I feel like this was something I totally overlooked. I had hoped and dreamed for a homebirth for years. It finally worked out for our 4th baby. For years, I educated myself on laboring and birthing at home. I researched the risks, I read the books, I thought and prayed long and hard. I spent so much time making sure I knew what I was doing and felt comfortable with my decision. I was proud of myself for doing what I needed to feel educated.
But for some odd reason, never ONCE did I consider the first few days after birth. I didn't think about my own health or the health of my baby afterwards. I guess I felt like all the information and risks were solely during birth. Not outwardly but more just unconciously, KWIM?
I never researched how to tell if my baby was healthy, breathing normally, no signs of infection. I never educated myself on the risks of infection or the dangers of distress. When my midwife started listing off the signs to look for prior to her leaving my home, I had a slight moment of panic. I actually said out loud, "Gosh, I never considered this part. It seems like alot of pressure!" There's no one down the hall with a nursing degree to call quickly when things just don't seem right. There's no one coming in every 3 hours just to check vitals.
And in the MAJORITY of cases it's not needed. But just by some Murphy's Law, my baby needed that extra help. And I feel like I failed him. Even though he's ok. Even though he's here in my arms right now and in the end, blessedly, he's healthy. But I did not do my job. I did not educate myself. And it could have cost him his life.
So I just wanted to bring this up. Because while most of you probably have thought of this prior to your homebirth, just in case, if there's one mom out there who hasn't, I wanted to bring it up and hope that she sees it. To read up on those first few days and know the signs, know what to do in case the baby needs help, and feel confident that you did all you could do.
But for some odd reason, never ONCE did I consider the first few days after birth. I didn't think about my own health or the health of my baby afterwards. I guess I felt like all the information and risks were solely during birth. Not outwardly but more just unconciously, KWIM?
I never researched how to tell if my baby was healthy, breathing normally, no signs of infection. I never educated myself on the risks of infection or the dangers of distress. When my midwife started listing off the signs to look for prior to her leaving my home, I had a slight moment of panic. I actually said out loud, "Gosh, I never considered this part. It seems like alot of pressure!" There's no one down the hall with a nursing degree to call quickly when things just don't seem right. There's no one coming in every 3 hours just to check vitals.
And in the MAJORITY of cases it's not needed. But just by some Murphy's Law, my baby needed that extra help. And I feel like I failed him. Even though he's ok. Even though he's here in my arms right now and in the end, blessedly, he's healthy. But I did not do my job. I did not educate myself. And it could have cost him his life.
So I just wanted to bring this up. Because while most of you probably have thought of this prior to your homebirth, just in case, if there's one mom out there who hasn't, I wanted to bring it up and hope that she sees it. To read up on those first few days and know the signs, know what to do in case the baby needs help, and feel confident that you did all you could do.
