NEW Loxton parents Aaron and Stephanie Thompson are grappling with a version of parenthood that looks nothing like the one they had planned, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr and Mrs Thompson welcomed their little bundle of joy, Eloise Maggie, into the world on Monday, March 30, just after Australia’s heavy coronavirus restrictions came into place.
Mrs Thompson said she felt “overwhelmed” in the lead-up to Eloise’s birth.
“The fortnight or so before Eloise was born was when the panic truly hit in South Australia,” she said.
“I didn’t know what I might need when she arrived and I realised I might not be able to find items due to panic buyers stripping shelves.
“We struggled to find nappies at one stage and toilet paper.
“I certainly wanted some toilet paper in the house for when we arrived home from hospital, so we didn’t have to spend precious newborn time scouting supermarkets and potentially bringing unwanted germs into the house.
“I did some cooking in my last few weeks of pregnancy and ensured the house and freezer had enough supplies so that we didn’t have to go shopping as soon as we arrived home from hospital.”
Mrs Thompson said she and Mr Thompson were very careful when Eloise
was born.
“From a health perspective, I wasn’t overly concerned as most reports were that infants were mainly unaffected by the virus,” she said.
“But, we were obviously very cautious and limited outings to doctor visits and walks.
“When she was a few days old, we wondered if she had a temperature and went to buy a thermometer, but couldn’t find one anywhere due to people buying them because of COVID-19.”
Mrs Thompson said a few days before Eloise’s birth, she was advised that she would be unable to access gas for pain relief during labour.
“My doctor informed me of a few days before Eloise’s birth that gas for pain relief was no longer an option, with the measures implemented across all hospitals,” she said.
“I could have cried out of frustration as I felt robbed of an option that most other women are entitled to.
“The use of gas and air may increase aerosolisation and spread of the virus.
“However, in the end, I went drug free and was fortunate to have an amazing labour.”
Mrs Thompson said it was “heartbreaking” being unable to share Eloise with her and Mr Thompson’s family.
“In hospital, we were allowed one visitor for one hour,” she said.
“My mum was our one visitor and no one was going to take her place as that one visitor.
“Even though infants seem less susceptible to COVID-19, it still brings about a heightened sense of anxiety as parents naturally want to protect their children.
“In hospital, we video called both sets of parents and our siblings and that helped ease the feeling of isolation, but it wasn’t the same. In our first week home, both our parents visited and had all been cautious in the weeks prior.
“We took their temperature and made sure hands were clean at the door, at the recommendation of
health professionals.
“But, limiting everyone else – especially my siblings – was the hardest.”
Mrs Thompson said she felt “robbed” of experiencing the “newborn bubble” that most get with their first born.
“Her first few weeks of life look very different to how we imagined,” she said.
“There was not an influx of visitors at the hospital like we imagined or when we arrived home. It did feel very isolating.”
Mrs Thompson described her and Mr Thompson’s support system as “incredible”.
“It seems as though with COVID-19, the world has slowed down and people are kinder,” she said.
“Our house honestly looked like a florist and we have lovely neighbours who dropped off food and gifts, which is so lovely.
“People couldn’t visit, so it feels as though they made up for that with lots of lovely messages and gifts and cards left by our door.”
Mrs Thompson said her and Mr Thompson’s family and friends are eager to meet Eloise.
“It’s probably been harder on our families than us,” she said.
“We have had all the newborn cuddles to ourselves and were able to enjoy the time as just us three as a family.
“For our families, they just wanted to meet her and it was also hard on them not being able to assist.”
Mrs Thompson said it is difficult to imagine a “normal” life with Eloise.
“Eloise has only existed with restrictions in place so it’s hard to imagine what parenthood will be like when everything has gone back to normal,” she said.
“I pictured maternity leave as having plenty of coffee catch-ups with friends and playdates with other mothers.
“So, I am looking forward to Eloise making lots of little friends.
“While mothers’ groups have been cancelled, I know a few other women who have had babies at a similar time and feel as though we have formed strong friendships because we’ve bonded over having a baby during COVID-19.
“There’s been plenty of messages back and forth about how difficult COVID-19 has made things.”
In addition to being forced to adapt to a different version of parenthood, Eloise was recently diagnosed with aspiration – milk going into the lungs – which means she now has a nasogastric tube for feeding.
“We recently spent a week in Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital and unfortunately Aaron was not allowed in the hospital,” Mrs Thompson said.
“Eloise was allowed one visitor per day and as her mum, technically I was her visitor. Aaron ended up returning to Loxton, as there was no point him staying in Adelaide when he couldn’t visit.
“That was very stressful for both of us as it meant I was getting all results and information on my own and he was forever waiting for news.
“Upon becoming upset in front of one of the specialists after getting results, the specialist said I was the fourth mum to cry that day – and it was only lunch time.
“The specialists and doctors all commented that many parents were finding it difficult without support and anxiety levels were heightened due to COVID-19.”
Mrs Thompson looks forward to restrictions being lifted.
“When all this is over, we might have a family dinner or head to a café to allow all our family and friends to meet Eloise,” Mrs Thompson said.
“It’s been tough, but Eloise has been such a happy baby and we are lucky to have such a beautiful baby girl in our lives.”