Clouds Hill Avenue in Bristol, England, will soon be a little noisier than usual with the arrival of six newborns. Residents who all live on the same side of the little street decided to add to their families during lockdown, as reported by the BBC.
The first baby, Summer, arrived at the beginning of the month, with her mom, Jenni Parkinson, saying that with the additional five babies due in the coming months there will be a “ready-made community.” This sense of community and support will prove vital for all these growing families in the months to come.
Another expectant mom, Victoria Bromley, who already shares a two-year-old with her husband David, says, “I think everyone came into 2021 hoping that it would be different, that there would be more positivity. And it certainly feels like that for us.”
Bromley, who is due to deliver her baby in July, laughed that she and her husband thought there was “something in the water” for so many babies to be joining the community in such little time.
The benefits of these multiple pregnancies are far-reaching. As Catherine Gilmore, whose first baby is due in May explained: “It’s really lovely, particularly as a first-time mum and not having any of the baby groups or anything that would normally be happening at the time.”
And these benefits will extend into the years to come: “It’s really good having these families on the street and the babies that will be hanging out at the park. It’ll be like a little festival out there, it’s going to be great.”
The news of all these arrivals is most welcome at a time when fewer babies are being born, with families being able to offer each support — albeit from a safe distance for now. And as Ellie Shipman added: “I think it’s just a message of life going on amongst the bleakness of the situation we are in.”
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While many families have put off adding to their families during the uncertainty of the pandemic, discover why these 12 couples decided to bring a little newborn joy to their lives during COVID-19…
And today we celebrate...