New mothers lose out as virus cuts off care
Expectant parents and new mothers and fathers are experiencing all the highs and lows without the usual support network. Ruth Dacey reports.
NEW MOTHERS who have given birth during lockdown have told how they have suffered because of a lack of “after care”.
They say they have had to go through childbirth and the first few weeks and months of being a mother without the usual family and state support networks.
Now medical and child experts have warned of the emotional and mental health worries new parents face as they tackle major uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic.
An estimated 7,500 babies have been born in Yorkshire and the Humber during full lockdown and 76,000 nationwide. As part of a special report in The Yorkshire Post today, parents have spoken of the emotional anguish they felt due to the lack of support before, during and after the birth because of strict measures introduced by hospitals.
The Children’s Commissioner for England has called for policymakers to put families with young children, and especially those with newborns, at the heart of coronavirus planning.
One mother said the three days she spent alone before giving birth to her first child, due to her partner only being allowed to stay during ‘active labour’ and five hours after the birth, were among the loneliest of her life.
A report from The Children’s Commissioner for England has called for policymakers to put families with young children, and especially those with newborns, at the heart of coronavirus planning.
Research by her office shows how support services provided by health visitors and GPs are not readily accessible, with many taking place via phone and video calls or not at all.
There are concerns many babies may have missed their developmental health checks, due in the first few weeks of life to pick up urgent developmental needs.
Dr Cheryll Adams, executive director from the Institute of Health Visiting said in some areas, “the six-week GP baby check hasn’t been available or parents haven’t wanted to attend it due to a potential risk of infection”.
IT IS a life-changing moment that for most brings untold happiness.
However, new and expectant parents across Yorkshire have spoken of the emotional turmoil they have endured because of the huge uncertainty caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
The Yorkshire Post analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows an estimated 7,500 babies have been born across Yorkshire and the Humber during full lockdown measures in England.
Clare Livingstone, the Professional Policy Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “Having a baby is one of the biggest life changes anyone can experience and during this pandemic new mothers are more isolated than they would have expected to be.”
From giving birth in lockdown to an expectant mother worried about potential complications during birth, parents across Yorkshire have shared their experiences.
In North Yorkshire, firsttime mother Lucy Waterworth spent three days in Scarborough Hospital without her partner or family, before she gave birth to son Tommy on April 7, after an induced labour.
She said they were some of the loneliest times of her life.
Her partner Andy Roebuck, 27, who works in the construction industry, was able to stay with her during the ‘active labour’ and five hours after the birth before collecting the pair the next day to return home.
Miss Waterworth, 30, said: “It was really hard. It was lonely, you want your partner and your family there with you. It’s a long time to be on your own.”
Since the arrival of the couple’s first child, Mr Roebuck has returned full-time to his health and safety role, after two weeks paternity leave.
They have received one socially-distanced visit from a health visitor.
The lack of aftercare and not being able to access parent family groups in person for support, has been a real concern for the hard-working family.
Miss Waterworth said: “For me Andy is the only support home and he’s out at work. It’s very hard for him.
“I’m also worried how Tommy will integrate with other babies, because we’ve missed out on going to mum and baby classes for instance or mixing in different environments.”
Miss Waterworth, who is on maternity leave from her local events management role, said it had been “heartbreaking” not being able to introduce Tommy to his grandparents and family in person.
However, she had come up with innovative ways to document his first few months.
“I’ve been taking pictures of family members who come to the window to put in a special photo album for him.”
She added: “I don’t want him to be known as a lockdown baby though. To me that is really negative.”
Reflecting on the birth, Miss Waterworth said she would have “lockdowned with her parents” for extra support.
“It’s beautiful every single day being gifted with a child but it’s very hard. I think a lot of new mothers would say they would mix with their family members straight away, as challenging as that might be at times.
“With a baby they can offer that extra support.”
She added: “During this time, keeping your mental health is very challenging, especially for new mothers.
“I do worry for mothers that are in a vulnerable state.”
In West Yorkshire, after being rushed into theatre at
Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, Jessica Rowlands, 23, gave birth to her daughter Violet, on April 24 at 5.10pm via a caesarean section.
Her partner, Jack Bruce, 26, had a 20-minute warning to get to the hospital in time.
She said: “I felt very nervous and upset before going into the theatre, thinking what if she comes straight away and then no-body is there with us.”
Access for Mr Bruce was restricted.
He was allowed to be there for the C-section and for four hours after with Violet and his partner, before returning the next day to pick the pair up.
He said: “It wasn’t a very nice experience leading up to the birth. I would have preferred to have been there a lot more.
“It was very fortunate that we live so close to the hospital.”
Like many others, they have not been able to register Violet’s birth.
Miss Rowlands said: “I just feel worried with her not being registered – what if she slips through the net?” The hardest part of the lockdown for Miss Rowlands is not being able to see her parents.
She said: “That has been awful, that has been the worst thing about it.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to show her off and let everyone have a cuddle”.
Since the arrival of the couple’s second child, Mr Bruce, has returned full-time to work as a police community support officer in Leeds.
They have received one socially-distanced visit from a midwife.
But the lack of access to parent family groups in person for support – including a local mother and baby group Miss Rowlands went to after the birth of her first child Ezra – has been a challenge.
She said: “I think it is a big problem. After my son’s birth I was part of a local baby group straight away and it offered a lot of support.
“I really feel worried about what if she is missing out on that same experience.”
She added: “There have been tough days absolutely. I could definitely see how new mothers could spiral.
“And at the moment it is harder to access those vital services”.
Meanwhile, for Lucy Russell, speaking before she gave birth
to 7lb 10oz son Lucah John on Saturday at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said her greatest concern is the lack of support her husband, Jahmel, 33, would be able to provide due to strict restrictions in place.
The 31-year-old ran into complications during the birth of her first son Luell, aged four, when she had to be induced two days early.
She said she “relied heavily” on her husband for emotional support.
“I was really quite poorly and in an immense amount of pain,” she said.
“I had quite an ordeal and it was really important to have him there on an emotional level.”
She added: “That is the part that concerns me most about all of this.
“Anything before or after labour, my husband will need to leave the hospital. That is a scary thought, because they’re your rock, your comfort blanket”.
With support services provided by health visitors and GPs not readily accessible, Mrs Russell has mainly received help via phone calls, including those from a midwife.
She is on maternity leave from her dance teacher role, at the Gemini School of Dance company, which she runs with sister Jodie McRae, in Sheffield.
It was lonely, you want your partner and your family there with you.
Lucy Waterworth, first-time mother.