Michelle: Baby joy taken away by Covid restrictions
HULL-BORN APPRENTICE WINNER FEELS ‘SAD’ FOR NEW PARENTS
MICHELLE Dewberry says she feels “sad” for anyone who has had a baby since the start of the Covid pandemic.
The Hull-born businesswoman - who shot to fame when she won The Apprentice in 2006 - gave birth to her first baby in Hull Women and Children’s Hospital last July after she went into premature labour while on a visit to her home city.
Her baby was born nine weeks prematurely and spent six weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, before her and partner Simon Jordan, 52, were finally allowed home to London.
The 40-year-old has now said lockdown restrictions introduced to prevent people from dying have actually “prevented people from living” as she details how difficult these restrictions have made both her pregnancy and first few months of her son’s life.
The well-known personality said much of the joy of pregnancy and maternity leave has been taken away from her and thousands of other women who have given birth in the past year.
She has had to attend appointments alone and she said the visiting restrictions at the hospital also meant her and her partner Simon were unable to visit their son together while he was in NICU.
Since then, lockdown restrictions have meant their son still has not met lots of his family, and has “barely” interacted with another baby.
Michelle now still has to attend all her son’s hospital appointments alone and says many mums will return to work after their maternity leave having “never had a chance to enjoy a full experience” with their baby.
Writing on Twitter, she said: “My baby is now seven months. He spent six weeks in intensive care without both parents by his side He hasn’t met lots of his family
“He’s barely interacted with another baby. 99.9 per cent of friends haven’t met him. I have to attend his hospital appointments alone.
“I feel sad for people who’ve had their baby during Covid. So much of the ‘joy’ of pregnancy/new baby, etc, has been taken from us.
“Many mums will be returning back from #maternityleave soon, having never had a chance to enjoy
a full experience with their bubba “Many of us mums will have had challenges around the pregnancy/ birth which due to Covid, we were forced to face alone (I was in hospital for a month without a single visitor).
“Lockdown was intended to prevent people dying. In doing so, it prevented so many more from living.”
And many parents can relate to exactly what Michelle is saying, with dozens of replies from other mums and dads who have had babies in the past year.
It comes after Hull mums opened up about the difficulties they have faced after giving birth during the pandemic - all saying they feel “robbed” of so much, as they struggle to come to terms with the fact their babies have not met many family members.
Lockdown was intended to prevent people dying. In doing so, it prevented so many more from living
Michelle Dewberry