RT Book, Section
A1 Aristizabal, Michelle
SR Print(0)
ID 1155167216
T1 Holistic Postpartum Care: Recognizing the Fourth Trimester
T2 Natural Labor and Birth: An Evidence-Based Guide to the Natural Birth Plan
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259862878
LK obgyn.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1155167216
RD 2024/04/16
AB When  I  got  home  from  the  hospital,  my  wife  and  I  felt  like  we  had  been  dropped  on  a  desert  island.  The  first  few  days  everyone  was  really  excited  to  see  the  baby  and  brought  food  and  company,  but  after  that  initial  rush,  we  were  alone.  Neither  of  us  had  babysat  much,  so  we  were  awkward  even  holding  the  kid  for  a  while.  I  was  afraid  all  the  time.  I  would  just  sit  up  staring  at  her,  so  terrified  that  she  would  stop  breathing  in  her  sleep.  I  didn’t  have  enough  of  a  milk  supply  and  after  two  weeks  of  crying…usually  all  of  us  crying  together…we  finally  caved  and  just  went  to  formula.  I  felt  like  the  worst  mother  on  the  planet.  I  couldn’t  even  figure  out  how  to  feed  my  baby.  I  wished  there  was  someone  who  could  help,  but  I  didn’t  even  have  the  energy  to  look  and,  even  if  I  did,  I  wouldn’t  have  known  where  to  start.  It  got  better  in  its  own  time,  I  think  mainly  just  from  the  baby  getting  older  and  us  gaining  some  experience,  but  I  think  I  missed  out  on  something…that  sort  of  new  mothering  bliss  I  always  imagined  I  would  have.  I  hardly  even  remember  what  my  daughter  was  like  as  a  newborn,  I  was  so  stressed  and  sleep  deprived.  I  was  probably  a  bit  depressed  too,  though  I  was  never  diagnosed  or  anything.  I  would  definitely  do  a  lot  of  things  differently  if  I  knew  then  what  I  know  now.—E.  L.,  new  mother