Had quite a busy day yesterday, so no time to write the blog. After Jessica’s and mine last rise of the night at about 6.30-7.30am, with me changing her nappy, feeding her and then getting myself some breakfast and getting dressed, and Ian joining us a little while after, time seemed to just disappear until we had our first visitor just after 12 noon. At about 10-12 days after the birth the midwife discharges Mum and baby, who then get assigned a Health Visitor, a nurse specialising in child care for the ages up until 5 years. Due to Jessica’s jaundice, though, we haven’t been discharged by the midwife team just yet, as they wanted have another look at her today Tuesday to see how well it had cleared.
Our Health Visitor seemed a very friendly, pleasant lady (much like all the midwives, really). She went through a bit of what she can support us with, and gave us a few more information leaflets and a copy of the official NHS book about child care from after birth to age 5. Then it was time for Jessica’s hearing test. Jessica rested on Ian’s lap and very helpfully stayed asleep while the little ‘probe’ was put in her ear. The Health Visitor explained that the device makes a noise and then measures the echo produced by the baby’s inner ear, which gives a reading showing how well the baby can hear on each ear. Jessica’s right ear checked out fine, but two tests for the left ear were incomplete and need redoing. The Health Visitor said this could be due to wax or residue still left in Jessica’s ear from birth and we arranged an appointment for her to come around again in a week’s time.
In the afternoon we had an appointment at the registry office in Reigate to register (folkbokföra) Jessica’s birth. We’d decided to walk over there with the pram and enjoy some fresh air at the same time. As new, first time parents, though, we hadn’t quite estimated enough time to get ready, including a tactical feed and nappy change, and it all got a bit rushed before we were out the door… Hopefully we’ll become a bit more savvy about things like that. Jessica was being very obliging though and seemed to enjoy the rocking of the pram during the walk, just lying there looking at us and the world around (however much she could see of it from inside the carry cot) with her big, dark blue eyes.
The registry office was very hot and dry and Jessica got a bit grizzly when we saw the registrar. Ian held her on his lap and kept her attention while the paperwork was completed and we got the shorter and full certificates (the latter is needed for things like passport applications) and the pink form to register her with our GP’s surgery. Then we had to do a bit of an impromptu feed in the waiting room to appease Jessica before the stroll home – I sat down as far into a corner as I could with Ian strategically standing between me and the doors. After coming back home both Ian and I could feel it in our legs – Ian estimated we’d walked about 4 miles, which is an amazing amount of exercise compared to what we’ve had for at least 2 weeks…!
In the evening a couple of friends popped over with their little boy to say hello and meet Jessica. They’d very kindly brought a lasagne along – unfortunately Ian had already put dinner on, as we had some veg in the fridge that needed ‘using up’ and we’d planned a hot pot, which would take quite some time in the oven. It was great to get to see some more of our friends, though – it’s easy to start to feel a bit isolated with everything by necessity being focussed on Jessica’s needs and there not being much time left for much else. All three of us still need any visits to be more of the ‘short and sweet’ variety though, as we’re still getting into things and are pretty well knackered with it. But all our friends seem understanding of that – and hopefully don’t take it personally if our energy levels are flagging…!
Gabriella