Bringing Baby Home
Well, you've made it through nine long months of pregnancy. You've made it through labor and delivery. You've made it through two days in the hospital. You're finally home with your precious, new baby, so now what?
It was much easier in the hospital. There was that oh - so - wonderful "call button", just in case there was something you or the baby needed. You were served three meals a day, a custodian came in to clean your room twice a day, and you could send the baby to the nursery for a bit so that you could take a shower. There was also the little fact that, if you chose to do so, the baby could sleep in the nursery during the night between feedings, so that you could get some rest.
Now that you're home, reality is starting to set in. Everyone told you how great it would be to take your baby home, and it is, but you are also very overwhelmed with everything else. It's not like in the hospital where everything was taken care of for you. You have to take care of it all now, and you have no clue where to begin.
Just keep in mind these words of advice and tidbits of wisdom. First of all, take it one day at a time. Don't worry about how tomorrow will go, or even how tonight will turn out. Worry about right now. The baby is sleeping, you only had three hours of sleep last night, the kitchen is a mess, you need a shower, and supper needs to get cooked. The key words here are, "the baby is sleeping", which means you need to rest. Don't worry about everything else, go ahead and rest - take a relaxing bath, take a shower, watch some television, read a book, TAKE A NAP - do whatever it is you feel like doing, not what needs to be done. Call someone, your mother, sister, mother-in-law, or anyone who offered you help. Don't be afraid to take the help - it's okay! Remember, the only two worries you should be focusing on when you are adjusting to having a new baby in the house is you and the new baby. Worry about this and everything else will take care of itself. After all, it's only temporary. You will eventually adjust and you will learn how to take care of the baby, keep the house in order, have supper ready, take a bath every day (again), have time for your husband, have time for yourself, and find time to simply rest and enjoy your new life.
