POLLY’S BABY BLOG
THE QUARANTINE GENERATION:
My lockdown Baby
I
By Polly James
‘
gave birth just on the cusp of the UK lockdown. By some bizarre timing, like falling down a rabbit hole, I went into the hospital leaving one world and life behind and five days later I came out of the hospital with a baby into this new world of isolation, as we know it today. With everything that comes with being a first-time mum, my emotions and hormones were running high. Trying to process what was happening in the world with a new-born was tough. I was scared and anxious, no-one really knew what was happening, the fear was spreading. There was zero clarity from health officials and the government. I cried a lot. I felt angry that I was being robbed of these special days which I longed for so much. I wanted to show her off; I wanted my mum to spend quality time with her first grandchild. I wanted all my friends to meet her. I had stupid amounts of biscuit and tea
supplies in readiness for the visitors. I was angry because my post-natal health was fine, I was just engulfed with frustration with what was right to do by my family and friends and the new baby. I had this beautiful new baby that everyone was so excited to meet, my friends calling, and texting ‘can we come over for 10 minutes just to see her’ and all I wanted to do was lock myself away and protect my new family from this ‘killer virus’ everyone was talking about. I didn’t want to be seen as over-reacting, everyone was still out and about. Like hundreds of other babies, Indy was born into the World during a global pandemic. This is an extract of me writing at the start of April when we were 3 weeks into lockdown.
My partner and I decided on a ‘blanket ban’. As harsh as it sounded, we didn’t want anyone seeing her until we had more facts on what was happening with the virus. As it happened, the advice on social distancing came in and the lockdown was enforced a few days later. So, then there was just three of us and a moment of calm. My daily routine consisted of video calling my Mum, sister and best friend to check-in on them, then deciding whether it’s time for a box set binge or a little leg stretch down the road with the pram; it became part of a new normal routine. This crisis which has been so frightening and so sad for the entire world I feel has brought our communities closer together. We are all starting to realise what is really important in life. We have been stripped back; our privileges taken away. We have been forced to live the simple life. Will we ever be as materialistic as we were before? Will a simple hug and handshake mean so much more than any gift? Will my daughter look up to nurses and doctors in the future like she possibly would to a sports star? We are becoming more compassionate and supportive of our elders, the more vulnerable in our community. We are looking out for each other and our mental health. I feel lucky as I embark on this journey of motherhood that I’ve discovered the meaning of connecting with what matters the most within life.’ View the full blog at www. styleofthecitymag.co.uk
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