NEW MUMS ARE ‘FORGOTTEN’
Expert’s fury as mothers have to push for baby class answers
NEW mums have been overlooked in coronavirus guidance yet again, according to a childcare expert. Earlier this week the Scottish Government announced the route map out of lockdown but baby classes were initially missed from the guidance, the sector said.
Following pressure from opposition politicians and those working in the sector, the government now says it is expected classes can resume indoors from April 26.
But former paediatric nurse Suzanne Scott said the oversight showed a lack of support for maternal mental health.
She said: “This is an 11th hour change only because Monica Lennon MSP asked for it, and she asked for it because we pushed for it.
“There has been a total disregard for new mums and I don’t think mental health is very high on the agenda.
“At least we have an answer now but we only have an answer because it’s been pushed for.
“Why are we not more important, and why are we always having to push for answers?”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said parent and baby classes are permitted outdoors for up to 15 adults and an unlimited number of children under the age of five.
But Suzanne said holding classes for young babies outside in winter weather is “impossible”.
She added: “You can’t teach baby classes outdoors. How do you do baby massage in minus temperatures and the snow?
“It’s suitable to have over threes outdoors but for our classes it’s just not suitable.
“For our age group nothing has been running.”
It is not the first time baby classes had been left floundering.
The Glasgow Times told in August last year how Suzanne was given inaccurate advice from her local MSP and told she would be able to re-open under early learning guidance.
But Glasgow City Council’s trading standards contradicted the politician’s office and she was then left cancelling classes at the 11th hour.
Mums criticised the decision to keep baby classes closed, saying it was damaging to their mental health to be left isolated from friends, family and support groups with newborn infants.
For babies, the lack of socialisation and stimulation was just as detrimental.
Finally Nicola Sturgeon then made an announcement saying unregulated children’s classes from birth to age 12 could restart from August 31, 2020, but these closed again at the most recent lockdown in January.
In England baby and toddler classes resume on April 12.
Suzanne had written to local politicians to ask for clarity, including Bill Kidd MSP and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, with the mothers she works with doing the same.
Suzanne, who runs Dowanhill-based business Baby ‘n’ You, said: “As a sector we eagerly waited for the announcement only to find that we once again did not feature at all.”
Due to the restrictions Suzanne has not been able to work and is not entitled to business support funds.
She said: “We did move our classes on to Zoom but people have lost interest in online classes, they need to be meeting in person and having social interactions.
“People have been really patient with now.
“No-one wants any more Zoom classes.”
Suzanne, worked in oncology at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital before setting up her own business in 2007, has consistently warned of a looming maternal mental health crisis.
She said: “Being a new mum it but they are fed up is hard and you need other mums around you for advice and support and to let you know what you’re going through is normal.
“There are women with no support around them, nowhere to go and no way of socialising with other new mums.
“The mental health implications are serious.”
The government spokeswoman added: “In line with the publication of this week’s timetable for easing restrictions, assuming the data supports such a move, from 26 April we anticipate these groups will be allowed to meet indoors for up to 10 adults.”
There has been a total disregard for new mums