Texas nurse expecting Mother's Day baby makes tough choices over virus fears

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas attends an appointment with her midwives at Birth Center Stone Oak amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Samantha Salinas never planned to give birth during a global pandemic, but Mother's Day 2020 may be when her baby finally arrives.

The 33-year-old nurse, whose second child is due on Friday, said she had worked through her first pregnancy with ease in San Antonio, Texas. But news that COVID-19 patients were checking into her intensive care unit in April prompted her to make some changes.

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas briefly closes her eyes amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. Picture taken May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

"I called in to say I'm not coming," Salinas said. "It's distressing being pregnant. You always think who's sick around you. What worries me is there's so much unknown. So many people can be carriers and asymptomatic. That's a huge blind spot."

The hospital reassigned her to a part-time job in another building doing patient follow-ups by phone. The fewer work hours reduced her income, but safety was her priority.

"The vertical transmission was what I was afraid of, not so much my getting sick, but the baby getting sick," Salinas said.

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas shares a loving moment with her daughter, Macie, amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Salinas wants to continue working as late as possible into her pregnancy so she can spend more of the time off she is entitled to with her newborn.

She loves caring for patients, but is also grateful for the extra time at home with her husband Tim, 35, a math teacher and football coach, and their one-year-old daughter Macie.

"As frustrating as it was to be a nurse, now that I'm not at the bedside I'm feeling a bit guilty. I'm working in an office," she said.

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas takes a walk with her husband, Tim, and their daughter, Macie, amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

"My husband gets a little stir crazy, and the baby wants to go places. But there's nothing more important than protecting us."

(Writing by Richard Chang, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas attends an appointment at Birth Center Stone Oak amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. Picture taken May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas takes her daughter Macie’s shoes off amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas eats alongside her daughter, Macie, amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas takes a walk with her husband, Tim, and their daughter, Macie, amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas watches as her husband, Tim, entertains their daughter, Macie, amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas awaits the birth of her son amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas and her husband, Tim, feed their daughter, Macie, amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Macie Salinas looks out the window as her father, Tim, reaches to grab her hand amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas brushes her hair after getting home from work and showering amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas holds her daughter, Macie, amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas arrives home after work amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas sits with her husband, Tim, after her shift at the hospital amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas waits to greet her daughter, Macie, and her husband, Tim, until after she changes the clothes she wore to her shift at the hospital amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas speaks with her family amid a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in San Antonio, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare