Registering our son’s birth was a lovely moment
Starting a family in the middle a global pandemic isn’t what first-time parents Alyssa and Tom Parker expected nine months ago. Today, however, they are over the moon to register the birth of their first son, Owen Arlo Parker.
While some families waited months to bring in their newborn, little Owen is just 19 days old when he arrives at the Edinburgh Registrar’s Office for his birth certificate. He remains fast asleep in his pram for the milestone moment.
“Registering Owen’s birth and getting the certificate was a lovely moment. We weren’t concerned as we trust the staff here know what they’re doing,” says new dad Tom, 32.
Owen was born at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on August 29 at 2.52 am, following an eight-hour labour and an emergency C-section.
“I was definitely a little scared but excited,” Alyssa, 31, recalls. “This is the busiest time of year for having babies but the midwives were amazing and the aftercare was great.
“I felt lucky that Tom was there for the delivery as I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone. The women that have are so brave.”
Tom, a climate change researcher at the University of Stirling, adds: “I had to leave about an hour after Owen was born, which I wasn’t expecting but the staff need to do their job.”
Tom, from York, met Michigan-born Alyssa nine years ago in America. They travelled the world together before settling in Edinburgh three years ago.
The pandemic has meant Alyssa’s family in the US have only seen Owen on video calls.
“I was 20 weeks’ pregnant in March so we’ve basically isolated throughout the pregnancy,” adds Alyssa, who is on maternity leave from her job with The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds charity.
“It has been hard, not seeing many people during my pregnancy and after the birth, especially my mum and dad. They have a flight booked so they’ll make it here soon.”
Smiling at her snoozing baby boy, Alyssa adds: “We’ve been tired but every day seems to get a little better. He’s here now and that’s what matters.”