Impact of COVID 19 on Pregnant Couples Persuasive Speech

Conquering COVID – A Guide for a Pregnant Couple Persuasive Speech Outline
Topic: Conquering COVID – A Guide for a Pregnant Couple
1. Introduction
a. Does COVID-19 hit harder when one is pregnant? If a pregnant woman is affected, will the virus damage the baby?
b. Many of us have probably seen daily coronavirus updates and are aware of some of the measures we can take to prevent us from contracting the virus. We have received lots of information on wearing masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene practices. We have also heard about some of the measures taken to help one recover/conquer the virus when infected. However, there is little information on the impact of COVID-19 on a pregnant couple and what they can do to conquer the virus during pregnancy.
c. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women are vulnerable populations that are likely to be hospitalized, risk preterm birth, and require ventilation if infected by COVID-19 (Ablow & Sullivan par, 1). The pandemic has drastically changed the pregnancy experience for a pregnant couple as the long-term impact of the virus on the fetus remains unknown. However, there is very little information that targets pregnant couples on how they can conquer the virus. We need a solution that will help pregnant couples conquer the virus and improve their pregnancy experience amidst the pandemic.
d. My app, “Preg COVID”, which will be available soon on both Android and iOS, is the perfect information aggregation solution that will help a pregnant couple learn the impact of the virus on the pregnancy experience and how to conquer it.
2. Need
a. Pregnant couples are confronted with stress on a daily basis because of the challenges associated with the pregnancy experience.
b. It is estimated that approximately 75% of pregnant women are significantly stressed by the pandemic because of social isolation, a lack of social support, changes in hospital procedures, loneliness, and concerns regarding postnatal care (Ablow & Sullivan par, 16).
c. In efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many hospitals have banned all visitors including a pregnant woman’s partner (Vogel par, 4).
d. While scientists and medical professionals are learning every day about the virus and its impact on pregnant women, there are still lots of questions that remain (Smith par, 10).
e. There is lack of adequate information that could help a pregnant couple navigate the stressful experience of pregnancy amidst the pandemic. They want to know:
i. What is the impact of the virus on the pregnancy experience
ii. How can they overcome prenatal stress amidst the pregnancy
iii. How can they adhere to the health guidelines and protocols of COVID-19 while navigating the pregnancy experience
iv. Where can they obtain information customized to suit their experience
v. How can they prevent themselves from getting the virus or conquer it if infected
3. Satisfaction
a. The perfect solution for this is an app I am developing called “Preg COVID.” With my app, pregnant couples will find information that helps them stay safe during this period and conquer the virus if infected.
b. Any Android or iPhone user, above the age of 17, can use the app.
c. With “Preg COVID”, a pregnant couple will be able to:
i. Access the latest information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the pregnancy experience.
ii. Get up-to-date information on what experts are saying on how the virus impacts pregnant people and their babies.
iii. Get up-to-date information on how they can protect themselves from contracting the virus and how to conquer it in case they are infected.
iv. Identify and join an online group prenatal care group for social support. This is essential because studies have indicated that a robust social support network is essential for a pregnant couple to navigate the stressful pregnancy experience (Ablow & Sullivan par, 17).
v. Obtain information on mindfulness and relaxation techniques as well as nutritional information and physical activity/exercise tips.
4. Visualization
a. Without “Preg COVID”, the projected decline in births by between 300,000 to 500,000 fewer births globally in 2021 could become a reality (Ha par, 4).
b. The lack of information to better prepare pregnant couples to cope with the virus could make the projected changes in live births shown in the figure below to worsen.
Figure 1: Projected Changes in Live Births
c. “Preg COVID” would help improve the experiences of pregnant couples amidst the pandemic and contribute to a baby boom.
5. Action
a. As the pandemic continues to worsen with second waves in different parts of the world, the pregnancy experience could continue to worsen for many pregnant couples.
b. You don’t have to continue suffering from lack of adequate information to help improve your pregnancy experience.
c. So pull out your phone and download the “Preg COVID” app today and begin your journey to conquer the virus amidst pregnancy.
Works Cited
Ablow, Jennifer C., and Elinor Sullivan. “Pregnancy during a Pandemic: The Stress of COVID-19 on Pregnant Women and New Mothers Is Showing.” The Conversation, The Conversation Africa, Inc., 29 Sept. 2020, theconversation.com/pregnancy-during-a-pandemic-the-stress-of-covid-19-on-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers-is-showing-142466.
Vogel, Gretchen. “New Coronavirus Leaves Pregnant Women with Wrenching Choices-but Little Data to Guide Them.” Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 27 Mar. 2020, www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/new-coronavirus-leaves-pregnant-women-wrenching-choices-little-data-guide-them.
Ha, Lan. “Coronavirus and Childbirth: Future Baby Boom or Bust?” Euromonitor International - Market Research Blog, Euromonitor, 1 Oct. 2020, blog.euromonitor.com/coronavirus-and-childbirth-future-baby-boom-or-bust/.
Smith, Kate. “Many Couples Are Putting Pregnancy Plans on Hold Because of the Pandemic.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 10 Aug. 2020, www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-pandemic-pregnancy-delay/.