Footprints

The night after I gave birth to Chinipie, I was still in delirium and trying to catch up some sleep when the nurse at the special care nursery called up and asked if I would like to come and feed my little baby. I hadn't yet started nursing her as she was on antibiotics, too and had to be kept well-hydrated. My milk hadn't started coming in yet so she was being formula-fed. Earlier in the evening, I was shifted to the same floor where the special care nursery was so that it would be easier for me to go down to feed her.

This was the first time I could see her, after she was taken by the nurses from the labor and delivery room (unless I count the peep from the window while crossing the nursery to go to my room in the post-partum area). Later, various tests had to be performed on her and we were not allowed to see her. Finally, when we got the thumbs up to visit her, I was being administered my dose of antibiotics (I was running a very high fever in the last stages of delivery). Hence, DH and my mom were lucky enough to go down to the nursery. I gladly took this opportunity and sneaked out of the room so as not to wake them both. Hearing them snore, even on a recliner and a couch, a nurse, who had come to check my stats a few minutes earlier had jokingly remarked, "seems like these are the people who just delivered the baby". Jokes apart, these were the people who hadn't got a chance for two days in a row. These were the people who were praying for the safe birth of the baby and the well-being of the mother. These were the people who had paced the hospital corridor while I was being administered the epidural. These were the people on whose ears all the cries had fell, including the first cry of Chinipie. These were the people who had to do all the running around again the next day!

And they deserved this much needed rest. So I quietly came out of the room with the help of a nurse. Chinipie looked so tiny, wrapped up in the receiving blanket; her eyes closed. I held her, rather, awkwardly as I feared hurting her fragile little body. The nurse sensed this and encouraged me asking me not to be afraid. She had seen many new moms and dads going through this, she said. Still, I was not comfortable as I was dizzy with fever. She offered to show me how to handle the baby and took her from my arms, sat Chinipie up in her arms and fed her the bottle. She must have been very hungry as she latched on to it instantly. As she fed, she also pooped! This was her very first one!! And I am glad I was there to witness it. The nurse cleaned her up and changed the diaper while also showing me how to do it.


She handed me a folder, which contained the instructions for breast feeding and other information for the new born. And while I was going through the folder, I found these little cards in there. At first, I thought these were just some cards with the stats of my baby when I realized that the ink of the little feet over there looked fresh. Instantly, with wonder, I asked, "Are these her footprints?". On confirmation, I could just exclaim, "Oh! WOW!!"




I really like the way the hospital people present things. To them, it might be a routine, but for me this was ecstatic. I was already feeling sad that my new-born couldn't share the room with me as I had fever and then I got this momento when I wasn't expecting. I was filled with joy!

Look at these little feet, aren't they the prettiest ones?