It’s tough to be a baby’s mum at the best of times, so be kind to yourself now – Hayley Matthews

Someone giving perspective on why you’re reacting a certain way really goes far in resolving an issue. I’m hoping that my new-found calmness will last longer than a week. However, it has been tested to the max in our current routine of breakfast, watch YouTube, lunch, watch YouTube, dinner, watch YouTube, shout at each other, then bed. Everyone is getting a bit bored now but we’re all well that is what matters.

I checked in with Kaye Adams on Radio Scotland to give an update on how I’d used the advice and how I’ve tried my best to not get mad when everyone in the flat doesn’t “do things my way”. Oh how I want to scream when the loo seat is left up – but not everyone in the household pees like me, so it’s helped me out to realising that in the grand scheme of things, a urine splashed loo seat left up isn’t that big a problem (she says clenching her teeth).

The boys are bored but actually seem ok with our new norm, and at eight and one they’re very busy and like to be entertained. However, I’ve been thinking about how hard it would be had we been in this situation with a newborn baby. A few celebrities have talked about giving birth in lockdown and after seeing Sheridan Smith talk about having her baby just a few weeks after she finished filming for new ITV drama Isolation, it really made me wonder how all the new mums out there are doing.

It’s a lonely time anyway but not being able to go to groups or mother/toddler classes must be making socialising even harder. And never underestimate the power of women talking and supporting each other through motherhood – it is essential! Essential for a well-supported mum, a mum who’s listened to, offered advice and told she’s doing great.

I remember the early baby days well and can’t even begin to imagine how hard being a new mum just now must be.

The only advice I would offer in my newly-found calm state would be really be kind to yourself. Enjoy staying in your jammies all day because there’s never been a better excuse than having a baby during lockdown.

In the meantime, I have to give a shout out to lovely Kathryn from Daisy Baby who has been giving free support for mums in the Lothians. She’s been taking online weekly virtual coffee meets, free guided relaxations for pregnant and new mums every Sunday evening (visit thedaisyfoundation.com/teacher/kathryn-lawrence/) and you can find lots of other mums on the positive birth movement page positivebirthmovement.org – chat with new mums and get some online support.

There’s also the newly set up Pop-Up Pregnancy & Postnatal Scotland group happening on Facebook which has 1500 members and run by 12 specialists.

There seems to be loads going on to support pregnant and new mums who are feeling worried about their face to face classes that have been stopped. So to all the new mums out there – please don’t stress, don’t worry and don’t put any pressure on yourself, make a coffee and go back to bed with a pack of biscuits and your buba – I think I might do the same with my boys.