Having a Child in the Prime of COVID: Life Without Words

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 We found out we were pregnant with Wyatt in June of 2020 - right in the middle of the pandemic. The world felt like it was standing still. Everywhere was on lockdown, people were isolating, and uncertainty hung in the air like a heavy cloud.


At the time, I was working full-time as an “essential worker.” I’ll never forget when a coworker came into work knowing he had COVID but didn’t tell anyone. Does anyone else remember when COVID felt like the scariest thing on the planet to catch? I was pregnant, terrified, and my boss shrugged off my fears like they didn’t matter. Back then, no one really knew what COVID could do during pregnancy, and that fear consumed me.


That week, I quit my job.


The rest of my pregnancy was marked by loneliness. David wasn’t allowed to come with me to appointments - no hand to hold, no shared glances when we saw our baby on the ultrasound. I experienced all of Wyatt’s “firsts” alone in those sterile rooms. I had dreamed of pregnancy being a joyful, shared experience, but instead, it felt like navigating a storm on my own.


On March 22, 2021, Wyatt was born. His birth was smooth, and for that I’m so grateful. But the hospital rules at the time meant only David could be there. I had always pictured my mom by my side, supporting me through those first moments of motherhood, but that wasn’t our reality.


When we brought Wyatt home, everyone was eager to meet him. But we were so scared of germs, of the unknown, that we kept to ourselves for as long as possible.


Looking back, no one really talks about how terrifying it was to be a first-time parent during that time.... trying to navigate new life while the world felt like it was falling apart. There was so much joy in welcoming Wyatt, but also so much fear and isolation.


Now, with time, I see how strong we were. How much love carried us through. Wyatt was born into a world that felt broken, but he was our light, our reminder that even in the hardest seasons, there is beauty


Kerri


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