Day 1: Embrace the snuggle
When my babe was finally put on my chest at 1:30 am, after 42 hours of labor, all I wanted to do was feel her. Feel her warmth and heaviness on my chest. Stroke her tiny misshapen cone head. Caress each of her itty bitty toes. The whole rest of that day, which was a whirlwind of nurses, pediatricians, lactation consultants, and family, what kept me grounded was the snuggle. I drank her in, placing my finger in her tiny hand, feeling her tiny heartbeat and tiny breaths against my chest. Physically connecting with our babes in this way helps us stay grounded. So ground down, mamas. Hold those babies tight. It's going to be quite a ride.
