When a package arrives on her doorstep, Megan Bowser excitedly steps outside to her front porch with disinfectant spray in hand.

The packages are filled with items for her third son’s nursery. He’ll eventually be brought home by his mother and father to meet his two very excited older brothers. He’ll be raised in the same home where his mom grew up in Pass Christian.

Bowser, a 29-year-old in her third trimester of pregnancy, isn’t taking any chances.

“I have been preparing for our baby, ordering things online and Lysol-spraying everything down before I open it, before I touch it, before it even comes in the house,” Bowser said.

Across the world, every aspect of life has been altered by the new coronavirus pandemic. After weeks of shelter-in place-orders around the U.S., tensions are building to reopen America’s economy. In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves recently announced a new “safer at home” order that allows almost all non-essential businesses to open as long as they practice social distancing

For pregnant women, the excitement of having a baby is being clouded with the anxiety and uncertainty of the ongoing pandemic. Expectant mothers are facing new realities as they are forced to change their birth plans because of COVID-19.

The Sun Herald is chronicling Mississippi women as they share their personal journey of pregnancy during the coronavirus pandemic.

We are continuing our search for new and expecting mothers impacted by COVID-19. If you want to share your story, please contact senior visual journalist, Jessica Koscielniak, jkoscielniak@mcclatchy.com.

Megan Bowser, Pass Christian mom

As Bowser and her family prepare to welcome home another child, she’s nervous about having to give birth during the COVID-19 crisis. Because of hospital restrictions, only her husband will be allowed there with her.

“There won’t be a giant group of people waiting for his arrival. There won’t be a cheering squad,” she said. Bowser has been nesting at home at following strict shelter-in-place guidelines.

Bowser said she’ll be excited to bring her newborn home to meet his two brothers this summer.

“We weren’t expecting to have a third child, but God saw better and greater for us.”

Anna Bush, Hattiesburg mom

Three-year-old Truitt Bush is no longer allowed to go with his mom to her prenatal checkups because of the COVID-19 crisis in Mississippi. But he’s still able to hear his baby brother’s heartbeat inside his mom’s belly.

Anna and Matt Bush purchased a Doppler ultrasound device when they found out their were pregnant with their “miracle baby” so Truitt can interact with his brother in the womb.

Truitt was conceived via in vitro fertilization after the Bushes struggled with infertility for almost four years.

Anna Bush says she feels lonely because Truitt and Matt can no longer accompany her to doctor’s appointment and share those moments with her, but having the Doppler lets Truitt prepare for the big change coming in the summer.

“Truitt listens and talks to him,” Anna said. “We joke that they fist-bump each other already. Gill is very responsive to Truitt’s voice, which is heartwarming for me.”

This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 5:00 AM.