That’s because these two babies were born in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the restrictions surrounding COVD-19, the number of people in the delivery room was limited, and after the babies returned home, they were unable to leave, unable to meet their relatives.
Call them Bubble Babies.
Lucas James Rice was born March 22 at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown to Wendy Rice, 33, of Southgate, Ky.
Scarlett Annabelle Mills was born May 1 at Fort Hamilton Hospital to Sarah Mayne, 20, of Hamilton.
Today the women are celebrating their first Mother’s Day.
MORE McCRABB: McCrabb: From college musical tour to in-house concert series
They will always remember how the coronavirus impacted their pregnancies, delivery and first few months at home.
“It definitely increased the anxiety,” Mayne said about being pregnant during the pandemic. “You never knew what was coming, what was next. It made making plans harder.”
Rice’s major concern was possible travel restrictions. She was worried about not being allowed to drive from her home in Kentucky to the hospital in Ohio to have her baby in Atrium’s Natural Beginnings Birthing Center.
If she was unable to travel, “the entire birth plan was out the window,” she said.
Instead, there were no cross-state line restrictions so she delivered her son in a water tub at Atrium. She and husband Joseph Rice took 12 weeks of birthing classes at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Kentucky and were taught a birthing method in which the husband also serves as coach and partner.
They learned about the Natural Beginnings at Atrium and decided, “Let’s do that.”
Mayne and her boyfriend, Levi Mills, 24, became parents the more traditional way. She said every physician visit began with her temperature being taken and she wasn’t permitted to bring any visitors.
Her baby shower was cancelled.
MORE McCRABB: Cancer diagnosis ‘dark day’ for parents of girl, 12
Now, Mayne, said those were small inconveniences.
“As long as she was going to be OK, nothing else mattered,” she said sounding more and more like a mother. “I didn’t care what we had to do to keep her the safest. It was scary, but she made it through a very troubling event in our history.”
Throughout her pregnancy, Mayne frequently wondered about motherhood and how she would bound with her baby. Those questions were answered the instant she saw Scarlett.
“A rush of love came over me,” she said. “I couldn’t believe I created something so beautiful.”
For Rice, this was the second time she was part of a delivery. As director of the Africa Department at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, she and was part of the 30-person team that helped with the birth of Fiona, a hippopotamus born Jan. 24, 2017.
MORE McCRABB: She had a heart transplant at 1. Now, this West Chester woman stays home in fear
Fiona was the first Nile hippo imaged on ultrasound pre-natally and the first born at the zoo in 75 years.
“We had the golden ticket for a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Rice said of Fiona, who has become an Internet sensation.
The two moms were asked about anticipating their first Mother’s Day. They have celebrated the holiday with their moms. This year is different. This year they’re in the spotlight.
“A time to appreciate loving who you care about and who loves you unconditionally,” Mayne said. “Celebrating the joy of having a child.”
Then it was Rice’s turn: “Until you’re a mother I’m not sure you can appreciate all the work, worry and love it involves. I took my amazing mother for granted. I never knew how much work she was putting in.”
Then she added: “This isn’t another Hallmark card holiday. I know that now that I’m on the other side of things.”
TELLING YOUR STORIES
We’re looking to profile people throughout our coverage area about how the coronavirus is impacting your daily life. If you’re interested in sharing your story about how you’re affected or adapting to the situation, call Journal-News reporter Rick McCrabb at 513-483-5216 or email rick.mccrabb@coxinc.com.
About the Author
