Lockdown Babies

Kim had two babies during the pandemic, both very different and difficult experiences. When Kim fell pregnant for a second time, she knew from the start that she needed support for her mental health. Despite raising this at every single midwife and doctor's appointment for the entirety of her pregnancy, Kim was told repeatedly that she didn’t qualify for help. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here or follow her on Twitter. If you’ve struggled with any of the topics we’ve raised in today’s episode, please see the links below for help and support. Birth Trauma Association - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Pandas Foundation - https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/birth-trauma/ MIND - https://bit.ly/35Lbaos NHS Report into babies born in lockdown - https://bit.ly/3tQuit4

Natalie was one of the early guests on the Lockdown Babies podcast and she’s now had her second baby, 2 years on from her first. Natalie tells host Phillippa she gave birth to her second son on the kitchen floor after her labour progressed too quickly to get to the hospital! Natalie spent 5 days in hospital while baby Alby was treated for an infection and says while parts of her pregnancy and birth were “better” this time around, unfortunately she was still impacted by Covid restrictions. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here. This podcast is produced by OG Podcasts. If you’ve struggled with any of the topics we’ve raised in today’s episode, please see the links below for help and support. Birth Trauma Association - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Pandas Foundation - https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/birth-trauma/ MIND - https://bit.ly/35Lbaos NHS Report into babies born in lockdown - https://bit.ly/3tQuit4

Like so many mums who had their babies during the pandemic, Sarah says she’s been left feeling angry and let down about the pregnancy, labour and birth she endured, in part, due to Covid restrictions. After a difficult and traumatic birth, she was left with Sepsis and a few weeks later blood clots in her lungs. The experience has left Sarah with PSTD and she says it’s still something that affects her day-to-day life now. Sarah and host Phillippa also talk  about feeling “stuck” in 2020 / 2021 and being unable to move forward with their lives. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here or follow her on Twitter. If you’ve struggled with any of the topics we’ve raised in today’s episode, please see the links below for help and support. Birth Trauma Association - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Pandas Foundation - https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/birth-trauma/ MIND - https://bit.ly/35Lbaos NHS Report into babies born in lockdown - https://bit.ly/3tQuit4

Like many mums who had their babies during lockdown in 2020, Gabrielle was extremely anxious leading up to the birth of her baby in June 2020. She says she was pushed to a “break down” before being offered extra allowances to have her partner by her side for her induction. After a difficult labour and birth, Gabrielle’s nightmare was only just beginning. She tells host Phillippa her story of being readmitted back into hospital with feeding issues and the hellish days that followed which she says left her with PTSD. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here or follow her on Twitter. If you’ve struggled with any of the topics we’ve raised in today’s episode, please see the links below for help and support. Birth Trauma Association - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Pandas Foundation - https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/birth-trauma/ MIND - https://bit.ly/35Lbaos NHS Report into babies born in lockdown - https://bit.ly/3tQuit4

This week on the podcast, I’m delighted to be joined by Rachael, volunteer manager at the Birth Trauma Association. We’re exploring the topic of pregnancy after trauma, something I know lots of my listeners who had their babies in the pandemic are either going through at the moment, or hope to in the future. Rachael shares some amazing practical tips on how to arm yourself with the tools you need to be informed about your choices, advocate for yourself and prepare both mentally and physically for a second birth. You can learn more about the Birth Trauma Association here. They have Peer Supporters on hold to help anyone struggling with the impact of a traumatic birth; they can be reached on the telephone number 0203 621 6338 or at [email protected] Their ‘trauma informed care’ wristbands are available for purchase here. And they have a Facebook support group if that’s useful to you. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here.

Charlotte knew going into her pregnancy that she needed support with her mental health but says it was a battle to get anyone to take her seriously. She tells host Phillippa that she found attending appointments alone extremely distressing and like many pregnant women, she was terrified of catching Covid. It wasn’t until her baby was 6 months old that Charlotte says her mental health really started to deteriorate and after fighting for the help she deserves, she says she’s doing much better now. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here. If you’ve struggled with any of the topics we’ve raised in today’s episode, please see the links below for help and support. Birth Trauma Association - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Pandas Foundation - https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/birth-trauma/ MIND - https://bit.ly/35Lbaos NHS Report into babies born in lockdown - https://bit.ly/3tQuit4

Katy’s baby was born at 32 weeks in May 2020, at the height of the pandemic. There were no warning signs that her baby might arrive early so as you can imagine it was a total shock. Katy tells host Phillippa the story of how baby Isabelle arrived so quickly and how Covid screening meant her husband missed his daughter's birth by just a few minutes. We also hear about baby Isobelle’s month in the neonatal intensive care unit and the toll this took on Katy’s mental health. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here. If you’ve struggled with any of the topics we’ve raised in today’s episode, please see the links below for help and support. Birth Trauma Association - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Pandas Foundation - https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/birth-trauma/ MIND - https://bit.ly/35Lbaos NHS Report into babies born in lockdown - https://bit.ly/3tQuit4

Gemma gave birth to her second baby in June 2020 and says she was left unable to pick her newborn up or easily access pain relief during the 2 days she spent in hospital. She tells host Phillippa that she was left crying in pain as she waited for someone to bring her morphine after a long labour which ended in a c-section. Gemma also draws on the comparisons and differences between having a baby in 2016 vs 2020. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here.

This week on the podcast, Hannah shares her experience of having her baby in September 2020. The British Government had just launched their “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme but as you’ll hear, Hannah wasn’t allowed to have her husband with her while she was induced and laboured alone in hospital. An ordeal that lasted 33 hours.  During her pregnancy and after her baby was born, Hannah knew her mental health was deteriorating but was told by a midwife “people were dying” and she “needed to get on with it”. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here or follow her on Twitter. If you’ve struggled with any of the topics we’ve raised in today’s episode, please see the links below for help and support. Birth Trauma Association - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Pandas Foundation - https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/what-is-pnd/birth-trauma/ MIND - https://bit.ly/35Lbaos NHS Report into babies born in lockdown - https://bit.ly/3tQuit4

Destiny’s journey into motherhood was far from smooth. After a complicated pregnancy and many stressful visits to hospital, her baby was born prematurely at 30 weeks and spent the next 5 weeks fighting for his life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Destiny says her son was transferred to a different hospital hours after he was born - leaving her unable to meet him for 2 days as she was forced to wait for a negative Covid test. Destiny was left with PTSD and Post-Natal Depression from the ordeal and says she believes the Covid restrictions in place in June 2020 played a huge part in her trauma. Your host is Phillippa Guillou, a journalist and radio presenter whose own baby was born at the height of the pandemic. You can get in touch with Phillippa here.