[blparent] (no subject)

Wed Jan 7 00:36:04 UTC 2009

Hik

This is a very good post, and I agree with it entirely.  Dena, I hope I have 
as good of an experience as you did.  How's that little baby doing?  I can't 
wait for my baby to come now.  I'm so sick of being pregnant!  I feel 
absolutely huge, and I'm starting to have trouble getting up and down the 
stairs now which makes my life harder.

Tammy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dena Wainwright" <autumnrose21 at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] (no subject)

> One thing I would suggest, particularly if you don't know who will be 
> delivering your baby, is to put together a birth plan and bring it with 
> you to the hospital. our birth plan was a page long, and contained 
> information about our preferences regarding the labor, delivery, and 
> post-natal care for me and the baby. some of the things we included were 
> that we wanted my husband to be given the option to cut the cord, that one 
> of us needed to be present when they did anything to the baby, that we 
> planned to breastfeed (because sometimes they will offer a baby formula if 
> they don't know this), etc. we also put in some very specific highlights 
> about my medical history--such as the fact that I cannot have epidurals. 
> the birth plan will clearly express your wishes, which will be especially 
> important if you are unable to make decisions on your own for whatever 
> reason. also, things can change dramatically when you are in labor--pain 
> is definitely a strange animal.
>
> another thing I would suggest is that you bring a coach or doulah into the 
> delivery room with you. this person will be a constent, no matter who 
> performs the delivery, and he or she can advocate on your behalf.
>
> I also agree with what has already been said regarding visiting your 
> hospital ahead of time to get a feel for the facilities and the staff. for 
> instance, do they promote rooming in, do they promote moving around during 
> labor, what is their c-section rate, etc.
>
> I also agree that emphasizing your blindness will often make other people 
> focus on it. our birth plan did not say anything about my blindness.
>
> I had an absolutely phenominal hospital experience. not a single person 
> questioned my ability to care for Elise, and no one made any issue of my 
> asking to be shown how to do things. even when I sent Jason home for the 
> night to get some good sleep, no one freaked out about "the sighted 
> parent" leaving me alone with our newborn. no one incinuated that I 
> wouldn't be able to breastfeed, or treated me any differently because of 
> my blindness. the only thing they did to accommodate me was that they had 
> each nurse introduce the nurse for the upcoming shift to me when she left 
> for the day, so I would know that the person coming into my room was a 
> hospital employee.
>
> the other amazing thing they did, is that the midwife I had seen 
> throughout my pregnancy rearranged her schedule so she could be there for 
> our birth, so I would feel as secure as possible. the staff was incredible 
> at describing everything they were doing to me and to the baby. I felt 
> absolutely comfortable and relaxed--totally in control of the whole 
> process.
>
> finally, questions about support are standard. a lot of the reason why 
> they are asked, is that professionals want to know what sort of 
> environment the baby will be coming home to, and they also want to make 
> sure a new mother isn't isolated (making her more vulnerable to post-natal 
> depression).
>
> hope some of this helps.
>
> Dena
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jo Elizabeth Pinto" <jopinto at pcdesk.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 10:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] (no subject)
>
>
>> Hi, Angelina.  If you haven't done so, consider taking a childbirth class 
>> at the hospital where you will be delivering.  This will not only give 
>> you an idea of what to expect, but it will also start to get you 
>> acquainted with some of the nurses and staff.  That way, your blindness 
>> won't be encountered for the first time when you are admitted for labor 
>> and delivery.  Also, don't assume every question about your support 
>> system at home is getting asked just because of your blindness.  When a 
>> woman has a baby, especially if she is alone, she needs help--physically 
>> and emotionally--when she goes home, blind or not.  If you don't have 
>> family nearby, lean on your friends. Be specific in what you need. 
>> People want to help, but they say, "Call me if you need anything."  Then 
>> you don't know what to ask for, or when to call.  Suggest that your 
>> friends could drop over for short visits, maybe bring prepared or frozen 
>> meals.  But anyway, don't assume the doctors or nurses are asking you 
>> about your support system because of your blindness. I had a few ask me 
>> if I would have help at home, I just said yes, and that was the end of 
>> the matter.
>>
>> Good luck,
>> Jo Elizabeth
>>
>> It is easy--terribly easy--to shake a man's faith in himself. To take 
>> advantage of that to break a man's spirit is devil's work. Take care of 
>> what you are doing. Take care.--George Bernard Shaw in "Candide"
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Anjelina" <cruz.anjelina at mchsi.com>
>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:25 AM
>> Subject: [blparent] (no subject)
>>
>>
>>> Hi there list,
>>> I'm due next month and was wondering did you take any additional steps 
>>> for
>>> dealing with people that might be uncomfortable with blindness? The 
>>> doctor
>>> I've been seeing me throughout my pregnancy will not be delivering so I 
>>> was
>>> looking for any suggestions for dealing with a new hospital on such 
>>> short
>>> notice.
>>> Hope that makes sense.
>>
>>
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>
>
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