How I am dealing with my new baby during COVID-19
I think I would consider myself mild-moderately scared about our new normal life living in a pandemic with a new baby plus an 8 year old. There is so much information to digest that I am still processing. Being a veterinary technician, I was ahead of the game. I definitely practiced sanitation and isolation protocols at first- you can actually read a little about that here. One grocery haul took me 2 hours to sanitize the items and put them all away. I have relaxed a tad bit since the beginning, but I am still taking reasonable precautions, like having groceries delivered. Daycare situations, on the other hand, have me the most concerned. It makes me nervous when the exposure risk is out of my control.
But, how do balance it all, new baby, new company, with our new normal?
Communication is key.
In the first month, Neil would sometimes feed Gavin after I fell asleep at night to give me a 3 or 4 hour stretch of sleep. We talk about what our needs are, we ask each other when we see indications of tiredness or emotional overwhelm or withdrawing behaviors and we try to be patient when it takes more than one time to get an answer.
It is all about teamwork
Neil will often change diapers during the night so I don’t have to get out of bed. I am able to go back to sleep easier if I just breastfeed. Neil falls asleep easier than I do, so changing the diaper won’t keep him awake for long.
Cooperation goes both ways
If Neil needs sleep, I won’t wake him to help so he gets a full night of sleep, uninterrupted.
Finding time for self-care
Baths and showers for me are much shorter these days, but they still happen- that’s a priority, I make it happen during naps with the monitor next to me, or after Neil comes home.
Having a support system
If I am struggling with negative thoughts or overwhelming feelings I express it to my support system, I write gratitude lists, I meditate, I listen to audiobooks during breastfeeding.
I have had a couple of coaching sessions that also help keep me aligned with the right perspectives.
Staying connected
I am grateful to be connected with understanding people who are happy to see Gavin on a coaching call or conference call, or even during a podcast. I usually try to time things around his naps of course. Working with Dr. Quincy Hawley is always a blessing, our team is great and there isn’t pressure to over-do.
Staying in shape
I am now exercising, after taking a break for a month, even if that’s not every day, and again I am okay with that for now.
Being present:
Sometimes my exercise is swimming with Braeden, so that’s a STACKING technique. Being present and having fun with him while getting my heart rate up for some low impact cardio and core work. I stock foods that help avoid fatigue.
When Gavin is awake I usually try to focus on him, even if that’s with B. He’s now 2 months old, so he’s beginning to need playtime, and interaction when he’s awake. I view him as a mindful reminder, just like the pets. When I am in deep work, if they or he is ready to be fed and played with, it’s usually the perfect timing for me to take a break from the desk.
I had the mindset going into self-isolation that our lives were going to continue, and that we wouldn’t be hermits. COVID shifted that for me a little (with visitors and travel) but I also underestimated the recovery. Neil was back at the dirtbike track the weekend we came home from the hospital, it took me about 3 weeks to wrap my mind around how I would manage my energy, my sore body, and Gavin outside all day away from home, but I did it. It’s still a learning experience, and we are adjusting sails as we go.
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