I Was A First Time Mom During Covid. Here's What I Learned
When I was preparing to give birth to my son, all I could anticipate was minimal sleep, night feedings, and all the fun things we would be able to do as a family. Never did I imagine that I would be raising a child during a pandemic. The Covid19 pandemic occurred less than 1 month after my son was born. All of our plans changed because I was a first time mom during Covid. Here’s what I learned.
I can’t help but think that if my husband and I decided to have another baby, our experience would be 1000% different than the first. Raising a newborn and figuring out how to be parents had it’s own set of challenges. And when adding a pandemic into the mix, needless to say, our stress increased. Mine reached an unexplainable amount. But here’s what I learned.
The only thing that mattered to me was my son’s health and well-being
Raising my son at the height of a global pandemic is definitely not something I ever anticipated. No matter how stressed or anxious I was, my son’s health was my priority. I struggled a ton with recurring nightmares after giving birth. My labor and delivery was worse than I could have ever anticipated. I dealt with a ton of postpartum anxiety, but despite my struggles, the only thing that mattered to me was my son and his health. Everything else I was worried about was put on the backburner because I wanted my newborn son to be as healthy as possible in a time filled with uncertainty.
I can do hard things on my own
With the global pandemic happening at the same time we brought a baby into the world, I can definitely say that my husband and I did the majority of the first 6 months completely on our own. Even after moving back home to be closer to family, we have definitely raised our son with very minimal help. It is true when they say that it takes a village to raise a child. But it’s also true that it’s possible to do it without one. Mental and emotional strength were key to surviving a global pandemic as a new mom.
Flexibility is key
I am type A through and through. But when the pandemic hit, it forced me to be more flexible. Yes I still had a routine and schedules to follow, but pandemic parenting showed me how important it is to be flexible. I’m a perfectionist, but the pandemic showed me how to change my standards and it reminded me that it’s okay to ‘go with the flow’. Although I am still a perfectionist and would rather have a set schedule, my anxiety and fear when a schedule is broken is much less than it used to be.
Mental health is important
I knew I was going to struggle with postpartum. I anticipated that I was definitely going to be struggling with postpartum depression. Although I didn’t have PPD, I did have postpartum anxiety, which only got worse with a global pandemic. Along with other personal factors in my life, I realized my mental health was really declining. Seeking professional help and going to therapy has been the best decision I could have made for my mental health. And after going to see a therapist for 1.5 years, I can definitely say that mental health plays a huge role in the rest of your life, and it’s so important to prioritize.
Be thankful for the little things
Waking up every day. Having a roof over our heads. Being physically healthy. All things I still take for granted some days. During the Covid pandemic, it was much easier to be thankful for the little things. I had a daily reminder of how quickly life could change. Being a first time mom during covid really gave me a better understanding of being grateful for the little things.
I never anticipated my first year of motherhood being the way it was. As stressful as it was in the moment, I can 10000% say that it made me a stronger person and a better mother.
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