Couple had baby girl as Covid lockdown announced
BBCA Worcester couple whose daughter was born on the day the UK first went into lockdown have reflected on that period of their lives, remembering it as an experience they will "never forget".
Parents Bill and Mhari had Sophie on 23 March 2020, the same day then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced the restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ahead of the five-year anniversary on Sunday, they said they hoped nothing like it ever happened again.
But they also said they believed lockdown helped their daughters Sophie and Jessica, who's now 13, to form a strong bond.
"I'd like to think that we're more aware of each other now," Mhari said.
"Whether that's actually true or not I'm not entirely sure."
Her husband added: "Reflecting on it, it was one of those what you hope to be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
"Obviously we don't to go through it again."
He said he ended up in a situation where his wife and newborn were in hospital and he could not go and see them and did not know how he could pick them up because he couldn't leave Jessica, then eight, on her own or with anybody else.
But the mum-of-two said: "As long as we were safe it was all right and I think I remember saying that to Bill on the phone. You're safe. I'm safe. That's all that matters."
She said after the birth, on the rare occasion they saw a midwife or a health visitor, it was in full protective gear and they could not touch the baby.
The proud parents were also unable to celebrate their new arrival with friends and family.
But they said Jessica, who was being home-schooled, was home throughout and formed a close connection with Sophie.
"To watch that bond was almost a highlight," Mhari said.
"Bill was working from home as well, so he got to be able to see it all."
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