Warriors called ‘mothers'

Pregnancies and giving birth during these uncertain times are unusually lonely and worrying for many first-time mothers. Hormones on one side, a changing body, mood swings, mix of feeling happy and anxious for the coming days, postnatal depression- all very unfamiliar experiences. On one hand there are unknown fears about risks of coronavirus in unborn babies and the new borns, on the other, there are sadness around missing out on small joys of being pampered by the extended family, especially in the last trimester or after giving birth. 
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds has not been confirmed to have had the virus. But the 32-year old chose to take precautions due to her pregnancy. She tweeted saying, “I’ve spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of coronavirus. I haven’t needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I’m on the mend.”
In the meantime a couple in India's state of Chhattisgarh have named their newborn twins (daughter and son) Corona and Covid in a bid to remember the struggle in giving birth at a hospital while the country was perpetually under a lockdown.
There are Asian women who have taken twitter to discuss about missing out on their usual rituals around pregnancy. A Muslim mother wrote: having a baby as an Asian/Muslim woman during lockdown is strange. Usually family would take over during the first 40 days celebrating baby’s birth and religious rites. But there is no ‘aqeeqah’ or ‘khitan’. Nobody to even force me to drink ‘haldi-milk’ (turmeric milk) or eat ‘yakni’. She was joined in by many more, who shared their loneliness - some with as young as a week old baby.
Dr Punam Krishan has taken twitter to rejoice the birth of their baby girl Elora. She wrote, “Its been beautiful but emotional time. There’s a tribe of us new mums for whom it’s an especially isolating time. With limited access to postnatal healthcare support and an aching absence of family and friends, we’re cuddling our babies tighter.”
There is a common saying that God has made mothers, because he cannot be everywhere. Women and families who are welcoming their new members, when the world is an unknown place now, deserve a special applaud for being able to keep it all together. Times are strange, but it will get better, and these children will be the next generation of incredible humans, who brought light and joy into a world suffering from unfathomable pain and losses.