Tana Brophy sits with 3-year-old Mateo Brophy as he hugs her pregnant belly.
Photo submitted
Pregnancy and labor can often be an anxious time for expecting families, but especially during a pandemic with lots of unknowns.
Lauren Fontaine Byrd and Tana Brophy are both expecting and due in August — Byrd with her third child and Brophy with her second. Brophy said when the worry of the COVID-19 pandemic picked up in mid-March, it was difficult for her mentally and emotionally to process.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm“(96? E96C6’D F?46CE2:?EJ J@F 42?’E A=2?j x 766= =:<6 H96? J@F’C6 AC68?2?E 2== J@F 5@ :D A=2?[” qC@A9J D2:5] “*@F A=2? 7@C 49:=5 42C6 @C 9@H J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 277@C5 E@ DE2J 9@>6] q6:?8 AC68?2?E 367@C6[ x 925 D@>6E9:?8 E@ 4@>A2C6 :E E@] x 5:5?’E 766= 2D 6I4:E65 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6 2D x H2D H:E9 >J @E96C D@?j E92E 6I4:E6>6?E H2D C6A=2465 H:E9 H@CCJ 23@FE E96 E9:?8D x 4@F=5?’E 4@?EC@=]”k^Am
kAmqC@A9J[ E96 3:=:?8F2= A2C6?E 65F42E@C 7@C E96 (2E2F82 r9:=5C6?’D r@F?4:=[ 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 3@E9 DE2CE65 E@ H@C< 7C@> 9@>6 :? >:5\|2C49 E@ 96=A C65F46 E96 C:D< @7 E96> 36:?8 6IA@D65] $96’D C646?E=J 366? :?G@=G65 H:E9 2 |@E96C’D r@??64E DFAA@CE 8C@FA E9C@F89 E96 r9:=5C6?’D r@F?4:= E92E 3682? 23@FE E9C66 H66<D 28@] %96 8C@FA DE2CE65 3642FD6 r9:=5C6?’D r@F?4:= DE277 3682? E@ ?@E:46 E92E E96C6 H2D?’E 2 =@E @7 DFAA@CE 7@C >@>D 5FC:?8 E9:D E:>6[ 2?5 H2?E65 E@ @776C 2 DA246 7@C 6IA64E:?8 72>:=:6D E@ 4@>>F?:42E6]k^Am
kAmqC@A9J 6?4@FC2865 6IA64E:?8 >@>D E@ C6249 @FE E@ E96 r9:=5C6?UCDBF@jD r@F?4:= @C @E96C =@42= C6D@FC46D :7 E96J 2C6 766=:?8 @G6CH96=>65 @C H@CC:65] %96 8C@FA >66ED @?46 2 H66< @? %9FCD52JD E@ @776C G:CEF2= J@82 2?5 5:D4FDD:@?D E@ >@>D] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 8C@FA[ 4@?E24E #@3:? %C:A=6EE 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iC@3:?oE9649:=5C6?D4@F?4:=]@C8QmC@3:?oE9649:=5C6?D4@F?4:=]@C8k^2m]k^Am
kAmqJC5 :D E96 @H?6C 2?5 49:C@AC24E@C @7 pAA2=249:2? u2>:=J r9:C@AC24E:4 :? q@@?6j D96 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 4=@D65 E96 AC24E:46 7@C 7:G6 H66<D 3FE 92G6 C6@A6?65 E96 3FD:?6DD H:E9 2 76H >@C6 AC642FE:@?D :? A=246] qJC5 EC62ED >2?J 72>:=:6D — :?4=F5:?8 6IA64E2?E >@E96CD E9C@F89@FE E96:C AC68?2?4:6D — 2?5 D2:5 E96 >2:? 4@?46C?D D96 92D 962C5 7C@> >@>D H6C6 23@FE >2?52E65 r~'xs\`h E6DE:?8[ 564:5:?8 36EH66? E6=6962=E9 @C :?\A6CD@? AC6?2E2= 2AA@:?E>6?ED[ ?@E 92G:?8 2?J G:D:E@CD 36D:56D E96:C DA@FD6 2E E96 9@DA:E2= 2?5 ?@E 92G:?8 2446DD E@ 2 5@F=2 5FC:?8 56=:G6CJ]k^Am
Lauren Fontaine Byrd sits with her children, Lila and Jake, as she’s pregnant with her third child.
