For the Week Ending July 26, 2020
Were you tested for COVID-19 during Pregnancy or at birth?
If you were, complete Pregistry’s survey and help other women who are pregnant or contemplating becoming pregnant.
A collaboration of Pregistry and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Click here to Register.
A bunch of moms locked arms, forming a human shield, to try to protect protesters from federal forces in Portland, Oregon this week. They were horrified to see their fellow citizens being hauled into unmarked vans by Homeland Security officers for demonstrating against police brutality. Some of the moms were tear gassed along with the rest of the crowd, but they are committed to continuing their tactics as long as there are protestors who need protection. Read more here.
This is important for you because “We moms are often underestimated,” said Bev Barnum, the 35-year-old mother of two who galvanized the group on Facebook. She’s right, and she’s using her power for good.
Doctors in a number of different countries (including ours) independently noticed that the numbers of premature births fell dramatically once their countries went into lockdown. They are not quite sure why, but speculate that it could be because there has been less air pollution since people haven’t been travelling as much, or possibly that pregnant women are not as stressed. Read more here.
This is important for you because take your silver linings where you can get them.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists hosted Black Maternal Health Week this past week and briefed congressional staff on the disproportionate rates of pregnancy-related deaths among Black women. Read more here.
This is important for you because it has long been an issue, but the pandemic has only exacerbated this and other inequities along with many others in our society.
States are weighing if and how they can safely open schools in the fall. Many parents rely on schools as childcare; if school’s don’t open, they won’t be able to get back to work. And even when parents can work from home, doing so with kids around can make it difficult to do their jobs and hold them back professionally. Read more here.
This is important for you because childcare for working parents, especially mothers, in this country has always been difficult. Under the pandemic it is becoming even more so.
