Joys and Concerns

JOYS AND CONCERNS

In our Sunday School class we are often asked to express our joys and concerns. I am happy to be able to report great joy which came to our family on March 15, 2008, with the birth of my great-grandson, Connor. I like to brag about my darling greats (all two of them) but I don’t attempt to compete with the great-grandmothers who speak of their great-grandchildren and report high numbers. My great-grandchildren have indeed brought great joy, but some concerns do appear along with the good news.

No doubt there are good reasons for the practice of “rooming in” which is used in many hospitals these days where the newborn stays in the room with the mother. This practice may be intended to provide a bonding experience for mother and baby, but surely bonding will take place whenever a baby learns that mother is the provider of the food for which he may be ravenous. However, being responsible for the baby’s care at all times can be very stressful for the mother, who is surely in need of rest after going through childbirth and who would like a little relief from the needs of the baby and the frequent crying. My great-grandson was taken to the nursery for brief periods but was returned to his crib in his mother’s room very soon. Having the baby taken to the nursery for longer periods would give her a chance to begin the recuperating process. The mother who has relatives who can stay at the hospital some of the time and help with infant care is fortunate. New mothers are not allowed to stay in the hospital very long nowadays but are sent home very soon. Having a baby was easier ”back then” when several days were spent in the hospital and babies spent quite a bit of time in the nursery.

Of course, hospitals have different problems in these years when baby theft is fairly common. In the hospital where my great-grandson was born, the nursery windows were covered, and strict security measures were taken with regard to visitors. It is not possible for visitors to enter the maternity ward without being screened and photographed and their relationship to the family established. When leaving the hospital, the new mother had to sign a statement that she was taking her own baby home.

So there are concerns along with the joys, but feeling the joy of a new birth is one of life’s great experiences.

Story ID:	3702
Written by:	Wanda Molsberry Bates (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Musings, Essays and Such
Location:	Phoenix USA
Year:	2008