[blparent] introduction, expecting
Michael Babcock
michael.babcock09 at gmail.com
Mon Aug 13 02:46:30 UTC 2012
I am also impressed with how big he has gotten, when he was born at 32 weeks, he was only 4 pounds one and a half ounces, and, 19 inches. Oh boy, those were the days.
Michael Babcock, Assistive Technology And Braille Instructor
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Equipping Alaskans for success
Phone: 907-771-4303
fax 907.248.7517
www.alaskabvi.org
michael.babcock09 at gmail.com
On Aug 12, 2012, at 6:16 PM, "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net> wrote:
> They are super!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Michael Babcock
> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2012 12:25 PM
> To: Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blparent] introduction, expecting
>
> He is doing wonderful. He is 2, and loves to help dad. The most cutest thing
> he did is when he was visiting us last, i Was feeling around for my cane,
> all over the table, on the couch, etc, and had just put his coat on him and
> told him we were going for a walk. After I felt around, he looked at my mom
> (we were visiting grandma), and smiled. He then ran into the other room and
> brought me my cain. I had forgotten that I left it in the kitchen when I was
> getting him a cup. I love 2-year-olds! smile.
>
> Michael Babcock, Assistive Technology And Braille Instructor
>
> Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
>
> Equipping Alaskans for success
>
> Phone: 907-771-4303
>
> fax 907.248.7517
> www.alaskabvi.org
>
> michael.babcock09 at gmail.com
>
>
>
> On Aug 12, 2012, at 8:22 AM, "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
> wrote:
>
>> So how is your son doing? How old is he and what cute and adorable
>> things is he doing now?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Michael Babcock
>> Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2012 11:32 PM
>> To: Blind Parents Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] introduction, expecting
>>
>> I think that all of this conversation is very intriguing to see the
>> situations that other individuals went through. My son, Nicholas, came
>> at 32 weeks. This meant that after his mom was life flown down to
>> Seattle Washington, from Ketchikan Alaska, we had to spend about eight
>> weeks in the hospital. We really got to know the nurses there, and,
>> they did ask us a couple of questions because of my blindness. She was
>> not blind, she being his mom, and, I guess we really do not have that
>> many problems. One nurse we did have some difficulties with, did not
>> communicate as well as I suspected she should have. In regards to her,
>> all we did was ask the head nurse if we could get a new evening nurse
>> to work with us, and our son. It was very easy to make this change,
>> even in the neonatal intensive care unit, (NICU), where staff was
>> limited. The head nurse said, "I understand where you are coming from,
>> and respect the fact that you would like to make the right decisions
>> that you feel would be for your son." And, that's what really made me
>> enjoy my time at Swedish medical Center in Seattle, even with the fact
> that I really wanted to just go home with my then girlfriend and our new
> sun.
>> For those of you who do not know, me and that young lady are no longer
>> together. She has our son 67% of the year, leaving me with only 33.
>> Don't misunderstand this, I respect the reason why it is this way, and
>> I hope to change it in the near future. But, I do understand where
>> some individuals are coming from and regards to difficulties with the
>> social worker. I think that all parents may have been asked the
>> question, "How will you know when it is time to change the diaper?" My
>> response was, my eyes don't work my nose does.
>> One thing that I do want to let everyone know about, was a interesting
>> situation that I always tell people when they ask me about my son.
>> After about three weeks, he had not had his hearing test done.
>> Sabrina, his mom, and I went to lunch. I stopped at the nurses desk
>> and asked them "Could you please do Nicholas is hearing test? I would
>> really appreciate it, don't take this the wrong way, but, if he is
>> blind them we will be okay. If he has any hearing difficulties
>> however, there may be some communication issues." We then came back
>> from lunch about 45 minutes later, and the results of his stellar hearing
> test had been posted.
>> The moral of the story is, for any new parent don't hesitate to ask
>> questions. Your first concern should be the health of your child, and
>> no question is too dumb to ask.
>>
>> Michael Babcock, Assistive Technology And Braille Instructor
>>
>> Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
>>
>> Equipping Alaskans for success
>>
>> Phone: 907-771-4303
>>
>> fax 907.248.7517
>> www.alaskabvi.org
>>
>> michael.babcock09 at gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> On Aug 11, 2012, at 6:04 PM, "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I had the same social worker and when she asked me how I would know
>>> if the diaper was dirty, I calmly said, "how do you know?" I then
>>> followed the question with, I'm not trying to be rude or hateful, but
>>> everyone knows whether they are sighted or blind when a diaper needs
>>> changing. Honestly, she didn't question me again!
