[blparent] (no subject)

Wed Jan 7 13:40:50 UTC 2009

Hi.
I know exactly how you are feeling. Those last few weeks were hell. We live 
in a two story house, and I would literally plan my trips between floors as 
though I was setting out on some journey--trying to figure out everything 
that needed to be done or brought with me so I would have to climb the 
stairs as little as I could. I am usually an incredibly fast walker (Jason 
can hardly keep up sometimes), and I was constently telling him to slow 
down. Of course, it didn't help that it was summer, and very hot. One of the 
things I missed most was being able to sleep on my back.

Elise is doing quite well. She has suffered with colic and reflux, so the 
past few months have been very challenging and exhausting. The good news is 
that she continues to gain weight (she was 14 pounds at 3 months). She has 
started smiling, cooing, babbling, kicking and grabbing. I think she might 
be trying to roll herself over. It amazes me how much she changes every day. 
I can't remember what I did before her.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. Try to keep as comfortable as 
possible, and have lots of lovely, warm baths.

Dena

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tammy, Paul and Colyn" <tcl189 at rogers.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 6:36 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] (no subject)

> 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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>
>
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