Dr. Casale:Supporting moms, experienced and new

Life is coming at us quickly these days. Whether changes have occurred in our professional or domestic lives — or both — COVID-19 has forced us to live differently and adapt almost daily.

So, it’s even more important, given this frenetic pace, that we slow down a bit and appreciate the important things, like celebrating our mothers and what they mean to us and our families. It’s my sincere hope that you all had some time to honor the moms in your life on Sunday.

Mother’s Day was not typical this year, and many families connected with video technology or perhaps greeted each other from opposite sides of windows. But what didn’t change was the recognition of moms who always deserve to be appreciated, maybe now more than ever.

Being a parent has presented new challenges recently. Some parents are facing an income gap because their jobs have been put on hold. Others are balancing work with an interruption in childcare, and others yet are working full time from home and caring for their children.

Moms have always been the true heroes on the front lines of home life, but in some of these scenarios, that role has taken on new and special meanings.

On behalf of everyone who has ever had a mother who supported every step in their lives or watched in awe as a strong woman anchored her family, I want to thank all of the mothers out there for being who you are, and I hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day.

For those who might be experiencing the combined excitement and anxiety of becoming new mothers in this uncertain time, it’s important for you to know Geisinger hospitals are still safe places for you to deliver your child, and our teams of obstetrician/gynecologists, certified nurse midwives and labor and delivery nurses are prepared to guide you through this joyful experience.

The spread of the novel coronavirus has resonated with everyone, and it may cause additional anxiety in pregnant mothers who are already concerned for the wellbeing of their children. Some women may be at increased risk of developing postpartum depression, which affects one in nine women and can cause crying spells, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite and irritability, among other symptoms.

Stress relief is important if moms-to-be are feeling a little extra anxiety, and simple practices like trying to get enough sleep, eating healthy meals, unplugging from traditional and social media, and meditating or doing yoga can help quell those feelings. The most important thing, though, is to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed.

Labor and delivery teams at Geisinger are working closely with mothers-to-be in creating the safest childbirth experience for families. Our visitation policy has been limited to one support person per delivering mother to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. All visitors will be screened before entering our hospitals, and everyone will be wearing a mask during your stay.

These teams are dedicated to making you feel safe, supported and comfortable, so you can focus on bringing your little one into the world.

Adding another layer of care for mom, Geisinger just announced the launching of an innovative program that screens women for postpartum depression across their pregnancy journey — from Women’s Health to Pediatrics.

Compassionately designed to provide standardized screening throughout the pregnancy, the program uses the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a validated 10-item questionnaire most commonly used to screen for postpartum mood disorders.

During prenatal appointments, moms will be screened during their initial obstetrician visit, at the 28-week and 34-week checkups, during the six-week postpartum visit and during the one-year postpartum checkup visit. The screening program expands to pediatric appointments, where mothers will be screened by a nurse in the exam room during the encounter as part of their child’s well-child visits from two weeks to 12 months.

We understand the well-being of a child starts with the well-being of the child’s mother, and we want to support moms every day, not just on “Blueberry Muffins in Bed Day” as Rowan and Eve called yesterday for my daughter Kate!