[blparent] New Parent Introduction

Wed Sep 19 20:52:22 UTC 2012

Hello Tracy,

Yes, it's smart not to have your dog in the delivery room because that would
indeed just freak her out and cause her to worry about you.  I brought my
guide to the hospital with me in the beginning and as soon as my friend
could pick him up she came and got him until I called her and gave her the
green light to come to the hospital with him.  Thankfully, the hospital was
wonderful about my guide and very supportive aside from one charge nurse who
was scared of dogs and so she acted weird around him.  I did offer that
nurse to feel free and pet Provo and get to know him because if ever there
was a way to get rid of a fear of dogs, a dog like Provo is the way to do
it.  My four legged kid is from GDB's Oregon campus.  I graduated with him
in September of 2009 when I was working at the same school as their Training
Class Specialist.  I am blessed to be able and stay home with Dawson at this
time and I look forward to taking advantage  to put my all into our little
guy in addition to learning German, Spanish and finishing my Master's degree
as soon as Dawson's in school more during the day.  Where did your guide dog
come from and how old is she?  It really helped that Provo was less than 3
when Dawson was born so that he could get used to him quickly early in his
life and grow-up with him.  They are both truly the best of friends now and
neither one wants to be without the other.  I've got a feeling that when
Dawson's older and in his own bed that there's going to be a big black
monster joining him. SMILING  If your guide is older do not fret because
I've heard heart-throb stories about older dogs falling in love with new
additions to the family as well.  It's sounds like your little pumpkin is
going to do just fine and has a sweet disposition.

Take care,

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Tracey Turri
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 12:56 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] New Parent Introduction

Hello Erin,
Your post reasured me on several points.  I did wonder how to do the actual
doggy baby introduction.  I've herd people have the dogs in the room dureing
the birth, but Pria gets nurvis if she thinks I'm in pain, and from what
I've herd it will be quite painfull.  Easier all around I would guess to
wate until after baby arives and I have the energy to do things rite.
Did the hospital give you guys a hard time bringing a service  animal into
the mother baby unit since he was with someone else?  I did put in my birth
plan (yes I do have one all ready) lol that I want Pria to be introduced to
the baby before we leave the hospital.
I did have to laugh about the breast milk, trying to steal a treat sounds
like something my yellow girl mite try. Lol Dawson sounds adorable, I bet
now he's a little older he and Provo are buddies.
If you don't mind, ware did you get Provo from, and did the school help you
with the transition?

On 9/19/12, Erin Rumer <erinrumer at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello Tracey,
>
> First off I'd like to welcome you to the group and congratulate you on 
> your little bundle.  This is a very exciting and wonderful time for 
> you and your family.
>
> My name is Erin and my husband David, 22.5 month old son Dawson and 
> male black Labrador guide dog Provo and I all reside in San Diego.  
> Provo also new that something was different when I was pregnant, 
> especially toward my 2nd and 3rd trimesters.  It was so sweet how he'd 
> put his head on my stomach and slow his pace for me as I became bigger 
> with baby.  Dogs are very in-tune to what's going on and your pup 
> should adjust beautifully to your new baby.  We first introduced Provo 
> to Dawson's cent by having my husband meet Provo in the hallway of the 
> hospital before coming into my room.  My friend who was watching Provo 
> held Provo's leash as David let Provo smell Dawson's hat that they 
> first put on him after he was born.  Provo first thought that he was 
> being offered a treat and tried to eat the hat but that's a Labrador 
> for you. GRIN  After Provo got his jollies out in the hallway meeting 
> daddy and smelling baby's sent, my husband then brought Provo into the 
> room where I was with our son.  Provo was really excited to see me but 
> quickly stepped back cautiously once he saw Dawson.  I praised Provo 
> for being so gentle and never forced him to come toward Dawson.  I let 
> him do everything at his own pace and comfort level.  I had also 
> received a C-Section so Provo could tell that I was hurting a bit and 
> moving differently so I think that added to the extra level of 
> caution.  It took about a day and a half in the hospital for Provo to 
> really come up and give Dawson a full once-over.  Before we knew it, 
> Provo was licking Dawson all over and giving him loving nudges with 
> his nose.  Once I got home I made sure to treat Provo like the big 
> brother in a sense.  Any time Provo came over to Dawson I praised him 
> and gave him lots of pets and even food rewards at times.  I 
> especially used food reward when Dawson cried so that way he wasn't 
> overly concerned or upset when the baby wasn't happy about something.
> I actually started the food reward attached to the sound of baby cries 
> before Dawson was even born by watching shows on TV with those sounds 
> and rewarding Provo that way.  This got Provo used to the sound and he 
> quickly associated the noise with a positive thing.  My husband also 
> took on an extra role of being Provo's walking buddy for a while as I 
> was heeling from my surgery and getting my routine down with our son.  
> I took Dawson's nap times as a time to give Provo a few extra minutes 
> of just him and mommy which he appreciated a lot.  Provo was very 
> interested in my breast milk when my milk started dropping because of 
> the sweet smell.  I had to tell him that this treat wasn't for him but 
> only baby.  That was probably the only major jealousy he had but the 
> new toys and extra treats helped ease the blow.
>
> I hope this all helps and enjoy your months of pregnancy.  It's the 
> most amazing feeling as your baby grows inside of you.
>
> Erin and Dawson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Tracey Turri
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 9:59 AM
> To: blparent at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [blparent] New Parent Introduction
>
> Hello parents,
> My name is Tracey, and I am expecting my first child in early Apr of 
> next year.  I have very little usable vision, just light, dark, 
> cullors and shaddos.  Being a parent has always been the one thing I 
> have wanted to acomplish in my life, I feal my purpus in life is to be 
> a mom, that said the fact I am blind has, and I am sure will present a 
> few more chalenges thrue this jurney than for a sighted mother.  My 
> fiancee Ian and I, (Ian is fully sighted by the way) are both very 
> excited to become parents and would love to get advice from others who 
> have been there.
> One of my first questions is how to introduce baby and your guide dog.
>  My yellow lab Pria I think all ready is guessing something is up with 
> mom, she's been more clingy and attentive over the passed few weeks 
> (maby the fact I've had morning sickness plays a roal in that?)  Plus 
> last week when we had the first altrosound she wasn't quite sure about 
> the woosh woosh woosh noise of the babies heart beting coming out of 
> the computer, Ian thinks she thought the doctor was hurting me.  We've 
> been giving her the usual amount of attention and walkies, work and 
> leasure, and trying to keep her ruteen as normal as possible, but I 
> would like her to be prepaired once little one comes home.
> I am so greatful that their is a list for blind parents to unite and 
> support one another with out worrieing about someone trying to take 
> our children away if were having a little bit of a hard time.  In kace 
> you couldn't tell, that's something that really worries me, someone 
> making an arbitrary judgment that I shouldn't be aloud to parent just 
> because of the blindness issue.
> Ok, reading back over this, I find that I am blabbing, so I'll stop 
> now, but I am looking forward to learning from and hopefully making 
> new friends with you.
> Have a blessed day,
> Tracey
>
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--
TRACEY L TURRI
INDEPENDENT MARKETING EXECUTIVE
PHONE 301-485-9349

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