Brooke’s Birth Story: Giving Birth in a Pandemic and Finding the Power to Say No

In March 2020, I had all the classic symptoms of what we then called “bird flu” (aka COVID): nausea, aches, fatigue. Convinced I was positive, I drove to a full-on “bubble people” pandemic testing site. The surprise? Not COVID—pregnancy.

I called my husband (who was traveling for work) in tears. I had secretly been looking forward to a solo quarantine break—I was exhausted from chasing our nonstop one-year-old. But instead of isolation, I got cravings.

Fast forward to September 2020. My daughter made her dramatic debut during my son’s second birthday party, under an eerie wildfire-red sky—and with zero infant car seat ready. My best friend had to rescue us by digging one out of the garage and taking my toddler to school.

Classic second baby chaos.

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The Reality of Giving Birth During a Pandemic

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At 4:30 AM, I waddled into the hospital—200 pounds, masked up, laboring during a heatwave-induced power outage. No fans. No AC. Only essential equipment was running.

By 9:00 AM, my husband was presenting to the board on Zoom. I asked for a fan—and got the “one minute” finger. I wobbled out into the hallway, sumo-style, to find one myself... and that’s when baby #2 arrived.

A midwife just happened to be walking by.

Thirteen hours later, I was discharged. Still sore, still stunned, and heading home to my toddler.

I called my parents to let them know we were coming. My dad’s response?
"Can you pick up Chipotle on your way home?"
Yeah. That happened.

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When Family Wants to Help (But Isn’t Sure How)

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Welcoming a baby is beautiful—and exhausting. Especially during a pandemic, when safety, support, and boundaries feel blurrier than ever.

We all love our families, but those early days are raw. It’s okay to ask for the help you actually need. Here’s how to set clear, kind, and necessary boundaries:

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Boundaries Are Loving, Not Rude

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Health & Safety First

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It’s okay to ask loved ones to:

• Wash their hands before holding baby
• Wear a mask, especially in flu season
• Get recommended vaccinations (e.g., Tdap, flu)
• Stay home if they feel even a little under the weather

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Set Visitor Expectations

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• This isn’t a vacation—it’s support time
• You won’t be hosting
• Consider a hotel or nearby rental if your home or bandwidth is tight

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Give Them a Role

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Think about what will actually help, and assign tasks:

• Laundry
• Dishes
• Meal prep
• Holding baby while you shower (bliss!)

If they’re not the hands-on type, here are other meaningful ways to help:

• Hire a chef or meal delivery service
• Organize a meal train
• Gift massage or self-care packages
• Help fund babysitters or a nanny search

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You’re the Parent Now—Your Voice Matters

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Bringing home a baby is powerful—and vulnerable. And suddenly, everyone has opinions.
It’s more than okay to:

• Make your own parenting choices
• Say “no” when needed
• Create new traditions that reflect your family

Parenthood isn’t a performance. You don’t have to follow someone else’s script.

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Final Thoughts: You’re Doing Great

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Whether your birth went according to plan or totally off the rails (hi, hallway delivery!), one truth holds: you are exactly the parent your baby needs.

Setting boundaries doesn’t make you mean. It makes you grounded, wise, and strong. Protect your energy. Say no when it’s a no. And say yes to the help that actually helps.

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Meet Brooke

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Brooke Shapiro is the founder of Sprinkles Parents. Sprinkles Parents  is a vibrant community of 10,000 families, supporting a diverse range of parents through every stage of early childhood. We offer trusted education, engaging activities, and meaningful support to help families navigate parenthood with confidence. Think of us as the handbook they forgot to send home from the hospital—we provide mentorship, community, and education to working parents in the office and at home. 

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Outside of supporting families,  she is an expert in guiding early stage (pre-seed) startups, CPG, with their marketing and sales strategy. Her main focus is on kid/baby/parent focused space. She has  15+ years experience creating sales and marketing launch strategies for consumer brands like Coca-Cola, Taco Bell, and Johnson & Johnson Baby. Now as a consultant, she helps busy business owners get more done!

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