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bernadetta Pracon
>>> Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2012 3:07 PM
>>> To: blparent at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] introduction, expecting
>>>
>>> Tatyana,
>>> First of all, Congratulations on your new little one. Do you know
>>> what you're having?
>>> I am a relatively new mommy too. My baby boy was born almost six
>>> months
>> ago,
>>> so I thought I'd share my experiences with you. Prior to having a
>>> baby, I didn't really have much experience with caring for small
>>> children. I
>> became
>>> terribly nervous when I was expecting, because it was drummed into my
>>> mind that taking care of an infant is hard work, and on top of that
>>> I'm blind,
>> so
>>> it must be twice as hard. I thought I'd be scared to bring my little
>>> one
>> up
>>> and down the stairs at my home for example, thought I would never
>>> learn
>> how
>>> to change him properly, or feed him for that matter. I thought I'd be
>>> carrying him around in a front pack forever because I'd be afraid to
>>> accidentally bump him into a wall while walking or something.
>>> Fast-forward six months, and guess what, I haven't even used my front
> pack. Not once.
>> And
>>> I've become a pro with my little one, as has my boyfriend/partner. So
>>> far, my baby has not incurred any injuries, not even minor ones.
>>> I wanted to take all of the classes offered by the hospital that Jo
>>> Elizabeth mentioned, but the hospital I chose to give birth at was
>>> not
>> easy
>>> to get to on my own and I didnt' have the best transportation system
>>> in place at the time. So I didn't end up taking advantage of them.
>>> However, when I got there, I was confident and willing to learn
>>> everything I needed to in order to safely care for my son. My partner
>>> who is also blind was equally prepared to learn how to be responsible
>>> for our child. When we
>> were
>>> asked by nurses and doctors about how we would provide for our child,
>>> we told them, patiently and confidently that we, like any other
>>> couple with a small baby, would probably require some help and that
>>> we had my family nearby if we needed them.
>>> The only person at the hospital who got under my skin was the social
>> worker
>>> assigned to us: She was like a cross examiner, and for a social
>>> worker, quite ignorant. She insisted on asking idiotic questions
>>> like, how would
>> we
>>> know if the baby had a poopy diaper, and she made it obvious that in
>>> her mind, two blind people shouldn't live alone with a baby. We
>>> assured her
>> that
>>> we were going to be fine, and because we made a solid case for
>>> ourselves, she had no loophole in which to slip in and cause trouble.
>>> It may have
>> also
>>> been helpful that my mom, who was in the hospital with us for the
>>> birth
>> (per
>>> my request) and then to visit the baby, assured the staff of the
>>> hospital that if we needed her, she'd help us. That's not
>>> overstepping the lines,
>> in
>>> my oppinion; Every new grandma is eager to help with her child's new
>> baby,.
>>> Many new parents, whether blind or sighted seek their own parents
>> assistance
>>> with the baby for a time.
>>> I ended up having a CSection which granted me a few more days at the
>>> hospital. I took advantage of that; I asked the nurses to teach me
>>> about diapering, swaddling, breastfeeding, and bathing my boy. Don't
>>> be nervous about asking them for help, but be sure that at the end of
>>> your hospital stay, you're able to show them that you've retained at
>>> least the basics of baby care. If some nurse is being snooty with you
>>> and seems more willing
>> to
>>> berate you for being a blind mom than she is eager to teach you how
>>> to be one, you should feel free to request assistance from someone
>>> else. It's
>> your
>>> hospital stay; The hospital should benefit you in whatever way they
>>> can,
>> so
>>> don't be too shy to ask for help. I was fortunate to have had a
>>> great hospital staff aiding my new family. The nurses and PCA's,
>>> even the
>> doctors
>>> were supportive and seemed eager to give us a chance. But I'll tell
>>> you
>> that
>>> they did feel apprehensive, and had I not displayed my compitance and
>>> my willingness to learn, they would have hesitated to allow the child
>>> to come home with me. You need to be confident. You need to be
>>> sharp-minded and
>> work
>>> with the hospital staff. In most cases, they are just working in your
>> baby's
>>> best interest.
>>> Well, that's that. I'm sorry for the long-winded message. i'm rambling.
>>> lol. Anyway, good luck, and if you need anything else, feel free to
>>> ask
>> the
>>> list, and since I've been through all this recently, feel free to
>>> email
>> me
>>> off list if you need to talk and get advice, new mom to a slightly
>>> more seasoned new mom. lol Good Luck!!
>>> Bernadetta
>>>
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