Needless to say, we are living in a very unique time. When in public, people are asked to stay six feet apart, wear face coverings, and practice social distancing to the fullest extent. And even with those orders in place, life still goes on. One aspect of normal life that continues to happen, despite social distancing, is being pregnant. Regardless of what the world circumstance are, that baby is still on its way into the world.
Of course, the ways we traditionally interact with others while being pregnant and giving birth have changed. In this new series focused on being pregnant during a pandemic, we’re chatting with new moms and moms to be about how they’ve adapted and handled being an expecting parent during COVID-19. Today, we’re highlighting Stephanie Gandelman’s story — this local mom + Jersey City resident {and the owner of 6th Borough Boutique} is sharing all about how she gave birth to her son…while her husband watched on Zoom. Here is her very unique story:
About Steph
{Photo credit: @schtoofa}
Stephanie is the owner of an online retail shop, 6th Borough Boutique. This new mom is a JC resident, who lives with her husband Marty and the newest member of her family, her son Jake.
Now, the road the motherhood for Stephanie and her husband was a bit of a bumpy one. Stephanie began trying to get pregnant years ago.
“My journey to motherhood began three years ago when my husband I decided we were ready to start trying to have a baby,” she shared with Hoboken Girl. “After trying on our own for one year we realized we needed some help. Four rounds of IVF and miscarriages later, we finally got our healthy pregnancy.”
Of course, this is little {and literal} bundle of joy was some seriously exciting news for the couple. But just when things started to look up, a pandemic happened.
Read More: A Local Doctor Weighs Answers FAQs on Pregnancy + COVID-19
“With such an eventful journey to pregnancy, I never thought that my labor experience would be equally as dramatic. Enter the coronavirus pandemic,” Stephanie said.
With concerns regarding COVID-19 on the rise and statewide orders to stay at home + social distance in place, naturally, this would be a challenging time to be pregnant. Even more so, spouses in some hospitals were not allowed to join their loved ones while they gave birth. This was the case of Stephanie and Marty.
“Spouses weren’t allowed to come to the hospital,” Stephanie shared in this As/Is video. “They weren’t allowed to be there for labor, delivery, or postpartum. I was going to have to do this alone.”
Giving Birth On Zoom
“On the date of my delivery, no support person was allowed in the room for labor, or for visiting afterward, due to social distancing rules set in place by the hospital to limit exposure. As sad as I was that my husband couldn’t be there with me, I definitely understood and respected the hard decision that the medical team had to make for the safety of its patients and staff alike. After everything we’ve gone through to get here, my mindset was basically: as long as our baby is okay, nothing else really matters,” Stephanie told HG. “As such, my plan B became my reality, and I gave birth while my husband watched via Zoom conference.”
Quick pause here — when we hear “Zoom,” we think company meetings, virtual happy hours, or even farm tours. But giving birth…on Zoom, not something we could have imagined. At least not until Stephanie shared her story.
Needless to say, this was a unique experience for everyone involved. But one thing that didn’t change was the act of labor — at the end of the day, giving birth is well, giving birth, with all of its potential unforeseen complications and all.
“Labor really was just that — labor. After pushing for two hours, my doctor informed me that I needed some help getting the baby out, and recommended we use clamps,” Stephanie explained. “I guess that was a big deal because all of a sudden the room was flooded with eight more doctors and nurses. It was petrifying, considering everything.”
Luckily, everything worked out for the best, as when it was all said and done, baby Jake was brought into the world.
“Thankfully everything was OK and the baby was perfect. I cried. A lot. And my husband cried too, one of the only times I’ve ever seen him cry in an over 10-year relationship. The nurse brought the computer over to me as I held our baby for the first time, and in that moment, where it mattered most, he was right there with me,” Stephanie shared.
See More: New Moms + Moms-To-Be: All The Resources You Need Right Now
The Aftermath
For the remainder of the time she was in the hospital, Stephane was virtually supported by her husband.
“For the 48 hours my baby and I were in the hospital, we were FaceTiming. I found his ‘virtual’ support to be much more comforting than I initially thought it could be,” she shared. “It obviously wasn’t the same as having him next to me, but I felt him in spirit. During labor, he was blowing me kisses every time I looked at him and waved. Literally, one day after I gave birth, Governor Cuomo put out an executive order that allowed a partner in the delivery room. I honestly laughed when I saw this. I’m just so happy that my little guy is OK, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. My husband agrees.”
