Support for post pregnancy

Being a new parent ( whether it is first or 5th child) can bring a whole host of emotions and can lead to loneliness and isolation.
My idea is that, if it is safe to do so, is that you are allowed to form a support bubble if you have recently had a baby.

Why the contribution is important

Mental Health of parents
Social development of babies
Strengthen families
Emotional health of relatives
Reduce isolation

by AMiller on October 05, 2020 at 07:43PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 21 votes

Comments

  • Posted by smbmcudden October 05, 2020 at 20:12

    Completely agree with this and had actually already emailed my MSP asking why this hasn’t been put in place already. My family missed the first 14 weeks of my son’s life and now I’m home alone with him all week while my husband is at work. My mum had been coming down to help me out and I feel completely isolated without her. It’s simply not practical to take my baby out to cafe or restaurant every day in order to see family. Pregnant women/new parents have missed out on so much already and deserve to have some support from family. It’s so damaging to mothers and babies to be completely cut off in this way.

  • Posted by mariannemca October 05, 2020 at 21:45

    Agree very hard with smbs comments - new mums, esp first time mums, and their babies have been forgotten (in amongst plenty other groups of people). They are at risk of PND outside of the pandemic situation and having basically endured a very lonesome pregnancy, now have to endure a very lonesome parenting experience. More support is ESSENTIAL, with safe indoor family time being central to that.

  • Posted by CraneF October 05, 2020 at 22:45

    Agree with this. I had a baby on the second day of lockdown, she was 4 months old before my family could meet her as they all stay 3hours drive away. I'm generally happy to meet people outdoors but I can't travel 3 hours with a baby and a toddler and not stay overnight at my parent's house. My maternity leave has been very isolating.

  • Posted by AlisonH October 06, 2020 at 00:13

    Fully agree. New and expectant mothers have been completely let down during this pandemic. During one of the most, if not the most, significant life changing event, we should be allowed to have help from our support network. No new or expectant mother will take unnecessary risks - this is not us wanting to throw caution to the wind or go to the pub, but something we fundamentally need to cope. Being made to go to appointments and scans alone, particularly after having already suffered a loss was bad enough - both anxiety inducing and damaging to a woman’s already fragile mental health at this crucial time. To then be forced into a situation of absolutely zero support following the birth of a new baby is unacceptable. New mothers are at highest risk of mental health issues and suicide risk in the year after giving birth, therefore leaving them to manage on their own without their usual support network and making it illegal for their support network to visit them in their home - where they need the help the most - isn’t good enough. There should be an exception for new and expectant mothers to be able to form extended households from those who support them and have visitors in their home within reason. A public setting is the absolute last place a new mother is likely to want to go if feeling insecure about feeding, how to look after her baby, how she looks - even getting out of the house to do this is a struggle, not to mention that it is a cost at a time when money is already tight. But the decisions made have left women with this as their only option or break the law. Right now the greater risk to me, an expectant mother, who works exclusively from home and sees next to no one other than my husband, is feeling isolated, alone and unable to cope without my support network. Making it illegal to have a family member visit me to help is leaving me even more vulnerable. It’s the wrong way to deal with this.

  • Posted by laurayoung October 06, 2020 at 19:33

    Thank you AMiller, your suggestions are spot on. My first baby was born 2 days before lockdown, I live rurally and my husband is a key agricultural worker who works long hours 7 days a week. This has resulted in me feeling extremely isolated and I struggled with breastfeeding in the early days.

    Whilst useful, online resources are a poor substitute for health visitor visits, baby groups and family support. I also worry for my baby and her socialisation and development.

    The SG need to address these issues as a priority.

  • Posted by LaurenkayeFleming October 07, 2020 at 14:49

    I agree with this too - having recently become a first time parent I have felt quite isolated. In the early days particularly, I feel I really would have benefitted from having contact as an extended household with my parents for support, emotional and practical, in our home as I felt I really struggled in those early stages (not really possible to social distance properly within our home).

  • Posted by AMiller October 07, 2020 at 19:47

    I would like to flesh out my idea, to begin with I just wanted to write a short description.
    With Autumn now upon us and winter approaching it will be harder & not appropriate to take babies out in all weathers.
    There is also a financial implication of meeting families & friends and cafes or restaurants & as Alison H described it is not always easy for new mums or parents who have just had a baby to get out of the house.
    Even with some baby groups up and running not everyone will have the financial means to do so and some people might not feel ready to do this.
    Like CraneF my family live further away. At the moment I can't go into their house but I could drop my daughter off for childcare. To combat feelings of isolation it would be nice to have the adult company of my family. It is also easier for family to come here.
    I have watched quite a lot of the briefings & I may be wrong but I haven't heard any mention of parents who have recently had a baby. I know it is not always easy to cover all vulnerable groups, but an aknowlegement of how difficult this time has been to this particular cohort would not go amiss.

  • Posted by Natasha27 October 11, 2020 at 14:49

    I absolutely support this post. I had my first baby at the end of last year which resulted in an emergency section and was housebound for the 1st 6 weeks. We were just finding our feet & was away to start classes when lockdown commenced, I fully appreciate that nobody could anticipate a global pandemic & fully supported the lockdown & followed the rules albeit annoyed that my maternity leave was being spent on my own & coping with the 1st new experience of being a mum without support - my husband was classed as a key worker & no family/friends to meet up with.
    However, I feel now that I'm at a postition along with other mums that my daughter is now 9 months old & I will be going back to work soon.
    There has been absolutely no support given to us mums on maternity leave, we have been given no opportunity to have a "normal" experience on maternity leave. Sitting in a bar/cafe is unrealistic with a young baby/child. They need room to move around & play so being at home in their own environment with toys & books like playgroup/soft play areas have.
    Support bubbles would be such an advantage for us all.

  • Posted by Lisi October 11, 2020 at 19:35

    I completely agree with this idea and with previous comments!
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