First baby in lockdown

[Holalisha]

I had a baby in June 2020 and my maternity leave is due to end in March which I am certain we will still be in lockdown for. Is anyone in the same boat and just feel totally fed up with it all?

I had my baby in March 2020, and im fairly sure his 1st birthday will be in a lockdown. Im fed up tbh. Its been an incredibly hard year.

Yep pretty much identical here. Baby born in June and due back to work at beginning of April. Feel like I'm counting down the days to be out of lockdown but then it's like I'm wishing my maternity leave away and I don't want it to be over!

Yup, baby born in May and due back at work in April. It’s been a very weird year.

Baby born end of Sept here, so couldn't even make use of any decent weather before we were put into Tiers and then National lockdown.
Assuming that it will continue like this for the rest of 2021 tbh, and it makes me so sad.

Baby was born in May, went back to work 3 weeks ago for 3 days a week, ended up testing positive for Covid! Been a nightmare..

My baby was born at the end of July on the day my area went back into local lockdown (and we have pretty much stayed there ever since).

It’s shit. I do feel a bit cheated, I mean I try to keep it in perspective and I know there’s many worse off and all that, but I really struggle. I didn’t bank on having a baby with zero family support - these sort of posts always get someone going on about how they raise ten kids without a relative within 100 miles and their husband was away at see the whole time blah blah. But I’m close to my family and I’ve held all their babies and babysat and loved them and bonded with them and I thought when my time finally came after years of ttc that they would get to do the same with my baby, and maybe even cuddle her for the occasional half hour so I could have a nap or eat a sandwich with both hands free. It does make me really sad that we’ve missed out on that.

Sorry to everyone else in this position.

*away at sea obviously 🌊

It’s my DS’s first birthday next week - didn’t get to do anything I planned during my maternity leave, he still hasn’t met most of my friends and our family, and he’s petrified of other people. We’ve had no help, no time to ourselves, nothing. Someone will be along in a minute to tell you to pull yourself together or some other nonsense and say how they never bothered doing anything or going anywhere so you shouldn’t be bothered. Don’t listen to them, this is shit.

Yeah it’s shit, i had my baby at the start of the first lockdown and she still hasn’t met family, it’s been hard and DH and I are desperate for a break now

Yep! Baby born April 2020. Due back at work in March.
Absolutely not the maternity leave I had planned.
I was lucky enough to be a SAHM for my 4 older boys (youngest is 13).

I had so much planned for this Mat leave while I could. Haven't done any of it and now I go back to work in a month and a half!

Instead I have had DH working from home, intermittently homeschooling the teenagers and unable to see my friends.
Feeling absolutely shit about all of it if I'm honest.

It's soooo hard. Feel like I've missed out on this amazing experience that you only get once as a first time parent. All those plans that I made pre birth all gone to shit come March.
As much as I try to count myself lucky that we are healthy and well, still find that I am almost grieving what we could of had (seeing loved ones, having someone around to help a bit - especially in those first few months, God even now almoat one year later feel like I need a break, weekends away, baby groups etc.)
I am terrified that the lack of social interaction will scar the baby somehow and will be unable to form any kind of bonds with anyone else apart from myself of DP. Probably not the case but can't help but feeling like that. There's only so many things to do indoors with a baby and feel like I've run out of things to do and quite honestly don't have the energy to do anything anymore.

I really get you op, and I get all of you whom are going through the same thing.
Let's hope we'll have a better Spring this year 💐

Aw really feel for everyone who’s had a whole year of this. Mine is only 3 months and I’m already sad about the maternity situation. My baby’s still not met a single member of my family and I’m just dying to go to a baby group! I breastfed in the cold mud in the park last week which was a low.

I keep thinking how ‘easy’ non-pandemic mums had it with nice warm cafes to duck into, baby changing, health visits and family support. We are doing this on the difficult setting 😆

Yep same here. Had my wee one in May, back to work in April. She's barely met other humans other than her grandparents. I find myself fantasising about going to a cafe and popping her in a high chair while I have a coffee. Dream big!

The worst part for me is not being able to meet fellow mums, or being able to see friends. It's been a very lonely time.

Also been there @RobynNora, bf outdoors in winter is so tricky, billions of layers and slippery babies in snowsuits!

Same here my baby boy was born the week before the first lockdown, it’s been pretty rubbish.

My birth was a bit difficult so it was hard having no physical support (my husband is classed as a key worker) everything I hoped we’d do hasn’t been possible.

I’ve been so worried about the effect it will have on him as well, although he seems so love people which is a relief.

I’m also a bit nervous returning to work (retail) as I think a lot of people will think I’ve had it easy.

Fingers crossed things will get eased soon!

My son was born the end of 2019, we've pretty much haven't done anything- I got a month or two where I felt able to do things but that was ended in the first lockdown (we had a traumatic birth) it sucks and as others say my son hasn't met half his family or friends. We didn't get our holidays planned. His 1st birthday was in a lockdown- his social interaction with family is on a screen.... I do worry the long term impacts on his social development.

The only thing that's get me through is remembering all you other mums are in the same boat and we have all got this 💪🏼. To do what we are doing is such a hard thing and we will get through it: Hopefully when there are better days we will look back at this time and appreciate it in ways we can't really see now. It's just such a hard time at the minute!

Hi all,
I found this thread and was reading last week as it totally sums up how I have am feeling. I know things could be a lot worse but I had my 2nd baby on the 1st day of lockdown after a 5 year gap and multiple miscarriages. I was so looking forward to my maternity leave and sharing the joy of my baby with family and friends. Tonight I have been sorting baby clothes that are now too small and and I just feel overwhelmingly sad 😭
I go back to work in March and am just dreading the nursery transition since he has never been apart from me this entire year.
He is the most lovely baby (despite not sleeping) and has been the sunshine in this utterly grim year...but still it's just all a bit crap really isn't it & I'll never get that special time with him back. I'm now having mad ideas about having another, even though I can barely keep on top of the work 2 create & never wanted more than 2 children!
Any way don't know why I'm writing this really, just reaching out to the other new Mums of this year I guess....

@Reb35 I totally get where you're coming from! This year is just madness and I'm due to go back in March too but I feel so anxious I've said to my work I want to have the following three months off (which are unpaid) as much as I need to start earning money I just cannot face going back to work just yet as they are telling me I can only go back to my full time position 8am till 6pm!!

I Hope your ok and we are all in this together. If you need a chat i am here.

Yep my baby was born in July and I’m back at work in April as a nurse. After being so careful throughout the who situation I am anxious to say the least