Adjusting to the New Normal
{Photo credit: @schtoofa}
Of course, now that the couple was finally able to meet their new little one, the challenges of COVID-19 didn’t subside. In fact, the virus, unfortunately, changed a second set of postpartum plans the couple had.
“My original plan was always to go straight to my parents’ after delivery to spend the first couple of weeks at their place. We always felt as though this baby was as much theirs as it is ours, and we were so looking forward to spending this special time together,” Stephanie explained.
Unfortunately, to keep everyone as safe as possible, that couldn’t be the case.
{Photo credit: @schtoofa}
“Once it started sinking in that this would not be an option for us because of coronavirus, it definitely left me feeling more anxious about life post-delivery,” Stephanie shared. “I was nervous that we got infected in the hospital and I wouldn’t want to bring that back to my parents. So we decided we’d just be our little family of three in Jersey City,” she said the aforementioned video.
All in all, however, things worked out for the best. Today, Stephanie and Marty are enjoying the time they have to spend with Jake at home.
“Despite all the challenges, we’re so thrilled to finally be parents to the most delicious little guy,” she said. “We feel so extremely blessed.”
Congratulations on the baby, Stephanie and Marty!
Have a unique, pandemic-related pregnancy or labor experience you want to share? Email us at [email protected]!
Did you know: We started a podcast about all things news and lifestyle in Hoboken + Jersey City! Listen to the latest episode of Tea on the Hudson here and subscribe.
Neroli Boutique Opens on Washington Street in Hoboken
It’s no secret that the fashion and beauty scene here in Hoboken has grown in the last few years. With additions like OliJon’s Thrift Store, 2nd Street USA, and Thrifted by J + D making their mark in the Mile Square City, we have one more to add to the list. Recently, a brand new shop named Neroli Boutique is calling 630 Washington Street in Hoboken home. Read on to learn everything we know about the new Neroli Boutique in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Neroli Boutique
About The Store
Married couple Behzod Mamadiev and Kamola Abdulhakimova’s story is one of hard work, resilience, and a shared passion. They both came to the U.S. from Uzbekistan and currently reside in North Bergen, New Jersey. Behzod came to the U.S. as an international student in 2009, and is now a U.S. citizen. Over the past decade, Behzod has worked in various industries, first as a journalist and more recently a software engineer. Kamola has a deep-rooted love for fashion and a keen eye for the art of retail, has a degree in Management from Jizzakh Polytechnic Institute and ran her own clothing boutique in Uzbekistan.
Photo Credit: Neroli Boutique
Read More: Is Whole Foods Coming to Hoboken?
The two finally decided it was time to channel their passions into something they could build together. Behzod told The Hoboken Girl “I could see her ambition and desire to run her own business. I told her that if she was ready to pursue this dream, I would fully support her and stand by her every step of the way. And that’s how Neroli came to be.”
The store located at 630 Washington Street in Hoboken announced via Instagram on December 17th, 2024 that its doors were officially open and ready to welcome customers with open arms. Stating “The Wait is Over! We’re excited to announce the opening of Neroli – your new destination for elegant and timeless fashion.”
View this post on Instagram
The chic shelves of Neroli have styles for every occasion, making it a great potential go-to for locals. Neroli specializes in curated women’s clothing and shoes that blend elegance with everyday comfort. From what we can see the store is stocked with exciting party dresses decked out with sparkles and leopard print, tables of cozy sweaters, chic footwear, denim, and extravagant window display with mannequins in fuzzy jackets.
Photo Credit: Neroli Boutique
The couple shared with HG that “Starting this boutique has been a dream come true for us as a family, and we are excited to contribute to the vibrant Hoboken community. Neroli is more than just a business to us—it’s a way to share our story and create a welcoming space for others to feel inspired and confident.”
See More: A List of Must-Shop Boutiques in Montclair
Visiting Neroli
Photo Credit: Neroli Boutique
Neroli is open seven days a week. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday the store is open from 11AM-6PM, Tuesday, Friday, and Thursday from 11AM-8PM, and Wednesday from 11AM-5PM. To keep up with all things Neroli and take a peek at some of their merchandise follow along on Instagram.
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