Oh, baby, it’s odd outside: Maternity experts on how it is at home for Scotland’s lockdown newborns
Doctors reveal new parents miss family visits during isolation but thriving with less stress and more time for bonding
Newborn babies might be locked down with their parents due to the pandemic but experts believe the isolation may be helping, not harming, new families.
Cathy Finlay, an antenatal teacher with the National Childbirth Trust said: “Most new parents find the early days challenging, as well as exciting and life-affirming. It’s the whole package.
“Grandparents tend to be an extra pair of hands, offering support in the early days and it can be an isolating time not having that social interaction.
“So being separated from their families is certainly making it harder – but there is a flipside.
“New mums and dads are looking for the positives in the current scenario and have been saying that, in some ways, having a new baby during lockdown is less stressful.
“They don’t need to worry about getting ready and getting themselves out for a busy day or the stress of keeping the house clean and trying to work the baby’s schedule around visitors.
“They can stay in their pyjamas at home and just enjoy the time with the baby with no interruptions.”
Dr Mary Ross-Davie, Royal College of Midwives director for Scotland, said: “There’s been a very mixed impact. People are having up days and down days throughout the pandemic, whether they are new parents or pregnant or just trying to get on with their lives.
“In terms of new mums, we have heard some different stories from different community midwives. And some of them have been surprisingly positive.
“New parents are enjoying the experience of being able to be at home together with their baby without needing to field visitors coming and going – and this is a good thing for them all.
“It is helping parents really get used to the baby, which is keeping the babies steady and calm and helping establish feeding, particularly breastfeeding. Sometimes visitors can break the rhythm of that.
“Midwives are saying babies are putting on weight well and feeding is going well.”
She added: “There have also been reports from some areas of postnatal wards where partners have not been allowed in after the birth that women are drawing back the curtains and talking to each other more than they have in the past and they are giving each other support, which is nice to have.
“There are certainly silver linings, despite the difficulties of the current situation.”
However, Dr Ross-Davie added that it was proving a particularly hard time for some women.
“Domestic violence often starts during pregnancy and we know there has been a real peak in this during lockdown,” she said.
“There has been a lot of midwife contact about that from some wanting to get these women the help they need, and that’s a real concern.
“As is mental health. Some women are feeling very lonely and isolated. It’s really important for people to be getting out every day for mental wellbeing. And to maintain contact with other people. It is, of course, hard when they can’t see friends and family face-to-face or have a hug or meet for a coffee.
“These are the things new mums really benefit from in terms of support and are just not possible just now.”
Cathy said many mums were embracing technology as a means of keeping in touch with people.
“In the last few weeks, virtual support has really come into it’s own. We have moved all of our antenatal classes online. New mums are still meeting their peers and practitioners on apps like Zoom.
“It’s really business as usual, only everything has moved online.”
Dr Ross-Davie added: “Midwives are still providing visits and support, either face-to-face or
virtually, so if any pregnant women or new mums are feeling anxious and that they need more support, they should get in touch with their community midwife.
“It’s important to remember that we are here to support you. Similarly, any pregnant or new mums with concerns about their baby’s health or their own health should still get in touch.
“Just because we are dealing with the challenges of Covid-19 doesn’t mean we aren’t here for you.”