Creating your Covid-19 Cocoon

Simplicity, connection and love is what we truly need to survive and thrive.

If you have been lucky enough to have started a hypnobirthing course either in person or online, then you will know the importance of being in a state of love, peace and joy in pregnancy and birth. Hypnobirthing offers many tools and techniques and practices to help you to be able to switch from the monkey mind, the reptilian part of the brain that runs the shit show, to the more balanced zen brain that thinks more clearly, is able to get perspective and make good decisions.

Scientifically we also know and understand that what you feel, baby also feels and this can also have an impact on the developing brain of the unborn child. Therefore, it is crucial that you are doing what you can to help yourself and your baby feel calm.

So here is some advice for pregnant women out there who may be struggling in pregnancy and are either concerned about themselves, their baby or their birth:

• REMEMBER you are not AT RISK because you are pregnant.

You were not told to stay at home because you or your baby are at any greater risk, it is purely to offer you extra protection, look at it like the government are being very gentlemanly and are looking after you as they know how important you and your baby are.

Remember you can go out for walks so please so find somewhere calm and peaceful to get some fresh air in and please stay the safe distance apart of 2 meters. It is ok to smile and say hello, we can still connect, greeting someone is safe and will help make you both feel ‘normal’.

• Create your cocoon at home.

Right now we need to get a sense of retreat, of having a safe space. Make your environment as calming and peaceful as possible. Create your sacred space or womb room in the house that is dedicated to you and your baby. A place to build and practice your daily ritual and to retreat to when you need to reset.

Please do not go crazy with DIY. I know this is tempting but this can be stressful in itself and think about toxic fumes from paints and solvents etc and we certainly don’t want any accidents requiring trips to A&E.

• Be strict on when, how and whom you are receiving information from.

The bombardment of info about Covid-19 via media and social media channels is enough to send us all to an asylum so be VERY selective about where you put your energy. Stick to listening to the news ONCE a day if you want to. Turn off news notifications pinging into your phone.

Join online groups that make you feel good instead of feeding into fear. Creating a cocoon is also about creating a cocoon in the mind also.

• Communicate and listen to your midwife

They are being updated constantly and are the best source of information with regards to the situations within the hospital and your birth plan. Remember DO NOT attend your appointments if you are symptomatic. Look at the RCOG website for information and updates https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/. This is really all the information you need to know right now…..

• This is an AMAZING opportunity to go within, to really look after your body and your baby.

I see so many women who are too busy with work and family commitments that they struggle to find the time to connect with baby, to prepare and eat healthy food, to work on their relationship with their partners, to practice their hypnobirthing techniques and affirmations, meditate, practice yoga and to read pregnancy and birth books, often leaving it all until the last few weeks in pregnancy.

This time can be such a gift, offering you the space and time to really slow down and to really indulge in your pregnancy. If you have other children, your sacred space or room is essential, ensure YOU have your own GOLDEN TIME in the day, be strict with this, we all have to adapt and work around each other at the moment, it’s the way it is and you MUST look after yourself first especially if you have other children.

• Baby can see, feel and hear you and everyone else around them.

Depending on the stage of development and even what your beliefs are surrounding consciousness of baby, baby can see, feel and hear you and everyone else around them. Therefore be mindful of what you are exposing baby to. If you are watching or listening to the news are have a fearful response baby will get a hit of your fear, so instead listen to uplifting podcasts, watch comedy or inspirational films and TV programmes, read books that take you to another positive place, listen to beautiful music. Sing, dance. Read poetry or stories to your baby, sing and chant to your baby and if you do so in the womb they will remember when they are on the outside. 

• Be kind to yourself and seek professional help if you need it.

Of course, you are going to have off moments and days where everything isn’t rosey and maybe it’s really ugly, you are only human, pregnant and caught up in this completely crazy situation, so don’t beat yourself up, there are some very real struggles and concerns relating to this situation, it’s only normal to lose the plot at times. But remember, take deep breaths, remind yourself ‘Right here, right now everything is ok’ and if it really isn’t please seek professional help. Remember to connect with baby, explain to baby that you are feeling worried but that baby is loved and safe. Just like you, baby needs comfort and kind words. Take a few moments and use your breath to send love, intention and kind words to baby.

• Plan your birth

It is still ok to plan your birth, yes things may be changing within hospitals and may be a bit different to what you were expecting, but still plan your birth and note the things that are important to you. Plan for the scenario if you have symptoms such as a temperature or a cough as this means that your birth team will have extra kit on to protect themselves as they don’t want to get poorly or pass anything on. They will be wearing masks and taking extra precautions, they will be monitoring baby. This may feel weird and strange and even more clinical but remember this is to keep you all safe. But you can still incorporate the things that are important to you. More than ever will reassuring eye contact from birth partners be so essential in birth.

As you can see the inner work, your mediation practice and connection to baby as is your energetic birthing bubble, your happy place in your head will come into it’s own here. So practice, practice, practice.

Plan how you want your birth to look if your family are displaying symptoms? Who will be your back up birth partner if they are having to isolate?

• If you are struggling get in contact

Please if you are struggling please do connect with one of us pregnancy, birth and postnatal professionals who are all providing support and guidance when, where and how we can.

Please see the following groups that may be helpful where professionals can answer your questions and concerns: A collection of professionals and midwives can be found here:,

A group especially for Pregnancy in Bristol and South Glos during Covid-19 can be found here:,

Mums and Pregnant Women in Isolation in North Somerset can be found here:

My advice is choose a small select number of groups and people that make you feel good and stick to those as keeping up with notifications and posts can send you into overwhelm.

Pregnancy is a really special time and providing all is safe and well within your home this really may provide you with a wonderful opportunity to indulge in your pregnancy and baby rather than being distracted by the hecticness of life and the ‘I should’ and ‘I need’ to do’s. This can offer an amazing gift for you to really start the bonding and connection with baby really early on, it will teach you how to slow down for baby, often something that can be quite difficult in the postnatal time when you have been programmed over the years to rush, be busy, to achieve and stress. This enforced pause on life can be viewed as an opportunity to press the reset button, to evaluate what is important to us. As we are already being shown, life is important, our loved ones are important, our friendships are important, we don’t need half the crap we’ve been living this hamster wheel lifestyle for. Simplicity, connection and love is what we truly need to survive and thrive.

Victoria Gazzard is a natural fertility and pregnancy specialist working in Wrington, North Somerset area. She supports couples going through fertility challenges and pregnancy complications.