I’m sure the birth process for a second child is different from the first as it is, but for us, it was extremely different than our experience and expectations 4 years ago with our first child. It all boils down to the global pandemic we are currently facing with COVID-19; Here’s why.
Note: I drafted this post right after birth when things were still very up in the air around the virus. Since then, the situation has stabilized here in Idaho so the worries we experienced at the beginning of April were different than we see today. I wanted to post it nonetheless as it’s quite the memory! I’ll include an one month update at the bottom of this post.
First off, as we progressed through pregnancy, one of my major thoughts was about how Lucy was going to meet her sister for the first time and what type of experience it would be in the hospital setting. But the virus changed all of that just a few short weeks ago, as a new policy stated no one under the age of 14 was allowed to visit at our delivery hospital. Lucy got to meet baby Ellie through FaceTime and then when we picked her up on our way home and it all turned out just fine.
Secondly, while I’m not one to have a set birth plan in general (I love a good plan, but setting expectations in the birth process scares me), the pandemic did change my way of going about the labor and delivery process. I normally wouldn’t have chosen to do an induction (although now I’m all for it since actually experiencing it!) but with the visitor policy changing on the daily, I was worried they’d change it before I delivered to limit exposure by cutting off all birth partners- one of the nurses at the hospital hinted that it could happen and that worried me. I’ve also seen it happen in other cities and wanted so badly to have Chase with me that we scheduled an induction when little miss was taking her sweet time to arrive.
Thirdly, I’d have to say my complete view of the hospital experience was different this time. I wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible- thankfully the hospitals are trying to move L&D stays along quickly so this wish was granted quite easily. We were out of the hospital within 26 hours of having baby! For my first delivery, I stayed two nights and just relaxed while visitors filed in to see our new bundle. This time, with no visitors allowed besides the birth partner, it was a quiet and quick stay that actually was really relaxing (besides being neurotic about hand washing and limiting exposure).
And lastly, it also limited what I brought to the hospital since I wanted as little as possible to pick up any extra germs- and you know what? Hospital pillows are just fine, and so are their towels. I left my nursing pillow at home and managed just fine without it. And instead of extra outfits besides something to wear going home, I used the hospital gown and was perfectly comfortable.
It is a totally different experience in the hospital these days but I feel like I learned a lot about winging it and lowering my expectations. Whatever life throws, it is always best to just take it as it comes! I bet taking that viewpoint with me as I continue my journey through motherhood will do me well.
May Day: I can’t believe Ellie is one month old today! We have had a relaxing month which isn’t how I expected our first month with a newborn to be. Chase has been working from home which has been such a nice balance- he gives Lucy her needed attention when I am tending to the baby! Quarantining has been a really nice change of pace. Lucy is a very helpful and loving big sister- so much of a help that she’s tried to pick up Ellie without her parents knowing and helping a few times! Yikes. But I’m thankful she doesn’t seem to be jealous of Ellie at all and always is checking on “that baby”.
