That's My Baby?!?

Filed in archive Childbirth , Post-Natal Issues on April 24, 2008

© Joe Shlabotnik

For some women, it's love at first sight. The moment they see their baby, they are overwhelmed with love and wonder and all things warm and fuzzy.

Not me. As I felt the baby gush out, all I felt was relief that the long, painful episode is over (or so I thought, at least). When the baby was handed to me, I remember feeling... perplexed. Confused. And a tiny bit disappointed.

His head had an odd shape, his face was swollen, his nose squashed, his skin red and blotchy. This is my baby?!?

I supposed I've seen too many movies and sort of expected the baby to come out looking all angelic and clean and well... baby-like. I forgot to consider that the birth was a tough experience to go through, not only for me, but also for my baby. I forgot that the baby also had to maneuver the birth canal, a tough feat for someone so tiny, and it's foolish to expect a baby to look its best after what it's gone through.

No, it wasn't love at first sight. But it did come soon after, and has gone stronger and stronger each day.