Mother Gives Birth Alone While Battling COVID-19

Everyone is trying to avoid COVID-19 but especially women like Mackenzie Eagle Road. The pregnant McAlester mom found out she tested positive for the virus well into her third trimester.

Tuesday, January 5th 2021, 6:34 am



Everyone is trying to avoid COVID-19 but especially women like Mackenzie Eagle Road.

The pregnant McAlester mom found out she tested positive for the virus well into her third trimester.

"I notified everyone I could before I went into the hospital, everyone I had been around that week," said Mackenzie. 

The news that she was COVID positive came at one of the worst possible times.

"We got all my stuff and I walked in," said Mackenzie "I walked in by myself with a nurse."

At 40 weeks, the young mom originally came to the hospital to have her baby. But after testing positive, she didn't have a lot of options.

She could have her baby now as planned alone, or come back in about a week. Either way, she was going to go through the birth alone. 

"I kind of had a moment of fear and anxiety, and then I snapped out of it because I was just like you aren't here because of the virus you are here to have a baby," said Mackenzie.

The young mom wasn't angry at the hospital's protocol, but was nervous to make decisions on her own. But still, she left her husband to brave birth alone with mild COVID-19 symptoms. 

During the next few days Mackenzie said FaceTime, her midwife and the nursing staff were her only comfort. The staff helped her connect with her family who was waiting outside in the parking lot after the birth. 

"After she got here it was such a relief and it all happened really quick," said Mackenzie. 

She told News 9 they tested her daughter multiple times. Thankfully little India Love was negative, and for a few days they were alone together.

Whenever they were close, masks were worn.

Mackenzie did experience new COVID-19 symptoms over the next few days, but the pair was finally cleared to go home to dad.

"We unloaded everything and we sat on the couch and got the baby out and I just started bawling," said Mackenzie. "And I just fell on [my husband] and was crying and he was like what's wrong. I said that was just so hard."

After returning home, Mackenzie's husband and 3-year-old son both tested positive for COVID-19. The whole family had to learn to care for a newborn while positive for COVID. 

What the little family did, and what the CDC recommends is wear masks and wash your hands frequently before touching the new baby.

Now happy, healthy and out of quarantine, Makenzie hopes her story brings someone else hope and strength. She wants people to know things can turn out well even if they end up in a similar situation.

Her best advice, focus on your baby and don't worry about things you can't control. 

For more recommendations for caring for a baby while COVID positive, head to the CDC's official website.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

January 5th, 2021

March 8th, 2022

January 21st, 2022

January 13th, 2022

Top Headlines

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024