BlossomBelly

A few days ago we “sprang forward” into Daylight Saving Time.  Only I haven’t been springing anywhere since.  I’m tired.  I swear at the alarm clock in the morning.  I crawl out of bed complaining and grumbling that I should be allowed another hour (or more) of sleep.  Why doesn’t work just start an hour later?  Why should I be punished this way?

This morning, 2 days after the time change, I somehow dragged myself out of bed at the usual time.  Once I’d spent a few minutes freshening up and allowed my thoughts to turn to something other than my misery, I got to thinking about  ……. babies.

What is their birth day like for our sweet little babies?  Birth has got to be the ultimate time change.   Do they feel punished?  Would they swear at us if they could?  Some babies cry a bit, a few a lot, but most are immediately quieted by their mamas and papas, embraced, fed, loved, cooed at.  And they respond by quieting, watching, taking it all in so openly.  It’s remarkable really.  The zen-like quality that babies possess, the acceptance to all that is so new.  What a huge leap these babies make, and how beautifully they take it, all things considered.

I then considered that maybe there is a lesson in these thoughts for me, remembering how I angrily fumbled for the snooze on the alarm just a few minutes before.  But no, I didn’t want to go there.  So instead I thought about what we can all do to help our babies’ births be as beautiful as possible – for them.  Surely their transition from inside the womb to the great big world can be less unpleasant than my transition to DST.  I am convinced that the steps we take to create a calm, comfortable and peaceful environment for our babies’ births can make a huge difference in their transition.  So, whenever possible, let’s take those steps.  Lower the lights, quiet the voices, put on soft music if you like it and your baby is used to hearing it from the womb, and lots of skin-to-skin contact after birth.

What a beautiful transition it can be.  Now that has me thinking that tonight I could take a warm bath, with candles and music.  And then get to bed an hour earlier.  Bring it on, DST!