22.03.2022 Views

ISRRT_COVID-19_book

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

July 2021: Returning to work<br />

Several people told me <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> would be gone by the time I returned from maternity leave.<br />

I made my 40-mile commute to work today. <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> exists. It is evident that there is an<br />

ongoing pandemic. Surgical masks are still required upon entry to the hospital. People talk<br />

about isolation and Lateral Flow Tests. The work environment is a stark contrast to what I<br />

would see if I made a trip to the supermarket where masks are no longer a requirement.<br />

Many people keep stating how lucky I have been to have missed <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> at work, however<br />

there is a dark reality about having a high-risk pregnancy and giving birth to a premature baby<br />

during a pandemic. I was expecting my baby before the pandemic was declared so I did not<br />

know what I was getting myself into.<br />

Shortly before the first lockdown myself and 2 of my colleagues went to Costa to have lunch.<br />

It was the last meal that I have had with friends since 2020. Throughout the year I have felt<br />

isolated from the outside world. I Facetimed my parents and spoke to my closest friends<br />

regularly. Not being in the presence of other people was difficult despite my preference for<br />

introversion.<br />

When my son was on the Neonatal Unit myself and my husband could not be together at the<br />

side of his incubator at the same time. My husband could only visit us for 1 hour per day when<br />

we were transferred to the Maternity ward. Not having access to your own poorly baby is<br />

heart-breaking. We were not allowed to be together as a proper family until we were<br />

discharged. Many Trusts still have these restrictions in place.<br />

In addition, there were no premature baby clothes available to purchase, and the tiny-babysized<br />

clothes were scarce. We had to use the donated babywear at the hospital. A fellow Mum<br />

on the ward gave me some of her son’s premature baby clothes because they did not fit him.<br />

These are some of my struggles that I want to talk about when someone calls me “lucky”.<br />

Instead, I laugh and all I choose to say is that I am not lucky because it is difficult sitting at<br />

home for 6-8 months without going out. This is also true. I did not go out of the house, unless<br />

I attended appointments. Going to Tesco for the first time after my son’s birth was like a<br />

vacation!<br />

96

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!