Welcoming a new child into the world can be challenging at the best of times but add a global pandemic in the mix and suddenly, it becomes an entirely different ballgame. To recognise these pressures, Kate Middleton hoped on a Zoom call with midwives, health professionals, parents and leading experts ahead of UK’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, to discuss the impact that the coronavirus crisis has had on families and healthcare workers.
Watch below: Kate Middleton encourages parents to ‘reach out’ for help during coronavirus pandemic
During her video call rounds, the duchess touched base virtually with a new mum and dad in the hospital after they welcomed their son. “Hello! Very nice to meet you,” Middleton greeted the new mom who was still in her hospital bed. “This is definitely a first, I think. Well, firstly, huge congratulations. Is it a little boy or a little girl?”
The camera then pans over to the couple, who introduced the newest member of their family – a beautiful baby boy. The duchess looked delighted, smiling as she said, “He’s so sweet. Aww, congratulations.”
Kate then went on to speak with nurses and healthcare professionals who shared their expert tips for handling anxiety and dealing with the frustration of not being able to see and connect with other family members as new parents. One of the biggest worries from healthcare professionals was the impact that social isolation would have on new parents who aren’t able to see their family leading up to, or after the birth.
“It creates anxiety because we all know how important those key relationships are in those early days,” one woman said.
Mental health has always been an issue that has been front of mind for Kate, and the duchess has long been an advocate for the importance of postpartum mental health. In 2017 at an event for Best Beginnings, she spoke about how tricky those first few moments as a new parent can be.
“Nothing can really prepare you for you the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother. It is full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, and worry, all mixed together,” Kate said.
“Your fundamental identity changes overnight. You go from thinking of yourself as primarily an individual, to suddenly being a mother, first and foremost.”
You can watch the full chat from her Zoom call, here.
Welcoming a new child into the world can be challenging at the best of times but add a global pandemic in the mix and suddenly, it becomes an entirely different ballgame. To recognise these pressures, Kate Middleton hoped on a Zoom call with midwives, health professionals, parents and leading experts ahead of UK’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, to discuss the impact that the coronavirus crisis has had on families and healthcare workers.
Watch below: Kate Middleton encourages parents to ‘reach out’ for help during coronavirus pandemic
Welcoming a new child into the world can be challenging at the best of times but add a global pandemic in the mix and suddenly, it becomes an entirely different ballgame. To recognise these pressures, Kate Middleton hoped on a Zoom call with midwives, health professionals, parents and leading experts ahead of UK’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, to discuss the impact that the coronavirus crisis has had on families and healthcare workers.
Watch below: Kate Middleton encourages parents to ‘reach out’ for help during coronavirus pandemic
