Skip to main content
British Red Cross
DONATE
  • Back
  • Get help
    • Get help
    • Coronavirus
    • Hire a wheelchair
    • Borrow a commode
    • Support at home
    • Help with loneliness
    • Find missing family
    • Help for refugees
    • Help for young refugees
    • Help with money problems
    • Prepare for emergencies
    • Help for victims of terrorism abroad
  • Get involved
    • Get involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraising and events
    • Partner with us
    • Coronavirus
    • Teaching resources
    • Jobs
  • First aid
    • First aid
    • Learn first aid skills
    • Baby and child first aid
    • Do a first aid course
    • Find a first aid venue
    • Teach first aid
    • Buy a first aid kit
  • About us
    • About us
    • What we do
    • How we're run
    • What we stand for
    • News
    • Our history
    • Contact us
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Find a charity shop
    • Donate goods
    • Volunteer in our shops
    • Furniture and electrics
    • Independent living products
    • Books
    • Wedding dresses
    • Vintage and designer clothes
    • Gift shop
    • Visit our eBay shop
    • Our ASOS vintage shop
  • Stories
    • Stories
    • Health and social care
    • Migration and displacement
    • Disasters and emergencies
    • Our Movement


Pregnant in a pandemic: how the Red Cross supported one new mum in lockdown

Coronavirus restrictions meant that Jasmine had no way of getting to her antenatal appointments during her high-risk pregnancy. Then, she met British Red Cross volunteer, Tracey

Jasmine was already experiencing a difficult pregnancy when the first set of lockdown measures were announced earlier this year.

Little did she know, the restrictions would mean she would also be kept apart from her baby when he was born.

Complications during her pregnancy meant that Jasmine was identified as ‘vulnerable’ and had to take extra shielding measures. 

"The baby wasn’t doing as well as he could be,” said Jasmine. “I also had pre-eclampsia, which was affecting my blood pressure. There was a lot to worry about even before the change to my appointments."

Jasmine

PHOTO: Peter Flude/British Red Cross

As shops and schools up and down the country began to close, Jasmine - like many pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic - was told that her doctor’s surgery was closing and that she would have to go elsewhere. 

 

THERE WAS A LOT TO WORRY ABOUT EVEN BEFORE THE CHANGE TO MY APPOINTMENTS.

 

“I was already struggling to get what I needed to look after my three-year-old daughter,” recalled Jasmine. “I was grateful that I was still being offered midwife appointments, but I don’t have a car and I don’t drive.” 


Her new clinic was at least two bus rides and a walk away – a tricky journey with a small child under any circumstances, but even more daunting when combined with a high-risk pregnancy at the beginning of a global pandemic. 

Jasmine was put in touch with the Red Cross after telling her GP that she was worried about how she would get to future maternity appointments. And that’s when she met Tracey. 

 

Tracey

PHOTO: Peter Flude/British Red Cross

A Red Cross community connector covering the rural area west of Basingstoke, Tracey offered to drive Jasmine to her antenatal appointments. 

“When I first met Tracey, she immediately put me at ease,” said Jasmine. “She was wearing PPE and had just cleaned her car. Not only that but she was friendly and chatty – a really wonderful lady with a fantastic personality.” 

Tracey has been a community connector for a year, and has 30 years’ worth of experience in caring roles. She took Jasmine to two antenatal appointments but had a surprise in store when she tried to contact Jasmine to arrange her third pick-up.

Jasmine video

“The third time I was due to drive Jasmine, I texted her to confirm the arrangements,” said Tracey. “She told me she’d had the baby early! As her son was six weeks premature, he had to stay in hospital for treatment, while she was sent home to recover. My own first child was premature, so I had a lot of compassion for her.”

While Jasmine’s new baby, Charlie, stayed in intensive care, Jasmine was allowed to visit but couldn’t stay with him, which was upsetting for the whole family. 
 
“That was the hardest part,” said Jasmine. “Due to coronavirus restrictions at the hospital, my partner only got to meet our son twice in two weeks. It was heart-breaking for me having to come home empty-handed and explain to my daughter why she couldn’t meet her little brother.”  
 

 

Jasmine and Charlie

Baby Charlie is now at home with Jasmine, Kieran and Ruby

PHOTOS: Peter Flude/British Red Cross

Jasmine and her family, reunited at home

Fortunately, Tracey was again on hand to take Jasmine to Charlie’s side.  

 “It was such a relief to know that Tracey was still there to help us,” Jasmine added. “I had no way of getting to the hospital otherwise. Tracey knew just what to say and how to help. It meant absolutely everything to me to be able to visit my baby, and the Red Cross helped make that happen.” 

Charlie is now thriving at home, having been safely reunited with his parents and his big sister, Ruby. 

 

IT MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME TO BE ABLE TO VISIT MY BABY, AND THE RED CROSS HELPED MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

 

“I am so grateful to Tracey and the Red Cross,” Jasmine said. “I honestly have no idea what I would have done if she hadn’t stepped in to help. Saying thank you just didn’t seem significant enough for what she did. I feel very, very lucky to have met her.”

This is what your donation can unlock – the power to be there for a family going through the most stressful moment of their lives. 

Hugo with his food delivery

Even if you can’t be there yourself, you have the power to help someone through a personal emergency.

Arrow icon DONATE NOW

Our work in 2020

This is what your kindness has done this year

From delivering food and medicine to comforting someone in a crisis

Story
3 minutes
You have the power

Even if you can't be there, you have the power to help

Your kindness helps our volunteers to be there for people when they need them the most

Story
3 minutes
Coronavirus: Six months on

The coronavirus pandemic: our work so far

Our volunteers and staff are supporting the most vulnerable people in the UK and abroad

Story
0 minutes

We use cookies to make your experience of our website better. Our cookies policy explains what cookies are and how we use them. Please indicate whether you consent to us using cookies.

Yes, I consent No, I want to find out more
  • CONTACT US
  • JOBS
  • SITEMAP
  • CYMRAEG
  • LOGIN

  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Accessibility
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

©2021 British Red Cross The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949), Scotland (SC037738) and Isle of Man (0752).

Registered with Fundraising Regulator