[blparent] Newbie Introduction

Thu Mar 19 19:30:35 UTC 2015

			I've never liked that quote "the days are long" is what bothers me. Yes, some days are longer then others. Most shouldn't be, and if they are, that's a problem that needs addressing. How that's addressed depends on what is making the days so long. I think that quote does more to keep women from truly enjoying their children then it should. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica Reed via blparent
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 2:33 PM
To: Jo Elizabeth Pinto; Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Newbie Introduction

I have never heard that quote before. Today, as the weather turns cold again and my husband works another very very long day. It really means a lot to hear that. Thanks again!

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 19, 2015, at 1:41 PM, Jo Elizabeth Pinto via blparent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> The things I used most were a roomy diaper bag with a long strap so I could carry it over the opposite shoulder from my guide dog, a half a dozen bottles and an insulated carrier for keeping them cool on the go, a bottle warmer that you filled with water and plugged into the wall to heat up, and a bottle and nipple sterilizer for the microwave.  I would have liked to nurse exclusively for the entire first year or longer, but my body wouldn't cooperate.  If nursing works for you, great.  If it doesn't or you decide not to do it, don't feel guilty.  If you want to nurse but you are going back to work, you'll need a pump and milk storage bags.
> 
> Don't buy a lot of bottles ahead of time because you won't know what works for your baby till you try some out.  We went through many, many bottles before we finally settled on Dr. Brown's with the slow-flow nipples, but every baby is different, so what works for one could be a total fail for another.  Same goes for diapers.  My baby, who is now an active seven-year-old who thinks she knows everything, did just fine on Kirkland diapers, which are much less expensive than the name brand Pampers or Huggies.  Luvs leaked like crazy and gave her wicked rashes.  But Luvs worked like a charm for other babies.  You won't know till you try, so don't stockpile diapers and then find out you can't use them.  Don't buy more than a handful of newborn outfits because they'll be outgrown in a few weeks, especially if you have an eight- or ten-pound baby.
> 
> There's a correspondence course through Hadley that's available.  Sharon Howerton on this list can give you more information.  I went through it when I was pregnant and gleaned valuable information from it about what to expect during labor and delivery and in the first few years.  There were a few very helpful tips from blind parents.  The ones that stuck with me most were how to talk calmly and sensibly to people at the hospital during the delivery process--mostly just reassuring them that you know how to ask for help when you need it, and that sighted moms also ask for help because believe me, all new moms need assistance from time to time, not just blind moms--and offering toddlers and kids snacks in small bowls so you know how much they are eating instead of just tossing them the bag of pretzels or popcorn.
> 
> The biggest thing is, enjoy your pregnancy, and enjoy your baby.  These are exciting times, and they go by so fast.  I've said this before--I can hear the eyes rolling throughout cyberspace as I type it because practically everyone on the list has heard it so many times--but a favorite aunt quoted me a Baby Blues comic when my little one was about ten weeks old, and I didn't know how true the words were at the time.  I do now.  She said, "The days can be long, but the years are short."  I can't believe my little girl is already seven years old.  We've had a lot of fun together.  There have been some bumps in the road.  A few pretty big ones, actually, and I'm sure there will be more as she gets older.  But raising her has been the most awesome thing I've ever done.  I try really hard not to take it for granted.
> 
> Jo Elizabeth
> 
> Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
> -----Original Message----- From: Nevzat Adil via blparent
> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 11:18 AM
> To: Star Gazer ; Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Newbie Introduction
> 
> Exciting times for you both. Congratulations!
> 
>> On 3/19/15, Star Gazer via blparent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> For stuff you want, you do need a carseat and a crib. You will need 
>> clothes, I found the one piece sleepers very easy to use.
>> Without knowing your house, it's difficultto say what you need. For 
>> example, we only had one changing area in our old house because the 
>> bedrooms and living area were on one floor. Now we have the bedrooms 
>> on one level and the living area on another. This means two changing 
>> areas with two sets of wipes, diapers changing pad, that sort of 
>> thing.
>> You'll probably want a bouncy seat only because the angle helps 
>> babies poop.
>> I'm not sure why. We had a rockn play for our second mostly because 
>> it looked so cute. J.E. is right though in that a lot of stuff they 
>> outgrow quickly. Still that doesn't mean that you won't need or want 
>> or enjoy it while they can use it. We all have good memories of our 
>> second baby lying in her rocknplay while our older daughter had a 
>> stuffed bunny do shows for her.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jo 
>> Elizabeth Pinto via blparent
>> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 12:09 PM
>> To: Kristi Wilkins; Blind Parents Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] Newbie Introduction
>> 
>> Congratulations on your coming baby.  My advice is, most "must have" 
>> baby items are not must have.  Take it easy on buying things.  You'll 
>> be overloaded with stuff before you know it, and then you'll be 
>> trying to get rid of what's outgrown in no time.
>> 
>> Jo Elizabeth
>> 
>> Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, 
>> you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round 
>> and full at evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Kristi Wilkins via blparent
>> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 9:23 AM
>> To: blparent at nfbnet.org
>> You will probably want a Costco membership because it pays for itself 
>> in diapers and formula if you decide you need or want formula.
>> Don't worry too much about the future as you tend to not enjoy the 
>> present when you do it that way. That's one reason I don't like the 
>> advice on "they'll grow out of it quick" because everything is 
>> short-lived. It'd be like saying "Don't eat a nice meal, soon it will be over".
>> 
>> Subject: [blparent] Newbie Introduction
>> 
>> Hi everyone,
>> 
>> I am new to this list and just wanted to introduce myself.  My 
>> husband and I are expecting a baby in October and I thought it would 
>> be a good idea to get a head start on getting advice from experienced 
>> blind parents.  I am legally blind and my husband is sighted.  We 
>> both work full time, and I am a bit nervous about navigating the 
>> world of daycare, transportation, doctor appointments, sick days, and 
>> so much else with a newborn.  Any advice on what to expect, must have 
>> baby items, or any other tips and tricks would be greatly 
>> appreciated.
>> 
>> Thanks and looking forward to talking with you all!
>> 
>> Kristi Godden
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> 
> 
> --
> ❝"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his 
> head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his 
> heart."❞ ‒Nelson Mandela
> 
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