Newborn Care

We had our first “baby” class this week.  It was a newborn care class so we learned how to perform infant CPR and what to do if the baby is choking.  Lots of information and lots to make me nervous!  They also covered SIDS, bathing, diapering, feeding and napping.  Doctors and hospitals recommend having the baby sleep and nap with a pacifier in his/her mouth now to help prevent SIDS.  I thought that was interesting.  We have one more class this Saturday from 9-5 called Prepared Childbirth.  It'll probably be a loooong day!

 Preston just learned how to swaddle the CPR doll.  He is not as pissed as he appears, he was probably embarrassed that I was taking the picture :)

I’m a little worried that I’m not preparing myself enough or reading enough and that I’m going to be clueless when it comes time for the hospital trip and to bring the baby home.  I’ve been worried about lots of things actually; one of my main worries is that I don’t feel any kind of bond with my baby yet.  I don’t think about her all day and picture what she looks like or what it’ll be like to hold her.  I’ve been afraid of how I’m going to feel once she arrives as well.  What if I don’t like her or don’t like being a mom?  What if I don’t know what to do with her?  Well after yesterday my fears are gone (at least THOSE particular fears).  Yesterday Jenny and I visited a childhood friend in the hospital.  She just had a baby and the baby was 5 pounds and in the NICU.  I took one look at her little wide eyed face and saw how helpless she looked lying on the table and immediately just felt that she was the most precious thing in the world.  And she’s not even my baby!  I was in the NICU with her daddy and he told me he wasn’t supposed to touch her but he was going to touch his baby anyways.  It was heartbreaking!  He hadn’t even gotten to hold her yet.  Right then I just felt so thankful that (as far as I know) I’m carrying a healthy baby and that neither me nor the baby have had any problems and I felt guilty for all the worries that I’ve had.  God has taken care of us this far, I know that He’ll continue to care for us and give me everything that I need to take care of and love my baby once she is born.  I can be real self-absorbed sometimes and then God goes and teaches me a lesson!

Speaking of God’s goodness, my boss at work gave me this really nice baby video monitor this week!  I originally registered for a cheap $20 monitor so I’m excited to have this really nice one.  I looked it up online just to read about it and it retails for almost $200!  She’s also given me a boppy and some glass bottles.  Preston’s mom bought us our changing table/dresser, my mom bought us our glider, Oma bought us (or is going to buy us) our car seat and my grandmother Shirley has gone crazy on baby clothes, pajamas, hats, pants and the like!  I very feel very blessed to have such generous gift givers! Ugh, (stupid hormones) ok now I’m wanting to cry thinking about how I don’t deserve grace and generosity but have received it anyways.  Boy God sure has His hands full with me right now...