Lockdown is lonely for our mums-to-be
One of the most exciting but terrifying experiences of my life was being pregnant. Maybe it was because I was an older mum at 38 and had gone through IVF, but my normal “get on with it” attitude gave way to anxiety and a sense of not being in control.
I started to get quite clingy – my husband Steve had to go with me to every single hospital appointment. He was there to hold my hand and offer comfort.
Those early months are testing – every hospital scan, blood test and check-up is nerve-racking. But when you see a nurse or doctor in person and they reassure you that there is nothing to worry about, you sigh with relief and relax.
That human contact is so important for any mum-to-be.
Steve also wanted to be present every step of the way. He wanted to be there for me; to understand what was going on so that he could make sure I was safe.
Being pregnant is also thrilling for family and friends. My mum came to stay with me, and it was a lovely bonding time for us both.
She cooked for me and made sure I got plenty of rest. She did what mums do, fuss and faff, and I loved it. And my mates threw me a lovely baby shower – I was made to feel special, loved and safe.
So imagine being pregnant in lockdown. Access to midwives is via the phone; in many cases you have to attend scans by yourself, and there is the constant anxiety of potentially giving birth without your loved one by your side.
These are all things my pregnant friend Christine Lampard, who is expecting her second child in April, has had to contend with.
Of course she is thrilled, but she also talks about the difficulty of being pregnant during Covid.
She hasn’t been able to see her family – her parents haven’t been able to touch her bump.
She says the level of uncertainty leaves you feeling “overprotective” and “cautious”. She said of the birth: “I would like Frank alongside me – I don’t want to do that on my own.”
Covid has meant women are going through terminations by themselves, parents are visiting premature babies separately, fathers are missing out on scans and births, grandparents are being deprived of holding their grandchildren and then there’s the isolation of bringing your baby home and having no visitors. The mental health needs of pregnant mums cannot be underestimated.
Pregnant Big Brother star Kate Lawler revealed she was “freaking out”. She said on social media: “I miss my loved ones. I miss hugs and face-to-face chats.”
My heart goes out to all pregnant women in lockdown. It can’t be much fun.
If you know someone who is expecting, please reach out to them and let them know you’re there for them.
Covid has meant isolation at very vulnerable time
I love a woman who pushes boundaries, so it’s great to see Kate Winslet getting nude again on screen in her 40s.
This time her love interest is a woman in her latest film Ammonite, about British palaeontologist Mary Anning.
Kate, 45 – who last stripped in 2008’s The Reader, right – says: ”I remember saying,
‘Here I am doing nudity at 43 (the age I was). How is this possible?!’
“I swear, I thought I was going to hang up my hat when it came to nudity on screen. But I felt good… I’ve all my marks and scars. It’s a different body than 20 years ago.”
Kate’s message is to embrace our imperfections. I take my hat – and everything else – off to that!