I’m so excited. I’m pregnant due in May. Im a health care practitioner so not ignorant to covid risks but there is more to maternal health than just it. Honestly having children’s centers, health care visitors, baby groups, and other spaces open that new moms can socialize in will be brilliant.
I expect that given the covid risk in final trimester, women could be asked to shield and guidance will cover WFH to continue. And yes. They can suggest this even when society is open. It’s the same decision risk/balance all other shielders had to make for the last year. Many of whom had kids entitled to school places or family members that worked in high risk environments.
There is very limited risk to newborns. So family visits etc. can be negotiated. And some won’t feel comfortable. But I’m glad people will have individual choice about risk management (Ie weighing up: I haven’t slept in 3 days, I’m exhausted, and not being patient, and I need someone else to hold my baby for two hours while I shower and nap and if they can do that outside wearing a mask if necessary to make me more comfortable so be it.)
But also relieved for overall well-being and mental health, and for the economic reality that our children are going to have to be raised in.
I do hear that it’s scary in pregnancy, but, we are only high risk for a short period in pregnancy, and the actual time spent with baby once they arrive is much longer! I’ve a one year old and Mat Leave under “stay at home” in a limited space with my partner working at home, raising a new baby with no access to family support, has been hard. I’m so glad my next mat leave will have more opportunity to see others, to keep myself fit, to perhaps even go on a date with my husband and have a baby sitter (the dream 😆)