Dr. Kecia Gaither, MD, a double board-certified physician in OB-GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Director of Perinatal Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, New York says that while things are opening up, masks are coming off and people are feeling a little safer, becoming a parent during “COVID times” is not without worry and soon-to-be mothers and fathers are learning as they go. Should pregnant women get the COVID vaccine? Are at-home births safer than going to the hospital? Are baby showers risky? What happens if you get COVID while you are pregnant? Have the delivery room rules changed? What can pregnant women do to add an extra layer of protection to avoid preterm births? What can future fathers do to help? Dr. Gaither will address new health challenges and nutritional needs of pregnant women in 2021 and the mental support needed for positive pregnancy outcomes during these new and interesting times of becoming a parent. Dr. Gaither recently published a paper with the journal, “Circulation” on improving Black maternal health, so she can also speak to the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 that is gaining support to help provide more services to pregnant women of color. Since the first case of COVID-19 emerged in New York, Dr. Gaither has been a constant advocate and caregiver of high-risk pregnant women with diabetes, HIV and obesity, while working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic in one of the hardest-hit areas of the country, the Bronx, New York. Her insights and unique knowledge have been published in many publications and news outlets on this crisis, and her solutions to the many challenges bring hope and direction to new and expectant parents.

Dr. Kecia Gaither, MD, is a double board-certified physician in OB-GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. She is Director of Perinatal Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, New York. As a perinatal consultant and women’s health expert, Dr. Gaither’s expertise is grounded in both research and her professional experience in caring for women with diabetes, HIV, and obesity in pregnancy. With more than 20 years of professional experience, driven by her mission to provide exemplary prenatal care to all women regardless of circumstance, Dr. Gaither positively impacts the lives of thousands of women by delivering valuable information on a spectrum of women’s health issues through media appearances, seminars and as a sought after contributor to The Huffington Post, Thrive Global and U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, she is a reviewer for, and has been published by, multiple scientific journals and is a reviewer for WebMD.