Do you ever look at a newborn, and think “that’s the life?” Before I was a postpartum and infant care doula, experienced with babies, I definitely did.
Think about it- you have people catering to your every need. You pretty much don’t have to know anything to survive. You can really just follow whatever crazy whim you have, at any given moment, and it’ll be fine.
Since I’ve started spending time with the littlest humans, I’ve changed my tune. Newborn lives seem a bit stressful to me.
To say nothing of their entry into the world (intense much?), babies are constantly at the beginner stage of anything they try to do. With no instructions! Everything is brand new, which must be shocking and overwhelming.
Infants are fully dependent on giants who often have no clue what should be happening. And neither the newborns nor their new parents are skilled at speaking one another’s language.
Newborns have a lot to handle. They aren’t even sure how to hold their head up!
My admiration for them has only grown though. Every day, they just keep getting up, being the best possible baby they can be. Well, not getting up per se. But they soldier on. How much more resilient can you get?
I think observing these little people (and yes, having conversations with them at 2 am when I’m at a postpartum doula overnight shift, and neither of us is sleeping) has made me a better grown up.
What do I mean? I’ll tell you.
Five lessons I’ve learned from hanging out with newborn babies:
1. It’s okay to ask for help. Sometimes repeatedly, and loudly, until people understand what you mean.
2. You don’t have to be perfect and unmessy, to be worthy of love. Every day babies poop on themselves, and it never occurs to them that they’re less adorable. Self esteem #goals.
3. Trust your instincts. After all, that’s how they get here, in many instances. And instincts are the only way they eat, learn to smile, or decide to walk.
4. There’s always something new and cool to learn. Have you ever seen an infant fascinated by a ceiling fan? Or the tip of your nose? If only we all had that sense of wonder.
5. Sometimes a little comfort food is exactly what you need. A newborn knows that the best food isn’t always fancy. Tried and true is sometimes the way to go.
Solid life lessons right? And this is only what they’ve taught me so far.
I’m looking forward to a long career as a doula, and I can’t wait to see what the babies of DC, Maryland Virginia teach me next.
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