Photo submitted
kAmpE 7:CDE qJC5 A2CE:4:A2E65 :? AC6?2E2= E6=6962=E9 2AA@:?E>6?ED[ 3FE D2:5 E96C6’D ;FDE D@>6 4@>7@CE :? 962C:?8 2 323J’D 962CE362E E92E :D >:DD65 @FE @? H:E9 :?E6C?6E 2AA@:?E>6?ED]k^Am
kAm|6=@?:6 u@C>H2=E :D 2 =24E2E:@? 4@?DF=E2?E 2?5 @?6 @7 EH@ 49:=53:CE9 :?DECF4E@CD 7@C E96 (2E2F82 |65:42= r6?E6C’D q:CE9:?8 r6?E6C] $96 D2:5 AC68?2?E H@>6? 2C6 E6DE65 7@C r~'xs\`h 2E bg H66<D @7 AC68?2?4J @C 62C=:6C :7 D96 :D D4965F=65 7@C 2 426D2C62? 56=:G6CJ @C 2? :?5F4E:@?] x7 2 A2E:6?E H6C6 E@ E6DE A@D:E:G6 @C :D 2 DFDA64E65 A@D:E:G6[ D96 H@F=5 36 :D@=2E65]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ pAA2=249:2? #68:@?2= w62=E942C6 $JDE6> |2C<6E:?8 s:C64E@C ':4<: $E6G6?D[ :7 A2E:6?ED 2C6 5:C64E65 3J E96:C @3DE6EC:4:2? E@ 8@ E@ (2E2F82 |65:42= r6?E6C[ A2E:6?ED @C E96:C DA@FD6^72>:=J >6>36CD 2C6 2D<65 E@ 42== 29625 E@ =6E E96 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E <?@H E96J 2C6 @? E96:C H2J] (96? E96 A2E:6?E 2CC:G6D 2E E96 9@DA:E2=[ $E6G6?D D2:5 DE277 H:== >66E E96 A2E:6?E 2?5 6D4@CE E96> E@ E96 q:CE9:?8 r6?E6C] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 q:CE9:?8 r6?E6C[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^2AAC9D]@C8^nDl3:CE9Z46?E6C]Qm2AAC9D]@C8^nDl3:CE9Z46?E6C]k^2mk^Am
kAmpD @7 yF?6[ (2E2F82 |65:42= r6?E6C 2==@H65 @?=J @?6 A6CD@? E@ 6?E6C H:E9 E96 A2E:6?E :? =23@C] sFC:?8 E96:C DE2J[ E96 D2>6 A6CD@? H:== 36 2==@H65 E@ C6>2:? H:E9 E96 A2E:6?E[ 3FE ?@ @E96C 72>:=J 2C6 2==@H65 E@ G:D:E 2E E9:D E:>6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $E6G6?D] !2E:6?ED 2?5 E96:C G:D:E@CD 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ H62C 2 >2D< 2?5 >FDE C6>2:? :? E96:C C@@>D 2E 2== E:>6Dj $E6G6?D D2:5 H@>6? 5@ ?@E 92G6 E@ H62C 2 >2D< H9:=6 :? =23@C] %96 9@DA:E2=’D ?FEC:E:@? D6CG:46D E62> 42==D E96 A2E:6?E C@@> E@ E2<6 >62= @C56CD 2?5 56=:G6CD E96 >62=D E@ E96 A2E:6?E’D C@@>]k^Am
kAmqJC5 D2:5 D96 :D?’E H@CC:65 23@FE 8:G:?8 3:CE9[ 3FE :D 5:D2AA@:?E65 E92E 96C `\J62C\@=5 2?5 b\J62C\@=5 H@?’E 36 23=6 E@ >66E E96:C ?6H 323J D:DE6C 2E E96 9@DA:E2= @?46 D96’D 3@C?]k^Am
