For the lockdown mamas
This week marks the anniversary of the 1st lockdown announcement.
What was happening in your life 3 years ago?
I’d just come to the end of my first 40 days of home rest & was ready to venture out into the world as ‘mama’. As we know that didn’t happen … so back in I went!
I experienced some of the darkest, scariest moments of my life locked down in postpartum.
I also made the most of my 1st mothering year at home. I found my own way. In some ways it was a blessing for us. In other ways it took its toll & had harmful lasting impacts.
It changed me & grew me into an extremely resilient, confident mother.
This year I’ve allowed myself the space to release whatever harm I still carry from becoming a new mother through lockdown.
I’ve been telling my story, wading in deep & restor(y)ing the beliefs I hold about myself from that time.
I’ve welcomed in huge healing relief, found cherished memories lost in the labyrinth of grief & gained new perspective.
Part of my process has been writing about my experience for the @poshdogpress publication centring the stories of lockdown mums called ‘Motherhood in lockdown: 150 mothers on pregnancy, birth and postpartum in a pandemic’. The book including my story is available here.
Through this experience, I’ve chatted with other mothers who had similar experiences. We have been writing and crying together for months and its been very healing. Telling our story is essential to heal and transform what happened to us.
These screenshots speak something of the experience of becoming a parent through pandemic times [I collected over time – please credit if you know them].
If you’re still feeling impacted by the pandemic, there is NOTHING wrong with you & you are very much not alone.
A strong response to what happened is/was a healthy & human one ~ the social context was inhumane & especially for new mothers.
Pre/postnatal anxiety & depression is/was a healthy human response to the stress & isolation of lockdown. & the health system wasn’t prepared for us.
The maternal/parental health impact of lockdown is still unravelling. The statistics coming through are shocking & understandable given the psychological impact lockdown had.
We are a wave of mothers too familiar in loss & isolation.
I see you.
Your experience is valid.
Your story is important.
May it be welcomed & heard.
May new mums never experience anything like that again. Not on our watch.
If you are ready to tell your story of pregnancy, birth or postpartum during lockdown, you can book a birth story listening session here.