A year ago today I was laid off.

I was also 34 weeks pregnant and high risk. I was going to the doctors 2-3 times a week to make sure my baby and I were still healthy. One of my complications was I had pre-eclampsia. So I was instructed to not do anything that would bring me stress because it would harm the baby or I and cause an early delivery.

The last few weeks of my pregnancy, my work was becoming increasingly annoyed at my pregnancy complications. My doctors only had so many appointments and it was always during work hours.

Then the pandemic hit. I look back and think we were all so naïve. We truly didn’t know what was happening.

So a year ago today, after work my boss called me to let me know we were taking 2 weeks off. A similar call most Americans received I’m sure.  It felt like it would be over soon enough if we followed directions and stayed inside. During the whole call I stayed as calm as possible because my doctor had instructed me to do so. They said they would pay me for the next weeks work.

The financial stress was in the back of my mind. I brought in half of my families income, we had saved up previously because we knew I would be on unpaid maternity leave for 6 weeks. I thought this would be a good time to take a couple of week before my baby was born to focus on my body and mind, and give it the TLC I had so desperately needed the previous 8 months. I could  now schedule my doctors appointments anytime and hopefully this would help my blood pressure.

I think there are two big reasons I feel called to write this. 1) I never had time to fully process the complete gas lighting my company caused me the following two weeks, and the mental side effects that caused. 2) The pandemic hit women harder than anyone else. Literally, in December 2020, women accounted for 100% of lay offs. I want women who went through a similar experience feel heard and understood.

My pregnancy didn’t get better. My doctors were not focused on me at all once Covid hit Nevada. The first case in Nevada was at the hospital I was anticipating having my baby. I felt a sense of shame that I had to go to the doctor 2-3 times a week. They would ask if I really did need this appointment. Security would stop me on my way into the hospital to get details about my appointment which felt invasive. I didn’t care that they had to take my temperature, but for me to have to give literal details about what my appointment was felt violating. Hello HIPPA. I felt like I had to fight for mine and my babies health now more than ever.

When I was 36 weeks pregnant, I demanded a new doctor and I demanded that I had a female doctor. I wanted someone who understood. At this appointment, she told me that there was an extremely high chance my baby would be delivered via c-section a week from that day, at exactly 37 weeks. She was even considering a c-section the following day. At 36 weeks, my baby was breech and did not look like he was going to flip. Looking back, I was in complete denial. I told my husband this, but I do not think we told anyone else because I just thought it couldn’t be true.

I came in the following Monday, where the doctor informed me my son would be delivered c-section that Thursday. I was also completely alone in this appointment because only one person was allowed in at a time. They asked if I wanted to do a non-invasive procedure to try and flip him. They warned that it was only 50% successful, and if my blood pressure raised even one tick, that he would be delivered via emergency C-section immediately. I refused because I didn’t feel like that was the best option for my son and I. We scheduled the C-section, got a doctors note to send to my work, and I left to call to tell my husband we were having our baby in 3 days.

I sent that doctors note to my work, because they had told us we were coming back April 1st which I obviously wouldn’t be able to do anymore. With in the day, my boss called me. I was being permanently laid off. The call was very fast. They basically said along the lines of, thank you for your work, but we will no longer be needing you. This seems like good timing since you’re having your baby so soon.



In the same day I found out I was having my baby early and lost my job.