# @upmchealthbeat on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CbSpUhAoQlJ
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/20935529-upmchealthbeat-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/da70899e67.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-03-19T16:00:30.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UPMC (@upmchealthbeat) — https://gondola.cc/upmchealthbeat

## Caption

When Kayleigh, a manager in human resources at UPMC, learned she was pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had some major concerns.
 
“It’s obviously nerve-wracking to be due in December any year, with concerns about cold and flu season. The pandemic only added to that,” says Kayleigh.

However, she was able to take some precautions that made her feel more at ease with the situation. Kayleigh and her family wore masks, socially distanced, and got vaccinated against COVID-19.

“You just have to do the best you can,” she says.
 
Kayleigh received her first vaccine dose in January and her second in February. She had a few “not too terrible” side effects from her second dose, including a low-grade fever, body aches, and chills that lasted about 12 hours. She then found out she was pregnant on April 1.

In November, at 36 weeks pregnant, she became eligible for a booster dose, which she received at UPMC Mercy. She had no side effects, but as with the first two doses of the vaccine, side effects can vary.

“Of course, it felt weird to be among the first pregnant people to receive the booster,” says Kayleigh. “But the biggest reason to #getvaccinated, or get the booster, is to keep yourself healthy. It’s the best way to keep your baby healthy.” 

On Dec. 3, exactly 39 weeks and two days into her pregnancy, Kayleigh gave birth to Poppy, a healthy baby girl weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces. Kayleigh said that she had such a great experience giving birth at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital that she actually wrote an email to the labor and delivery unit director to share her positive experiences and the quality of nursing care she received.

Kayleigh was so glad to have the extra protection of her booster shot prior to giving birth. 
“Protecting yourself to protect your baby works with everything, including COVID,” she says. With CDC reports that antibodies were found in umbilical cord blood, Kayleigh is also hopeful that her vaccine #antibodies will help keep Poppy safe.

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 126
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 1

## Tags

antibodies, getvaccinated

---
Copyright (c) Gondola