Motherhood in Lockdown: 150 mothers on pregnancy, birth and postpartum in a pandemic

Mothers must not become the forgotten victims of the pandemic. We didn't lose our lives, but many of us lost our sanity. This must never be allowed to happen again. 'The Lockdown Mama Community,' an online group of mothers built in the wake of the COVID-19, were asked to write about their pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences during a global pandemic. The aim was a therapeutic exercise to work through the trauma of mothering amid this challenging period in history. What resulted, was a raw, powerful and monumental collective case study showcasing the devastating impact that harsh maternity restrictions had on maternal mental health in the UK. Through 150 honest accounts, we see the value of human connection and the strength that can appear in the most vulnerable moments. Babies were grown, birthed, raised and in some cases, lost, as their mothers were forced alone, restricted and driven to extremes. Huge mistakes were made, of which the profound impact will be felt for years to come. The collective anger of mothers was not going to stay suppressed for long. It's time their stories were heard.