday, I worked kind of a half day. Work, nap, work. Saturday my symptoms had mostly subsided, aside from one awful thing: fatigue. I have literally never felt anything like this in my life.
Timeline Recap:
Saturday – In-laws positive > Easter Sunday – Hubs and Babe get tested > Monday – Hubs and Babe positive results > Tuesday – I am tested, start feeling symptoms for real, & in-laws take my daughter > Wednesday – I receive my positive results, take the afternoon off of work to nap > Thursday – Sleep forever > Friday – work & sleep > Saturday – rest > Sunday – babe is returned
Y’all, this COVID fatigue is no joke. Some people have said, “well you are 8/9 months pregnant.” No. Nope. It’s not pregnancy tired, it’s a totally different animal. There’s no denying it probably doesn’t help, but it’s not the same at all. I want to be able to explain this in a way everyone will understand, but I probably cannot.
An Aside – My boss said something even worse, she commented how she hoped this didn’t put me into labor. Um, thanks? Honestly, I felt so shitty I didn’t even think about the risk of the virus having that possibility, but once she brought it up? Yea, just another thing to stress about.
My Attempt at an Explanation of the Fatigue:
I have spoken with my medical providers, I have Googled, and I have asked others who have had COVID… Apparently COVID fatigue is neurological, so it stems from your nervous system. It’s the oddest feeling. When I overexert myself my limbs become tired and I need to sit down or lay down. I’m not talking about going for a jog or a light workout; I mean climbing a flight of stairs, getting my daughter dressed and ready for the day, doing dishes, folding laundry, etc. Everything feels daunting and overwhelming. I am so grateful my husband has been able to WFH during quarantine, I literally would not be able to function alone with a bebe.
The timeline for fatigue lasting is so uncertain, it’s normally 2-3 weeks, but can last up to 6 months (according to my medical providers). I am about 1.5 weeks in, so I’m hoping to be in the “normal” timeframe.
To say I’m frustrated is an understatement.
How am I dealing with this?
Here are my Top 5 Strategies:
- Recognize COVID fatigue is real and be patient with yourself (and others trying to help you).
As someone who is very type-A I have had the hardest time with this, but I am trying! It’s so tough to let chores slide. I did have one meltdown, wait 2. First, I was pissed the dishwasher wasn’t emptied for >24 hours plus a sink full of dishes; next, was repeatedly asking my husband to do something. I am *mostly* a person who does not procrastinate or forget things; making it difficult to understand waiting until “later” or forgetting something even after just being reminded. It’s definitely been hard to not be able to contribute as much as I want. - Plan. Prioritize. Delegate.
The P’s aren’t a problem, I plan my life out daily and weekly for the static and recurring things. The delegate is where I have an issue, I usually just do what I need to, but I need to be better at instructing others in my house exactly how I want things done and by when. That might sound picky, but direct instructions are better than vague ones. - Don’t over exert yourself when you are feeling good.
I had to learn this the hard way. I was feeling particularly well one day. Thinking I was out of the woods, I was doing all the chores. Well, at around 5:00 at night I need to take a nap. This has to be the most inconvenient time to take a nap and it definitely does not allow you to get back to bed at a normal time. Which brings me to my next coping mechanism. - Get a good night’s sleep.
Be consistent with your bedtime and bedtime routine. I am a proponent of this already, I need a solid 8-10 hours to function optimally. I’ve always been into a sleep schedule, so I’m trying to stick with this now more than ever. Leaning more towards the 10 hours though 😉 - Track how your feeling daily and alert your provider if symptoms are worsening
Thankfully, I have not been experiencing any increased fatigue. It’s pretty much the same or slightly better daily. However, if you notice the opposite or have any concerns, please reach out to your provider, this is still very new to everyone and better to be safe. If you can’t remember, literally write it down and compare how you felt the day before.
If you are pregnant and have COVID, I hope you get better soon and I hope these fatigue management tips were helpful!
Takeaway(s): Do not tell someone who is pregnant that contracts COVID the fatigue could be because they’re pregnant & definitely do not mention anything about the virus putting them into labor. Whether they have thought about it or not, it’s not something they want someone else to bring up, trust me.
Pro tip: Do literally anything for your pregnant friend/family member who gets COVID. Drop off meals, baked goods, their favorite foods, a hot beverage, etc. Next, once they are out of quarantine, get your (hopefully vaccinated) self over there, ask them where the vacuum lives, and just start cleaning – – I’m kidding, but borderline serious!
Related: CrossFit & Pregnancy
