Pregnant in Antwerp in coronavirus times.
Day 150 of pregnancy
I woke up this morning, sunshine blasting through the windows: I’m feeling good. I finally have that “second trimester superwoman energy” that I keep being told about. I’m on day 150 of this pregnancy, but things couldn’t be weirder with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing.
So my topic is “A Day In The Life of a Pregnant Woman: week 4 -coronavirus outbreak”. Because -as good as I feel- I also feel a deep-rooted sense of anxiety that I can’t quite quash.
It’s a pretty strange time for all of us. Even if we have never felt anxiety before, these unprecedented times can make even the toughest feel anxious.
I know this is something that I am dealing with right now.
I am not usually one to share my worries and concerns to the masses on social media (that is a “treat” reserved mostly for those closest to me) but these exceptional times make me want to share how I’m feeling. I know I’m not alone in feeling insecure at this time and I think we all need to show sensitivity, and embrace the sensitive sides of others.
When I woke up this morning, despite being allowed the luxury of waking up one hour later due to my lack of commute, my first thought was “something is worrying me … what is it?” Not a nice way to start the day. But that worrying feeling is something that we are all living with, especially if you are pregnant, looking after newborns or managing an ongoing health condition.
Sometimes I cry or become super emotional all of a sudden, without any warning.
I can only imagine that what I am experiencing now is what those with permanent anxiety feel every day and I have never had so much appreciation for the way they carry on. But I digress – Of course, I am still able to function and I do so.
So I start work from my home-office and plow through the day (the highlight naturally being lunch and break times, as I am sure any expectant woman can relate to!). I have scheduled Zoom meetings (no sweatpants for me!) and I plod on with my regular other tasks.
I also keep up-to-date with the housework (with the help of my husband of course) – It’s amazing how much more washing and general untidiness you create when two people are living full-time in the house! Other than that, it is “business as usual” -whatever this “usual” now is. But throughout it all there is this unsettling feeling of insecurity, that I don’t know how to make disappear.
It’s the little things such as not going out to do the grocery shopping; not being able to plan as much for our upcoming baby as I would like to; my husband not being able to come to doctor appointments with me; not being able to share our baby’s first kicks with grandparents; not knowing if I will be able to go back to the UK to see friends and family before the birth; not knowing when my parents and sister will next be able to come see me. The list goes on and on and starts to cast a shadow over all that is positive around me.
Yes, I know that all that matters is that our baby and I are healthy (and so far- thank goodness -this is the case) but all of these thoughts worry me and give me a feeling of uncertainty that I am not used to.
I am used to being the friend that friends can rely on, and on relying on those friends in return. However, right now I am struggling to find that same sense of comfort that I usually get from my friends – I am a tactile person by nature and week 4 of quarantine is getting to me because I can’t see friends and hug them.
In summary: Week 4 of quarantine is making me have more questions than answers.
But – I am doing my best and being kind to myself.
So that is the message I want to end this post with: be kind, reach out to that person you haven’t spoken to in a while (they might just need it) but most of all – be kind to yourself. It’s OK not to feel OK right now. We all have our worries and anxieties and these are completely normal in such unprecedented circumstances.
LauraPS: Find me on Instagram @lauraowenonsea to connect and share positivity!
View this post on InstagramMore pregnancy walks with my official lockdown walk photographer @neleonsea #21weekspregnant
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