Elizabeth Hendrickson Opens up About Giving Birth During the Coronavirus Outbreak
As she’s ready to give birth any day now, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS star Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe) opened up about how scary it has been preparing for the birth of her first daughter while isolated at home due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. “Lots of people have been checking in to see how I’m holding up,” she shared on Instagram. “I’ll be honest, earlier this week was rough. The best advice I got during my pregnancy was ‘The best birth plan is no plan’ but by no means was I expecting this.
“My midwife informed me at our 39-week appointment that we are no longer allowed to have anyone at the hospital except myself and [my husband] Rob [Meder],” the actress continued. No doula, friends, or family. My post-car plans have also changed drastically. I felt so confident that I would be able to get through it all with the help of close friends and a doula to help me recover and also help me with all of the unknowns that we are about to be face with, like breastfeeding.”
Thankfully, Hendrickson isn’t alone with her husband. “The only saving grace is that my mother came a week early to self-quarantine so we will have some help,” she revealed. “I’m not sure if she will even be able to hold her grandchild. She took a major risk to come help us.”
The actress, who ABC soap fans remember as Margaux on GENERAL HOSPITAL and Frankie/Maggie on ALL MY CHILDREN, admits she’s struggling with this new reality. “I’ve gotten lots of support and also some unwanted advice,” Hendrickson reported. “Just enjoy your time with your baby, you don’t want people touching her anyway, at least you won’t have any FOMO, etc. I know there’s nothing right to say and people just want to be helpful but I just want to have my feelings. I’m scared. I’ve never done this before.
“I wanted her to meet my close friends and family,” she added. “I wanted to take her to lunch with my girlfriends while she was wrapped up against me. I don’t know when she will be able to meet anyone else. It may be a couple of months? Which is just really hard for me to wrap my head around.”
But Hendrickson is staying strong in the face of adversity and refuses to buckle under pressure. “I know we will get through this,” she declared. “I can’t wait to meet her and see what she looks like. Sing to her and rock her to sleep. We are ready for her arrival. We’ve been waiting a long time for this. Just stop telling me everything is going to be okay. I’m sure it will, but it’s going to be different. And I’m not saying that different is bad. Just different.”
Please join us in sending love to Hendrickson and we can’t wait to celebrate her baby girl’s healthy birth very soon! For more on your favorite Y&R stars, keep reading the CBS edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.
