Having a baby in lockdown – Eastbourne woman shares ‘surreal’ experience

Eastbourne mum Tanya Tidswell has shared her experience of having a baby in lockdown.

William John was born on Monday, April 13, at Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

But, instead of being surrounded by her family, Tanya could only have her partner Kevin present, and all the midwives were clad in full PPE.

She said, “I was ready for him. I think it got to the point where you can’t enjoy your pregnancy anymore, you just want him out and safe.

“Now I feel really lucky, I have got something so positive and so joyful to focus on.”

The 31-year-old had given birth to her first two sons – Tyler, 11, and Beau, seven – at Eastbourne DGH, and had planned to do the same this time around.

But last minute this was changed to Conquest, an environment she wasn’t familiar with and 17 miles away.

Despite this, she said, “The care I had was amazing, they are just amazing.

“I want to praise the people who are doing their job. They were lovely, they were so professional.

“They all had to wear masks but I could see the twinkle in their eyes when they were smiling.

“I think they have dealt with it so well at a time when the whole country was not ready for this.”

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Tanya said, “They love their job, they aren’t there for money. They are there for the satisfaction of bringing lives into the world.

“I was so chilled the whole time, they made it really adaptable for me. I didn’t feel overwhelmed. If I think about it too much I get emotional.”

The birth itself was a “surreal experience”, she said.

“We waited until the contractions were strong. By the time I got there I was ready for them to let Kevin in as I was in established labour.”

Before long, healthy baby William was brought into the world.

Tanya said, “I’m so grateful. I worried more than I needed to. They dealt with me so well and have been really thorough with check ups and keeping me up to date with everything.”

She particularly wanted to say thank you to her partner Kevin, who is a security worker at the Beacon shopping centre.

“He’s had to work through this as a key worker, and he’s been so worried about spreading it to us. He’s been an amazing support to me.”

But the experience has been bittersweet. Because of lockdown measures, they haven’t been able to introduce William to the rest of their families.

Tanya said, “I just wanted to enjoy this baby. It would have been the first time my mum was living near.

“She hasn’t even met him. It’s heartbreaking.”

But, she said, “I don’t feel depressed about it. I feel there’s a positive lesson for us to learn from this negative situation.

“It’s been a surreal experience and situation but I don’t regret it.”

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