Giving birth during the lockdown

Croix/Lille, France, Lydia, German, 37, Conference interpreter, Married/Kids: Married with 2 kids

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
Yes, there is a second wave. My region is an orange zone.

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
Whereas in the beginning, most people were making fun of the sudden hysteria, when schools closed all of a sudden before we all got locked down, we all realised how serious the situation was. People avoided each other in public, wondered when we were finally going to be able to purchase masks. Today facemasks are the new normal.

How are you and your family?
Happy the worst is over but very unsure about the future. I’m supposed to return to work in October in Brussels after maternity leave but don’t know if it will be possible.

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
Taking care of a four year old at home (no playground, just 1h walks allowed…) during the last months of my pregnancy.

When there was no possibility to go to the playground, the living room was her daughter´s playground.

Happy the worst is over but very unsure about the future.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
When schools were closed out of the blue.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
Schools were closed. Restaurants, bars and most stores except for supermarkets were closed. Then we were locked down, allowed to leave home only for valid reasons and with a form.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
The lockdown was necessary, but face masks were provided much too late and the government tried to make believe that they didn’t protect against Covid and were even dangerous. Now we need to wear face masks even outside in some areas, but on the other hand some people don’t need them for work if they work outdoors, which doesn’t really make sense. In some cities face masks are obligatory everywhere, but if none are provided it can be very expensive for some poor families.

What would you like to say to your government?
Don’t leave anybody behind.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
We’re at war (Emmanuel Macron).

Face masks were provided much too late.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
A colleague was probably infected but never tested. My doctor had it. The husband of the owner of a bar in our town died of it aged 50.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
No.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
Yes.

My doctor had COVID19.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
Two months, allowed to leave home only for a valid reason, walks/jogging etc. within 1km from home limited to 1h once a day, only with a signed document.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
With my husband and my daughter. My husband was working from home. I was playing/drawing/doing handicrafts/doing homework with my 4 year old toddler. Cooking and cleaning.

Drawing the Coronavirus during the lockdown.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I missed being on my own. I missed going out (restaurants and bars). I missed my friends.The solidarity within my family helped me.

We were allowed to leave home only for a valid reason within 1km from home limited to 1h once a day, only with a signed document.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
I was on maternity leave from beginning of April. For the other two weeks, my remaining contracts with the EU were honored (I’m a freelancer).

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
Limited to my family during lockdown. Now back to normal (I don’t know many people in Lille yet).

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
None so far but don’t know if I’ll be allowed to commute to Brussels end of October. If not my revenue will drop to 0.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
Don’t go out that much, always with a face mask. Concentrating on my baby and trying to get back in shape (intelectually I mean).

If I´m not allowed to commute to Brussels end of October, my revenue will drop to 0.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
Health-care staff.

What did the crisis show you?
How fragile our lifestyle is.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Travelling without fear.

Which images will you never forget?
My husband with a face mask and protective suit waiting for me to give birth.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
The images from Italy (coffins).

I´ll never forget seeing my husband with a face mask and protective suit waiting for me to give birth.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
That my school closes, that I won’t be able to return to work.

What gives you hope?
That the virus seems to be less agressive now.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Hoping to commute to Brussels on a regular basis.

If they find a vaccine, would you take it?
Yes.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
Back to basics, less globalization – produce our own face masks and equipment.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
Time to stop and think.

The virus seems to be less agressive now.