I am now an aunt. I have learned much in the week and a half or so that I spent becoming one.
I think I knew more about the birthing process than the rest of the family. That's after I tried to only know the bare and basic outline of what to expect. I think it was all the TLC and Discovery Health Channel. I must cut down on my viewing of them.
It takes a lot more energy to keep from screaming and hitting someone than it does to actually scream and hit them.
(I have a lot I could rant on about but it's not fitting for blogging.)
I think I picked up waaaay more from observing friends caring for infants and toddlers than I had realized. (at one point I broke and snapped at my sister to shush and that I had had what I was in the process of doing down pat since before she even thought of getting knocked up.
I held the baby every day I was there and on the last day even did so without a pillow and walked a bit. I am still scared to death to pick the baby up or move the baby around much. They're so tiny and I really freak out about their little necks.
I learned that while I don't exactly like the baby screaming (especially when I'm holding her), I can deal. I get a little worried that I'm not supporting the head, pinching something, etc. But I can deal. Still, I pass her off to someone who is more able to calm her down.
I am not changing diapers. Unless it's dire emergency or the kid is mine, there will be no diaper changing in my future.
Shaken baby syndrome is not as big a concern for me at this time as shaken mommy syndrome. (I swear it was all I could do a few times not to at least smack her.)
The baby is sunshine and rainbows and goodness in the world. She barely cries and when she does, it's for a very good reason.
I thought I was pretty obsessed with the four legs and put them right up there with the two legged kids. Not as much as I thought. It is my belief that the dog is not to bark at the baby. The dog is not to jump up on the mother when she is trying to feed or hold the baby. If an alarm goes off, I'm checking that the kid's not upset and working itself up before I check on the dog (who I know from past experience doesn't like the alarm noise but hides in a room when it goes off).
It is my belief that a baby not even a week old should not even hear the word pacifier and should be encouraged to eat as much as makes baby happy. I believe that it doesn't matter what form nutrition takes, getting that nutrition inside the baby is more important than pride or a need to feel vindicated by anyone. As long as the baby is healthy and getting nourishment (all the be determined by regular check-ups with the pediatrician)who gives a care?
People (and even people who you know know better) are too ready to just go along with anyone who went through med school. First off, your doctor is hired by you to provide a service. If you are not satisfied with the services, you dump the one you have and find one who you do like. Would you keep the car mechanic who said you needed work you didn't really need or fixed something incorrectly? Second, you need to interact with your doctor. Ask questions. If they are not willing to answer your questions (which are part of the services you're paying for by the way) you need to change physicians. If they say you should have a procedure you need to find out the pros and cons of having that procedure. You need to remember that just because they say you need it, it is still your choice whether to have it done or not.
Segueing from that, you need to be ready to speak up for yourself. It's hard. It's harder when someone you expected to advocate for you seems to be going in the opposite direction. There comes a time when you know what is best for you and you need to stand up for yourself.
And I should probably stop the ranting here and now. Probably said too much, but hey.
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