Lilli Murdoch, Digital Communications Officer at Breathe Arts Health Research interviews participant Meg, about her journey with Melodies for Mums.
Meg is taking part in the Cumbria Melodies for Mums programme, which started at the beginning January 2021. It’s the first programme to run outside of London and online. She attends with little Teddy who was 4 months last week.
As soon as we start talking, I can hear the beautiful cooing sounds only little babies make in the background. The love and tenderness in Meg’s voice is audible. She gushes about her “little chubby man” how his legs are so scrummy that she could eat them.
I ask her how it feels to be a new mum at this time.
“I wouldn’t have chosen to have a baby during a pandemic and lockdown. But I don’t know any different. I’m a very sociable person, so it’s been hard not being able to share Teddy with my friends and family. They have never met him and will never experience the joy of him as a tiny baby, this makes me really sad.”
Although Meg felt very supported by her midwife and health visitor, these visits have now stopped due to COVID-19. She feels if she needed further support she could reach out if she wanted to, but that the availability of support is a bit more sparse currently.
“It would be nice to have more tangible support, I lost my mum a few years ago, my dad lives close by, but we can’t see him as he’s over 70. My husband and I haven’t bubbled with anyone else, so it is just us.”
She tells me that of course she has low days and the cold, wet and wintery weather makes things more challenging. Stretching your legs and going for a walk, feels a lot less appealing when it’s blowing a gale.
Meg tells me that she volunteered at Cumbria Family Support, where one of the coordinators forwarded her the details for Melodies for Mums.
“When I first heard about Melodies for Mums, I assumed it was just a regular singing class for mothers and babies. I have always loved singing and love singing to Teddy, although I didn’t know many songs for babies. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that it is on a Monday, it makes me feel elated and lifts my mood ready for the week ahead.”