Councillor welcomes changes to baby classes
Lynsey looks forward to getting back
A South Lanarkshire co u n c i l l o r h a s wel co med moves to increase participation in classes for new parents.
Councillor Lynsey Hamilton was “gutted” when a class she and her daughter Erin (pictured) attended in Lanarkshire had to be cancelled after stricter coronavirus restrictions were brought in.
However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week lifted limits on class sizes, allowing them to double f rom f i ve t o 10 adults with t heir children under 12 months in a bid to maintain the viability of the groups.
After her lockdown pregnancy and birth, Lynsey is now looking forward to getting back to the class.
She s ai d: “I am deli ghted t hat Ni c ol a St ur g e on l i s t e ned t o t he women who run these classes and the mums who attend them and allowed them to run again.
“After experiencing pregnanc y during lockdown I was delighted to be able to attend a class last week with my 13-week-old daughter Erin.
“It was amazing t o get out t he house and meet other mums and it felt safer than going to a cafe or the supermarket.
“We were gutted when we found out it was cancelled.
“It feels like as a lockdown mum we have had a unduly rough time during pregnancy, birth and after our babies were born so I dread to think the effect its had on peoples pre and postal natal mental health. These classes will go a long way towards helping that. Thank you to everyone who fought for this change.”
Parents had warned that sessions could fold if guidance wasn’t changed and which could potentially have led to an increase in postnatal depression and a negative impact on child development.
Central Scotland MSP Monica L e nnon ha d s uppor t e d pa re nt s campaigning f or the change and praised t heir “huge vi ctor y” following the First Minister’s update.
Ms Lennon said: “This is a huge victory for parent campaigners, who have finally had their voice heard by Nicola Sturgeon af t er days of uncertainty and hopelessness.
“I was inundated with emails and calls from local constituents across Lanarkshire.
“We organised a virtual meeting at two hours notice, and over 100 people took part.
“A change to the guidance was necessar y t o avoi d baby c l as s es closing altogether. This is a positive d e v e l o p ment, a n d t h e S c o t t i s h Government must now work with parents and providers to support toddler classes and activities for the under-5s too. We need to get it right for every child.
“I’m writing to the First Minister t o ask her t o make sure t oddlers and under 5s don’t lose out. All of these classes are important for the health, well-being and development of Scotland’s lockdown tots.”
Announcing the change this week, the First Minister said: “We know that parent and baby groups are vital in supporting health and wellbeing, particularly at the moment, but we also know that any setting where groups of adults come together poses a risk of transmission.
“S o what we hope i s t hat t hi s change, while I’m sure not satisfying everybody, will strike a better balance between supporting the wellbeing of new parents and i n particularly support perinatal mental health while also making sure we are taking appropriate steps to stop the virus spreading.”