Living in a pandemic is hard enough, but having a baby in a pandemic is next level. As if pregnancy under normal circumstances doesn't come with enough challenges, adding in the daily stress of COVID-19 can make some days feel downright impossible. If you're finding that this has caused relationship problems between you and your partner, you're definitely not alone.
Don't worry — the pandemic challenges you're facing now aren't permanent, and this, too, shall pass. But there's no sugarcoating it: Giving birth during a pandemic, especially when you're worrying about your baby's health and safety, isn't for the weak.
Finding that arguments are coming way more frequently between you and your partner during this time? Here's what you need to know to get back on the road to good communication.
**relationship problems, pandemic challenges, giving birth pandemic, baby health and safety
Pregnancy during COVID-19
Self-care while giving birth in a pandemic
Taking care of yourself (and your baby-to-be) and ensuring that your partner has time to the same for themselves is also a part of how to build strong relationships that can withstand a bit of fighting in a stressful situation like this.
5. Get plenty of sleep. That can be hard, especially toward the end of pregnancy, but making sure you've gotten enough sleep (at least eight hours, if possible) can have a huge impact on your mood.
6. Know how to ask for help. Whether you're pregnant or have recently given birth, accept the help you're offered, and don't be afraid to reach out to those who love you and ask them for a little assistance, even if it's just picking up your groceries or dropping off some coffee. You shouldn't have to do it all alone, and your partner deserves a break, too!
And remember: No matter how challenging this time is, it can be very helpful to stay as positive as possible.
"I charged myself with finding the bright side," mom Gretchen Bossio wrote for Mom.com. "After all, I was healthy, my baby was healthy — everything was going to be OK, albeit different. And someday I would be able to tell my little one, 'You and Mama survived quite the ordeal — a pandemic — while you grew in my tummy!'"
