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Morning Briefing: Pandemic Pregnancies
Vines grow up the wall of an apartment building in Koreatown. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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In the best of times, giving birth is full of unknowns. During the pandemic, reports Mariana Dale, it’s even more anxiety-inducing. Hospitals are restricting the number of people who can be in the delivery room, doulas are providing support via video calls, and pregnant people are getting fewer prenatal appointments.
"People are feeling like they're getting less support from their families and from their community networks," Darby Saxbe, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, told Mariana. "I thought that these differences were really, really striking considering that the pandemic's only been going on for a relatively short time."
Many are making do by getting creative; doula Monique Cowan provided laughter and encouragement via FaceTime as one laboring mother danced to Juvenile's "Back That Thang Up."
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And it’s that spirit and energy – pregnant or not – that will pull us all through. Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, May 29
Cypress College graduate Kylie Christensen speaks to Adolfo Guzman-Lopez about virtual commencement ceremonies and the distress she felt, spending the last two months away from her friends and teachers. She says she and her peers will come away from the experience stronger.
John Horn has an update on Quibi, the new subscription-based streaming platform for quick-bite content that’s struggling to find viewers.
April job numbers for the L.A. region show some industries, like book stores and apparel manufacturing, have lost more than 60% of jobs compared to this time last year, reports Emily Guerin.
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The Past 24 Hours In LA
L.A., California, The World: There are now 49,849 coronavirus cases and 2,241 deaths in L.A. County, and at least 103,450 cases and 3,974 deaths in California. Worldwide, there are more than 5.8 million cases and over 359,000 deaths.
Money Matters: California politicians are worried Wall Street will swoop in and buy up single-family housing, just like they did after the 2008 financial crisis. Local performance venues are joining an effort to get more support from the federal government.
Pregnancy In The Time Of Coronavirus: The way people give birth is changing during the pandemic. Prenatal doctor’s visits might be less frequent and done via telehealth, hospitals are limiting the number of people in the room when a baby is born and doulas are trying to figure out how to support parents virtually.
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Reopening California: Guidelines for reopening gyms will come out in about a week, but for some owners, that’s not soon enough. Some malls are reopening at 50% capacity.
Taking A Stand: The new documentary On The Record details sexual assault allegations against hip hop mogul Russell Simmons – but that’s not the whole story. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department is stepping up patrols of Asian American churches in the wake of an increase in hate-related incidents.
The People’s Budget: Black Lives Matter L.A. released a "People's Budget" that emphasizes investment in social work, mental healthcare and conflict resolution instead of law enforcement. It’s a response to Mayor Garcetti's new city budget for the fiscal year, which begins July 1.
So Much To Do (...Sort Of): This weekend, watch two virtual concerts from the Dropkick Murphys and Imogen Heap, plus an online global film festival and a few restaurant deals. Thinking about pitching a tent? A bored rafting guides in the Kern River area learned to code and made a campground search tool.
Your Moment Of Zen
Visual journalist Chava Sanchez caught these flowers in bloom in Boyle Heights.
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Flowers in bloom in Boyle Heights, May 27, 2020. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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