'It Takes a Village' Never Meant So Much

Today is Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, and it is my due date. It’s hard to believe that my son was born 10 days ago and that so much has happened since then.

The first few weeks of having a newborn are a blessing, as well as a challenge. You can’t believe that they let you leave the hospital with your little miracle. What you really can’t believe is that they let someone who is working on such little sleep take care of a newborn baby!

What I have come to realize is that the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” is just as true in the first weeks of life as it is throughout their childhood. I would not be writing today without the help, love and support of friends, family, and Rush Copley hospital staff.

My little guy, Samuel Henry, was born on Feb. 1, during the blizzard. He weighed in at 8 pounds 10 ounces (just an ounce smaller than his brother Lucas) and measured 21 inches long.

Sammy gave us a scare when he was born with his cord wrapped around his neck, but being a little fighter, he recovered quickly and with grace. He is a sweet little angel who rarely complains, likes having water run over his head, and has the longest toes I have ever seen on a baby! I’m thinking future swimmer … but maybe it’s too soon to tell.

Looking back on the first week it was a blur of feedings and dozing off with my eyes open and reflexes tensed. I have many people to thank for surrounding my family with love and support. My neighbors called our association and made sure that the driveway would be cleared of all blizzard debris before we arrived. They had their shovels ready to dig us out by hand if it came to that.

The hospital staff kept us safe and warm and taught me little tips and tricks to help with nursing, burping, diapering and soothing. They went above and beyond, even getting me sandwiches in the middle of the night after a long day of labor and not eating. I didn’t ever have to ask for water or help, they were very attentive to my needs, even though I was hardly aware that I had needs.

Since we came home I have often called my doctor as well as the lactation consultants at the hospital. My doctor returns calls within 30 minutes and the hospital has lactation consultants on staff full-time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Now that we are home I realize just how valuable my family and close friends are in a pinch. I did not have to make dinner for a full week after we got home—everyone signed up for shifts of bringing over food and snuggling baby.

My mother and sister made sure that I got some rest and took care of all of the shopping—even if it meant running to the store on a daily basis for whatever we realized we did not have on hand (like chocolate, cookies, and red wine).

We had everything we needed for Sammy, but had forgotten that Mommy might like to relax with a glass of wine now that she could. All in all it’s been a challenge to meet the needs of a growing family, but I think as we start to get into our new routine, and sleep comes back into the picture, we are going to be just fine. It helps to be surrounded by love, flowers, chocolate, hugs, kisses and sweet baby boys.