| How is it possible the staff has let me leave the | | | | the day baby and I came home from the hospital. Here |
| hospital with such a helpless little creature? These | | | | I was, totally responsible for the health and well-being |
| were the thoughts I had the day baby and I came | | | | of this newborn who was so very different than the |
| home from the hospital. My newborn seemed so | | | | cherubic babies I had babysat long ago! The realization |
| different than those chubby babies I had babysat - and | | | | hit me all at once - I was the parent and was |
| I was totally responsible for her health and well being! I | | | | supposed to have all the answers. I found that even |
| was hit hard by reality - it was me who was the | | | | after giving birth I still did not have much confidence in |
| parent now. Yet, giving birth had not flipped some | | | | my parenting ability. Could I do this? It did not seem |
| secret “confidence switch” into the ON position. | | | | possible I could be as capable as she? The panic |
| How did my mother do it? It did not seem possible I | | | | began to set in. |
| could be as capable as she? I felt like I should be panic | | | | I found that placing my baby into the car seat was |
| stricken. If you are like me, the first problem is placing | | | | quite a feat. We had bought the best baby travel |
| that tiny body into a car seat. We had bought the best | | | | system we could find. The convenience of having an |
| baby travel system we could find. The three-in-one | | | | infant seat that fit perfectly in my car or stroller was |
| feature of locking into the stroller, into the car, or just | | | | wonderful. The previously perfect infant seat seemed |
| as an infant carrier was quite a bonus. When initially | | | | to have grown to huge proportions once our new |
| purchased, the infant seat seemed just right, but with | | | | baby was lost in it! My heart believed she was as safe |
| the new baby in it, it seemed to have grown! My heart | | | | if not safer in my arms than alone in a car seat! My |
| believed she was as safe if not safer in my arms than | | | | husband and a little bit of logic managed to convince |
| alone in a car seat! Amazingly, a little bit of logic by my | | | | me to let go. Since they have limited muscle control, |
| husband finally and some laws reminded me she | | | | newborns end up scrunched down into one corner of |
| needed to be in the car seat. Newborns tend to | | | | their car seat. This is a cute phase which lasts until |
| scrunch down into one corner of their car seats no | | | | baby gets some muscle tone and is more able to |
| matter how you initially place them in the seat. My | | | | handle sitting. You can purchase additional padded |
| husband calls it the “amoeba” stage. You can | | | | support for your baby for use with the first weeks of |
| purchase additional padded support for your baby for | | | | "amoeba life". |
| use with the first weeks of "amoeba life". Once home, | | | | I so wanted to be with my new baby but also needed |
| I was torn between resting and being with the baby. | | | | to rest as well. Add to that her endless hunger. It was |
| Add to that her endless hunger. It was quite challenging | | | | quite challenging to find a place in our home for nursing |
| to find a place in our home for nursing while we were | | | | while we were both learning the process. Trying |
| both learning the process. Trying different nursing | | | | different nursing positions is key. Some people use ring |
| positions is key. Some people use ring slings, fabric | | | | slings, fabric carriers that allow you to carry the baby |
| carriers that allow you to carry the baby around with | | | | around with you. This can be a great way to position |
| you. This can be a great way to position baby for | | | | baby for nursing if you can find the right adjustment |
| nursing if you can find the right adjustment for you. I | | | | for you. My ring sling was a wonderful hands-free |
| used my ring sling mainly as a great hands-free carrier. | | | | carrier. After some trial and error over several |
| There was much trial and error, but eventually I found | | | | feedings, I found the rocking chair to be my best option |
| the rocking chair to be the best place for nursing. My | | | | for nursing. |
| baby needed changing every time she ate and often | | | | Babies need to have their diapers changed just about |
| times in between her meals. Newborns seem to have | | | | every time they eat, and even sometimes in between |
| an output capacity double their input. I had chosen to | | | | meals. The output capacity of a newborn rivals even |
| use Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers. The adjustable elastic | | | | the most efficient factory. I had chosen to use Fuzzi |
| really helped in the learning stage for me and my baby. | | | | Bunz cloth diapers. It was a good thing they fit snugly. It |
| Those early days of a “liquid only” diet produce | | | | is surprising to observe the diapering issues which can |
| some interesting diaper “issues.” Some of the | | | | result from a diet of only liquids." Most of the biggest |
| biggest diaper challenges occurred on that first day. | | | | diaper issues occurred in the first week. It is a good |
| Have a few outfits ready for quick changes! Fastening | | | | idea to have a few outfits ready for changing clothes |
| cloth diapers was my main challenge. Of course they | | | | you didn't expect to have to change right away! Cloth |
| will not work at all if you do not fasten them quickly | | | | diapers were good but at first they only worked as |
| enough! Even though the first few days home are | | | | well as my attempts to get them fastened. And if you |
| challenging, they are the beginning of an entirely new | | | | do not fasten them in time…they will not work at all! |
| chapter. Adaptability is the key to the first months. | | | | An amazing new chapter of your lives begins with the |
| Every phase your child reaches will test you again. I | | | | first day home. Constant shifts and changes become |
| found myself consistently calling upon all my resources | | | | the norm. Parents are challenged with every stage |
| sometimes just pretending to be as capable as my | | | | their chilfren reach. I constantly called on all my |
| mother. One day I realized she had probably been | | | | resources, pretending to be as capable and in control |
| pretending as well - that day I realized I was a parent | | | | as my mother. Then, one day, I realized she probably |
| too. | | | | had pretended too—and then I knew I truly was a |
| Why did the staff let me leave the hospital with this | | | | parent. |
| helpless little creature? These were the thoughts I had | | | | |