Halifax research looking into postpartum life, COVID-19 and the virtual world
Global News
'We know it's not the same and we know that there are downfalls to it and that it can't take the place of in-person. But is it better than nothing?' said one of the researchers.
When Jennifer Kim gave birth to her third child this past June, she immediately knew it wasn’t going to be like her previous postpartum experiences.
Instead of immediately inviting friends and family over to help her with the newborn, Kim was faced with indoor gathering limits, social distancing rules and travel restrictions.
Those feelings of isolation due to COVID-19 restrictions were nothing new — they had started months before the birth of her daughter.
“Pregnancy and postpartum life during this pandemic has been very different from my other two pregnancies,” she said.
“Not being able to take your partner to appointments, not being able to share the pregnancy or baby with friends and family or visit in the hospital was really sad.”
The Halifax mother knows the benefits of in-person postpartum support well. As part of her Master of Education project after the birth of her eldest son in 2016, she co-ordinated gatherings for new mothers to hear from speakers on topics ranging from infant massage to nutrition and dental health.
That just wasn’t possible this time around.
“Facebook groups have become a major part of a lot of parents, with many moms coming together with varying degrees of experiences trying to make the best of it,” she said.
