Pregnant in a pandemic

Delivered at: Queen Mary Hospital

After giving birth during a pandemic, I pretty much feel that I can tackle anything that is thrown my way. This gives me so much hope and joy.

I wouldn’t say that my pregnancy was particularly impacted by Covid. In some ways, it made things slightly easier for me. My job is very social and due to distancing, most events were cancelled so at least I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. I chose to deliver at Queen Mary Hospital. The nurses were so kind and answered all my questions (I had many). The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is the food - have someone deliver your meal and ask for a bed by the window if possible, the view is heavenly.

I was lucky in that when I got into the delivery room, I was handed a phone and told to inform my partner he could come in for the birth. It was such a relief as I fully anticipated giving birth without him due to Covid restrictions. I would have hated for him to meet his little girl in the hospital car park.

When she is able to understand, I will tell Noa that she was a ray of sunshine for our friends and family in what has been some of the most challenging years of our lives.

Advice to mothers: Giving birth is stressful enough, without the complications that Covid brings. Trust the hospital staff, try not to think about what would have been, and focus on the positives. Soon you will meet your baby, and believe me when I say: nothing else will matter the minute you meet them. Delivered at: Matilda International Hospital

The pandemic had two main impacts on my pregnancy: firstly, it added a lot of stress and secondly, it made what (in my mind) is meant to be a joyful, sociable time, quite lonely. Concerns about the virus made me more cautious than I would have otherwise been and therefore, day-to-day activities were subject to a cost-benefit analysis.

I delivered at Matilda International Hospital. Other than the additional mask requirement, my actual birth experience wasn’t really affected. My husband was present for the delivery and afterwards. I was lucky in that my health insurance covered the cost of a private hospital room which meant that I had the privacy (and extra safety from a virus perspective) of a room on my own and I could also have one additional visitor at any one time.

Post-Covid, there will most likely be a new normal way of living so, when Elise is older, I will be regaling her with stories of what the old days were to be like - spontaneous trips abroad, large gatherings of families and friends and no constant temperature checks or covered faces.

Advice to other mothers: Take reasonable precautions but try not to get too worked up as you could drive yourself crazy with worry. I believe that getting out and about is beneficial, both physically and mentally. I’d also suggest joining a due date WhatsApp group. As we all know, it takes a tribe to raise a child so you need to keep building your tribe.

Delivered at: Queen Mary Hospital

We opted to go through the public system and were aware from the beginning that Jason, my husband wouldn’t be allowed in for the birth or to visit throughout. Despite this, my hospital experience was amazing. The staff were very supportive and helpful from the moment I arrived. The nurses eased my nerves and once I was in the labour room they gave me a landline phone so I could keep Jason updated.

I am sad for him because he missed the birth of his first child. We've also missed the support of both of our parents during this time and they've missed out on meeting their first grandchild. But, we’ve been able to spend time at home together in our little family bubble and we’re so grateful for this. We’ve been given the space to figure out and navigate our own way through parenthood, 100 percent on our own terms. One day Reece will read about the pandemic in history books and we’ll remind him of all the special time he got to spend with his mum and dad.

Advice to other mothers: Be prepared to throw your plan out the window. It’s less stressful and easier to be flexible. Accept that whatever happens, it’s all in the interest of keeping your baby and you as safe as can be. Delivered at: Queen Mary Hospital

Rory was born the day before Hong Kong recorded its very first Covid case. I was very lucky in that I went into labour three weeks early. If Rory had arrived on his expected due date, hospital restrictions would have been in place meaning that my husband Nick wouldn’t have been present for the delivery. I had a lot of anxiety over Covid during the weeks that followed because Rory was so little and vulnerable. We were anxious about where we went and who we spent time with. If we took him out we felt guilty and were paranoid about any potential exposure.

It is hard having a first baby without any family support on the ground. In saying that, there is a great support network particularly in Discovery Bay where we live so we are very grateful for close friends and we’ve been able to meet many others in the same situation.

We feel incredibly lucky to have had him to focus on during this difficult time.

Advice to other mothers: Focus on you and your baby and forget about what you cannot control. Although it’s tough being away from family, there are plenty of ways to get support remotely.