The nine months leading up to Lily’s birth were filled with ups and downs. I can still recall the moment during our 24-hour induction when our doctor delivered Lily. In the rush to free her from the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, her clavicle was unintentionally fractured. The delivery room fell silent, and relief washed over my husband’s face when we finally heard her first cry.
After a short hospital stay, we returned home—grateful, relieved, and mostly unscathed. But as we began to adjust to life as a family of three, Minnesota initiated its first stay-at-home order. We quickly adapted to this new reality, mourning the missed opportunities to introduce our precious Lily to family and friends. Instead, we took to sanitizing groceries and sharing our worries about phantom respiratory symptoms.
During my 16-week maternity leave spent in quarantine, I often found myself gazing at Lily, filled with awe and emotion. The joy of parenthood was frequently overshadowed by an overwhelming fear of the unknown. I anxiously watched daily updates from public officials like Andrew Cuomo and became engrossed in Minnesota’s public health briefings, feeling a mix of hope and frustration as I followed the COVID numbers.
Tears came easily when my pediatrician reassured me in early May that “COVID hasn’t affected Lily” after I voiced worries about her social development due to our limited outings. I cried in my car after realizing we were only at the beginning of this pandemic. Despite knowing I was fortunate to have paid maternity leave, I felt guilty for mourning the loss of normalcy. The isolation and fear of being a first-time mom during such tumultuous times weighed heavily on me.
It’s fair to say that COVID shaped my initial year of parenting, but I’ve gradually come to terms with this reality. I have a healthy baby, and my reclusive maternity leave has ended. I now feel a newfound calmness after navigating challenges I never expected. Though our friends and family haven’t held Lily close, they love her as they love me, and that’s what truly matters.
Our journey to welcoming Lily was filled with uncertainties, yet I reflect on our infertility experience with gratitude for the love and support we felt throughout. Our first year as parents mirrored that journey—different challenges, new pains, and countless unknowns, but ultimately, an abundance of love and hope. If you’re interested in related topics, check out this post on home insemination. For more insights, Make a Mom is a great resource on home insemination kits, and you can read about the latest findings on fertility at Science Daily.
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- Home insemination kits for beginners
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In summary, the experience of having a first baby during a pandemic is filled with a mix of joy and anxiety, shaped by the surrounding uncertainties. However, the love and support from family and friends can serve as a guiding light through the challenges.
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