COVID-19: Tracy's Guide for Families

💁 Tracy's Tips for maintaining and improving mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic Warning: this article is very long and contain materials on different topics. Please take it in slowly and separate in different chunks. During the pandemic, mental health may be affected in many ways. Psychological symptoms usually include: nervousness, anxiety, worry, fear, helplessness, being overwhelmed, depression, worry, anger, panic, mania, guilt, or feeling of being treated unfairly due to discrimination against certain group of people. Physiological symptoms usually include: headaches, stomachaches, loss of appetite, insomnia, nightmares, continuously feeling like crying, shortness of breath, heart palpitations (fast heartbeat), fatigue, general weakness, discomfort, etc. Everyone experiences some degree of these stresses, in their own unique way. Biological and social-economic factors all have an impact on your own particular experiences. Regardless of these factors, ...

Q: During the pandemic period, do mothers need postnatal doctor’s visits?  💁 Tracy:  Mothers and newborn babies should follow doctor's advise on receiving postpartum care. In order to reduce face-to-face contact, you can consult your doctor and postpartum care team to make a plan, which may include telephone consultation or online consultation. If you have to visit your doctors physically, you should take prevention measures, such as wearing masks, washing hands, keeping social distance, and follow other recommendations by your doctor as much as possible. If you have to take your baby for such sessions, please take extra steps to protect the baby as well according to your doctor's advise. If you or the newborn start to develop symptoms related to COVID-19, contact your doctors immediately. Q: Do mothers with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 have to be separated from their newborns? Can they keep nursing? 💁 Tracy: Mothers with COVID-19 related symptoms can...

Q: Are pregnant women more susceptible to COVID-19? 💁 Tracy: According to the current research, there is no evidence that pregnant women are more or less susceptible to COVID-19. Q: If I am pregnant, do I still need to go to obstetric examinations regularly during the COVID-19 pandemics? 💁 Tracy: First of all, obstetric examinations are still very important to the health of fetuses and mothers. Some of the OB GYN examinations are especially important, such as screenings for abnormal pregnancies, Down Syndrome, gestational diabetes mellitus, cervical cancer, and abnormal vaginal discharge. You also need to meet with your doctors to decide on a suitable delivery plan. However, considering the current situation of COVID-19 pandemic, expecting mothers should consult with their obstetricians on whether they can reduce office visits by taking basic measurements at home, such as weight, blood pressure, body temperature, and blood sugar. Women in early pregnancy should always pay a...

Q: How can I effectively use a gas mask to protect myself? 💁 Tracy: Wash and disinfect your hands before attempting to wear the mask. Open the canister lid of the gas mask and put the mask on.  Check that you have ensured a proper fit: Wash and disinfect your hands (again). Use one hand to block the mouth of the canister and try to inhale. If you can still do so normally with the canister blocked, or if you hear air leaking through the edges of the mask as you breathe, it has not been properly worn, or else the gas mask itself leaks. Once you are sure that the mask is sealed, tilt your head down and try again; and then again with your head tilted up. This is important and should not be skipped! Only if, with the canister blocked, you cannot breathe at all three angles, have you confirmed that the mask is being properly worn to manufacturing specifications. After all, you don’t want any unfiltered air leaking in, under any circumstances! When you return inside, first tak...

Q: Can gas masks protect against COVID-19? Are they better than disposable masks? 💁 Tracy:  With effective disinfection and frequent filter replacement, a gas mask can effectively prevent the spread of airborne respiratory droplets. Compared with disposable masks, gas masks have the following advantages: Airtight fit: The shape and materials used along the edges of the gas masks make them conform and adhere better to the face. Budget-friendliness: Filters are less expensive than disposable masks, so over long periods of time, gas masks tend to be more economical than disposable ones. But it also has one principal disadvantage: in actual use, many people cannot completely disinfect it or replace the filter in timely fashion. If you use a gas mask frequently without taking adequate precautionary measures, you may in fact be increasing your chances of infection. Also, gas mask can look very intimidating and does not appear friendly in the public. Q: Which type of gas ma...

Q: How do I get my own work done while making sure my children complete schoolwork while schools are closed? 💁 Tracy: Many families are struggling with this. Here are some steps that will help: Education is important, but earning money to put food on your table is also important. Write down everything you need to do in a day and prioritize the items.   Once you know your priorities, place them on a daily schedule. You may use a chart that shows the schedule for each family member (especially if devices are shared) or have individual schedules.  Include your children in both of the above steps. They will need these skills as they get older, and empowering them will lead to more buy in for your plan.  Include time for relaxation, play, and exercise in each schedule. These are important for physical and emotional health.  Decide where each person will work in your home. Set up your work and school spaces with everything each person needs. ...