Mums reveal what it’s like giving birth during lockdown
WELCOMING a new baby to the world is a thrilling, daunting, and challenging experience for anyone at any time.
But at the moment, with the NHS under enormous strain due to a global health pandemic and a full lockdown preventing almost all travel, the challenges are arguably even bigger than usual.
In normal circumstances birth partners are allowed to stay with the pregnant mother throughout their labour.
However due to the current situation most maternity units across Wales are now only allowing this once the expectant mum is in established labour, which can be a much shorter process.
To keep everyone safe there are also much more stringent restrictions than usual on things like the length of time birth partners can stay following the delivery.
And even when mother and baby are safely home things are dramatically different with changes to midwife and health visitor appointments a common feature – not to mention the fact families and friends are unable to visit.
Here four new mums take us through their experiences of the reality of giving birth and getting used to life with a newborn during lockdown.
Nadia Dargravel and Owen Simmons
Nadia Dargavel’s partner Owen Simmons missed the birth of their second child, Noah, by just 15 minutes when he arrived on April 1.
“They limited it to no visitors, so I couldn’t have anyone there,” she said. “My mother dropped me off outside the hospital and I started crying, but when I was sat in the bed on the ward with the others chatting it was okay.”
Nadia was induced a week before her due date and laboured within four hours.
“I kept on saying I was in labour.