I have a story to share from a year ago. It feels like a lifetime ago, yet, only last year we were in the middle of a global pandemic.
As the restrictions in British Columbia were lifting in March 2022, mask mandates to go first followed by vaccine passports, I couldn't help but remember the day of March 15th, 2 years ago in 2020. I was planning my baby shower, which took place on March 14th and the next day a national lockdown was announced in Canada.
I remember going to the hospital for delivery and no one being sure about anything. My mom was visiting to help us with the baby and while I was in labor, she had to wait outside in the car. She had to bear British Columbia’s cold spring weather all night long with no heater. Since they wouldn't let anyone in the hospital, my husband had to ferry back and forth a million times. He dropped her off at home. He got homemade lunch for me. While he was driving around, I was handling the baby questions and nurse check ins. It was chaotic and utterly overwhelming to be in that situation alone. Not being able to learn how to bathe the baby or getting a meeting with a lactation consultant added buckets to our confusion. No matter how much you read, those few days after you find yourself at home with a baby will make you question how prepared you actually are.
When Baby Arrived
I still remember the days when my spouse would have to go a grocery store multiple times in a week. We were wiping everything down. With a new baby, you are never sure how much hygiene you should adhere to and this was especially true for a baby born in the pandemic. We were being watchful for every single thing.
I was obsessively reading the rates of infant covid infections. A NICU at a downtown Vancouver hospital had a breakout and one baby was affected by it. As a new mom, this was a stressful time to be in. However, of course we were soaking in the love of the newborn at the same time, so it was rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. High highs and low lows. Throw in a postpartum type-A personality woman like me and it was a perfect recipe for daily outbursts.
Human Connection
Socialization is already hard for a new parent, but we craved meaningful connection with other humans. We also ended up moving to a whole new neighbourhood between all this chaos and that meant we were further away from familiarity and the people we knew and relied on. It helped to have our parents to help but at 6 months, my baby hit a stranger anxiety phase. My baby would cry in the car, at any new person’s place, everywhere. It took awhile to come out of this phase. Even so, we kept trying to meet other people. We masked up. Remained socially distant. But, we did not give up on reaching out.
First Birthday
I had never envisioned I'd be celebrating my baby's first birthday in the middle of a pandemic. Also, I imagined there would be way more people around us.
We had 2 couples with kids at our first birthday. We hosted it outdoors and it was fun! The party was not exactly as what I had in mind, but oh well! The fact remains that it was an occasion to celebrate. Our first year as parents and our baby's first year in this world. This was a huge achievement. I knew of many moms who forgo a celebration for the first birthday entirely, but I wanted to mark this day.
As restrictions kept easing, we made a trip out to Toronto. Saw a lot of friends. Socialized more than we had in the months after the baby was born. Things started to get back to normal.
As we got close to the 2nd birthday, I could not believe that the pandemic was almost over! This huge cloud we were living under, of restrictions on gatherings, meeting people, traveling, it was all going away. I hope we never ever have to face such an event again.
This was an experience of a lifetime. It has changed me; it has changed my family. It has certainly shaped my child. As parents of babies born during the pandemic, we won’t be going out and partying all night by any means, just like other new parents, but at least it will be good to not live under a gloomy disposition of never ending pandemic restrictions anymore.
Cheers to better things ahead of us! Here is to being patient with yourself and moving on to acceptance that the global pandemic is truly on its way to being over.
Sincerely,
Rasika
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