kAm“w2G:?8 >J 52F89E6C 4@>6 E@ E96 9@DA:E2= H2D DF49 2 8C62E 3@?5:?8 6IA6C:6?46 7@C @FC 72>:=J H96? >J D@? H2D 3@C?[” qJC5 D2:5] “~FC 52F89E6C C6>6>36CD 4@>:?8 E@ E96 9@DA:E2= E@ G:D:E >@>>J 2?5 >66E 96C ?6H 323J 3C@E96C] x’== 92E6 7@C 2== @7 FD E@ >:DD @FE @? E92E 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 E9:D 323J]”k^Am
kAm$@>6 9@DA:E2=D 2C6 2==@H:?8 5@F=2D E@ 36 AC6D6?E 5FC:?8 =23@C[ DF49 2D y@9?D@? r:EJ |65:42= r6?E6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ p==:D@? #@==2?D[ E96 4@\@H?6C @7 w:89 r@F?ECJ s@F=2D] qJC5 :D 4@?46C?65 23@FE A@E6?E:2==J ?@E 92G:?8 2 5@F=2 H:E9 96C H96? D96 8@6D :?E@ =23@C :? pF8FDE[ 2D (2E2F82 |65:42= r6?E6C’D @?6\A6CD@? A@=:4J H@F=5 ?@E 2==@H 7@C 2 5@F=2 E@ 36 AC6D6?E[ 2D E96 @?6 A6CD@? H@F=5 EJA:42==J 36 2 A2CE?6C @C 72>:=J >6>36C]k^Am
kAm“|J 5@F=2 :D DF49 2? :?E68C2= A2CE @7 >J 3:CE9 E62>j x 42?’E :>28:?6 =23@C 2?5 56=:G6CJ H:E9@FE >J 5@F=2 36:?8 E96C6[” qJC5 D2:5] “x’> 9@A67F= E92E (2E2F82 H:== C64@8?:K6 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 5@F=2D 2D A2CE @7 E96 3:CE9:?8 E62> 2?5 2==@H E96> 2446DD 282:? D@@?]”k^Am
kAm#@==2?D D2:5 D96’D 925 42==D 7C@> 6IA64E:?8 72>:=:6D 7C@> 2== @G6C E96 C68:@? H:E9 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 9@H E@ 92?5=6 AC68?2?4J 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4] $96 25565 E92E E96 286?4J 2DD:DE65 H:E9 3:CE9D :? u63CF2CJ 2?5 |2C49[ 3FE E96? 925 2 82A :? H9:49 ?@ 6IA64E:?8 >@E96CD H6C6 D4965F=65 E@ 8:G6 3:CE9 F?E:= =2E6 yF=J @C pF8FDE]k^Am
kAmw:89 r@F?ECJ s@F=2D 92D D9:7E65 >@DE @7 :ED D6CG:46D @?=:?6[ DF49 2D G:CEF2= 49:=53:CE9 65F42E:@? 4=2DD6D 2?5 G:56@ 3C62DE7665:?8 4@?DF=ED] x7 A2C6?ED H@F=5 C2E96C 92G6 2? :?\A6CD@? 4@?DF=E @C 4=2DD[ #@==2?D D2:5 w:89 r@F?ECJ s@F=2D 42? E2<6 46CE2:? AC642FE:@?D E@ 5@ D@ H9:=6 D@4:2= 5:DE2?4:?8] #@==2?D D2:5 E96 286?4J :D ECJ:?8 E@ 8:G6 >@C6 DFAA@CE E@ 72>:=:6D @? E96 7C@?E 6?5 367@C6 =23@C D@ E96J 766= >@C6 AC6A2C65]k^Am
kAm“w2G:?8 E96 G:CEF2= @AE:@? :D 2 8C62E H2J E@ 86E E96 :?7@C>2E:@? J@F ?665[ DF49 2D H96? J@F’C6 2 ?6H A2C6?E H:E9 2 323J H9@ :D ?@E =2E49:?8 H6==[ J@FC ?:AA=6D 2C6 D@C6[ J@FC 323J :D 7FDDJ @C E96J H@?’E D=66A] (6 42? D:E 5@H? H:E9 A6@A=6 BF:4<=J[ D@>6E:>6D H:E9:? E96 9@FC[ 2?5 36 23=6 E@ 2?DH6C E9@D6 BF6DE:@?D 7@C E96>]”k^Am
