by Carolyn Frances

The world is taking a pregnant pause……

Whether we like it or not, our lives have changed. Coronavirus has thrust the world into lockdown. It was not planned.

Across society, workplaces are undergoing a period of rapid, internal, chaotic growth, immediately wondering how they might deliver.

There are expectations to meet.

We now face months of the side effects, most familiar to those who have carried a baby: Anxiety. Sleeplessness.

Nausea.…Weight gain.

This is a temporary state. We are creating something new.

It is difficult and exhausting. Nobody said how hard it could be.

Our lives are in transition. Our plans and emotions rush to catch up while we face an unknown future.

Yet during this phase, we have an opportunity to reassess.

To review our choices and make new decisions.

How have our lives changed? More family time? Reduced commute? An extra pair of hands at home? What now seems important? Do we really want to rush back to ‘normal’? Or has this moment of reflection taught us that things can in fact be done differently.

Much like in pregnancy, every decision we make during this finite period will directly impact upon the life that we subsequently create.

When this time of transition, soul-searching and survival is over - what type of new start do we hope to deliver? The most significant changes that coronavirus - and pregnancy - continue to cause can be seen in the world of work. It is a fundamental part of our lives where for decades, gender inequality has stubbornly manifest.