Lockdown Babies

Mónica’s daughter was born when our supermarket shelves were empty and you couldn’t buy nappies and essential supplies for your baby. She shares her struggles in the run up to her baby being born, particularly around her intense anxiety about running out of food and medicine for her family. Mónica also talks about moving back to her home country during the pandemic due to feeling so isolated and abandoned.

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

This week we hear from Lily who had severe pre-eclampsia when her baby was born in December 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, Lily was forced to be separated from her baby when he was just a few days old, something she says has resulted in lasting trauma for her and her family. Lily tells the shocking story of how her complaint to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was thrown out and how her concerns were dismissed by the hospital she was treated at.

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

Polly shares her story of being induced alone in November 2020 and her struggles during the lockdown that followed. Polly says she felt really isolated in the first months of her son’s life with no access to support from friends and family or from healthcare professionals. And she says she knows she still has some work to do to process what she went through before she considers having another baby.

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

Anissa gave birth to her baby boy in March 2020, a matter of days after we were put into the first lockdown. She recalls her story of giving birth at such an unprecedented time, including 3 days alone in hospital without a single visitor. Anissa also talks about having a midwife appointment on her front door step and feeling a lack of support in the first year of her son’s life.

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

Natalie is about to have her second baby two years on from the birth of her ‘Lockdown Baby’. She reflects on her experience last time and says she hopes lessons have been learnt. 

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

Amy O'Connor spent hours alone in active labour before her husband was allowed to be by her side for the birth of their son. Whilst Amy says she has now come to terms with how her baby came into the world, she's angry that Covid is still affecting how she wants to parent and is frustrated by a lack of access to in-person healthcare for her now 1 year-old.

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.

In this week’s episode, we hear from Grace who was forced to live apart from her husband for some of her pregnancy as he worked on the NHS front lines in a Covid intensive care ward. Grace, who's a nurse, also talks about the lack of support she feels she was given postpartum. 

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

This week we hear from Fae who reflects on some of the positives of having her baby in lockdown. Whilst Fae says she’s angry that some women were forced to labour and give birth alone, she’s grateful her family was able to enjoy the newborn bubble together without tons of visitors.

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

Sam says her birth experience was wonderful and she can’t fault the care she received from her midwives but she says she felt totally abandoned after her baby was born and was failing to gain weight. Sam says health visitors didn’t take her concerns seriously, something she blames covid restrictions for. Sam also talks about the impact having a baby during the pandemic has had on her husband.

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

Jenna Topham shares her story of being separated from family during her pregnancy and after her daughter was born. She also talks about the lasting impact spending two weeks alone in hospital has had on her and her family. 

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 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