kAmu@C>H2=E D2:5 E96 q:CE9:?8 r6?E6C 92D 25565 2 G:CEF2= E@FC @7 E96 46?E6C E@ E96 p#w$ H63D:E6 D@ A2E:6?ED 766= >@C6 4@>7@CE23=6 <?@H:?8 H92E E@ 6IA64E H96? :EUCDBF@jD E:>6 E@ 92G6 E96:C 323:6D] %@ G:6H E96 E@FC[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl_&\J6#uc|w8]QmHHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl_&\J6#uc|w8]k^2mk^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ D96’D >2:=:?8 @FE A24<6ED E@ H@>6? H9@ 2C6 C68:DE6C65 7@C 3C62DE7665:?8 4=2DD6D E92E :?4=F56 AC:?E65 :?7@C>2E:@? E96J H@F=5 92G6 C646:G65 :? 4=2DD 2D H6== 2D =:?<D E@ @?=:?6 H63D:E6D E92E 2C6 96=A7F= E@ H2E49 367@C6 368:??:?8 3C62DE7665:?8] u@C>H2=E :D 2=D@ 2G2:=23=6 7@C E6=6A9@?6 @C u246%:>6 5:D4FDD:@? :7 A2E:6?ED H@F=5 =:<6 E@ E2=< H:E9 96C AC6?2E2==J]k^Am
kAmx7 E96 @?6\A6CD@? G:D:E@C A@=:4J :D DE:== :? A=246 2E (2E2F82 |65:42= r6?E6C H96? 2 w:89 r@F?ECJ s@F=2D 4=:6?E 8@6D :?E@ =23@C[ #@==2?D D2:5 E96 286?4J H@F=5 AC676C DFAA@CE 2D ?@C>2= — H9:49 DE2CED H:E9 A9@?6 42==D E@ 4964< :? H:E9 E96 A2C6?ED] sFC:?8 24E:G6 =23@C[ E96 72>:=J’D 5@F=2 4@F=5 36 E96C6 G:2 G:56@ 492E E@ 96=A E96 4@FA=6 H2=< E9C@F89 E96 AC@46DD[ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D 2?5 C6>:?5 E96 A2CE?6C H2JD E@ 36 DFAA@CE:G6 @7 E96 >@E96C :? =23@C] u@C>H2=E D2:5 E92E ?@H @?=J E96 323J 2?5 >@E96C 42? 6?E6C E96 9@DA:E2= 7@C 255:E:@?2= G:D:ED @?46 E96J 92G6 366? 5:D492C865]k^Am
kAmqJC5 D2:5 96C 36DE 25G:46 7@C 2== 6IA64E2?E >@E96CD :D E@ <66A 962=E9J 3J 62E:?8 ?FEC:E:@FD 7@@5D[ DE2J:?8 24E:G6[ 5C:?<:?8 A=6?EJ @7 H2E6C 2?5 ECJ:?8 ?@E E@ DEC6DD] qC@A9J C64@>>6?565 E92E 6IA64E:?8 >@E96CD 8C@F?5 E96>D6=G6D 3J E9:?<:?8 23@FE E96 AC6D6?E 2?5 ?@E H@CCJ:?8 23@FE E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F 42? 8C@F?5 J@FCD6=7 H:E9 J@FC 323J :? E92E >@>6?E 2?5 E2<6 E9@D6 >@>6?ED E@ ;FDE 3C62E96 2?5 36 AC6D6?E H:E9 J@FC 323J[ :E’D 96=A65 2 =@E 7@C >6[” qC@A9J D2:5] “(96? 96’D >@G:?8 … E96 H@CC:6D 8@ 2H2J 3642FD6 96’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 96C6 2?5 ?@ >2EE6C H92E x 92G6 E@ <66A 8@:?8]”k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.