Coronavirus and maternity

[wellington77]

My reason for this post is to see if I am alone in thinking this and if not how are people coping? I have a 12 week old baby girl and I feel the coronavirus has taken away my maternity from me, all the plans I had- such as baby swimming, baby sensory, baby massage, seeing grandparents every week have gone out the window. Now I know I am extremely lucky, my daughter is happy and healthy and so is my family, but I can't help feeling cheated, that I'm missing out on things other mums have enjoyed. Does anyone else feel like this? How have you coped? What can I say to myself to cheer the hell up?! Again I know I'm very lucky and should be grateful I even have a lovely daughter, but I can't help feeling like this, It doesnt help I suppose that my husband is still going to work, so I don't see him till 6pm every day , I feel really alone and isolated, I'm really missing human contact other than my husband, I'm worried about my mental health, as I have bi polar too. Sorry I'm rambling! I just wanted to put my thoughts out there to get it off my chest. Thank you x

You are not alone. I have a 20 week old. Mental health wise I’ve been trying to make my own baby sensory, bookbug etc by searching for stuff online. There might be something in trying to run one on zoom.

Same. I have been trying to create my own baby sensory by taking DS out into the garden when it’s warm and showing him flowers. The Zoom sesssions aren’t really the same for me as my DS doesn’t really interact with the TV yet

Nothing constructive to add - just that your feelings are valid and I do feel for mums in this situation.

Due to DH being put on furlough I have had to return to work early from Mat leave.
My team has been furloughed as well but even at 80% it will get us back into the black.
She is my last. I will never be. Able to get this time alone with her.

A part of me is hoping the closures stretch out for a while so I don't have to be apart much.

She is 8 months so it's not terribly young. But I did want the whole year.

I had exactly the same plans and my husband is also working. My girl is 5 weeks and not many friends or family have had a chance to meet her yet. My grandmother has only seen her once, the day I left hospital.

I'm due late May and really hope this all settles down. I'm gutted at the thought that people won't be able to meet her! Also worried about the prospect of having to give birth alone if the NHS and trust decide to change their policies on partners.

So many people are cheated in so many ways. At the other end of parenting I feel my DD (16) has been cheated out of sitting her GCSEs for which she has worked so hard.
I am angry that my DP has had his cancer treatment suspended.
Your feelings are valid, but I think everyone has something that they feel cheated or angry about.

Me too - my daughter is 4 weeks old, likely to be an only, and my mum and family can't see her, and both my sisters and my father in law have never met her and aren't likely to for months.

She'll only be this tiny once, and this virus is ruining it. It's not the biggest problem in the world but I'm still really sad she doesn't know who her wider family are.

I have 6 week old twins - but like you all struggling with the fact this is my maternity....they haven’t meet the wider family yet and I had so many plans to do with them and just started when it all got taken away...I’m grateful that they don’t know what’s going on but my mental health is really taking a hit right now and before this all I was doing ok

Thank you for all your comments guys, in a way I feel better that I'm not the only one feeling like this, its hard isn't it, just trying to occupy the day while looking after a little one can be hard,as I can't get stuck into big projects really round the house as little one wants lots of attention bless her. Thank you once again for all your comments, I've been cheered up a bit xxxxx

Hey I'm in a similar position, have a 3 month old and also a 2 year old.

I'm just trying to take it easy, have slow days and relax as much as possible..

If I had just the little one I would go on longer walks while she is still easy to carry for longer!

My DS is 4 months and hasn't met a lot of family as he was very sick for the first 3 months. He will be my last and I'm not so worried about baby groups but I kind of miss the fact that I could watch TV I wanted to watch with him as he doesn't know what's going on but now I have 3 year old DD at home too I can't. Also meant to be training for a race at the end of the year and was going to put him in the running buggy at 6 months but I won't be able to take DD so I doubt I'll be in shape in time

@DuvetCaterpillar I've stalked you and found you. Always wonder how you got on as our due dates were so close together. Looks like you also had yours a little early. How's things?