When you are awaiting the arrival of a baby, it is a rollercoaster of thoughts and feelings. There seems to be a never-ending list of what needs to be done. Will I use a nursing chair? How many onesies are enough? What is the best capsule? What on earth do I even need in my hospital bag?
And then there are the comments… “Enjoy your sleep now!”, “Are you planning on more?” (can I get through this one first?) – and don’t even get me started on the “just wait until…”
One thing is for sure – becoming a parent for the first time is terribly exciting and extremely anxiety-inducing. Why don’t they just come with a manual?
Like anything in life, preparation is key.
Although it’s true, no matter how much you prepare for that little bundle of joy, you can never truly be ready.
One of the best things I did as a new parent, was to attend a CPR Kids class. It wasn’t something I was fully aware of until someone mentioned it in my Mums group – right when I was heading back to work and my daughter was ready to start solids. The idea of her choking was overwhelming! What would I do if she choked? Realising I had no idea was terrifying.
After getting through the anxieties that came with a newborn (and sleep deprivation), I had finally started to wean myself off of the “Google rabbit hole” – “Is green poop normal?”, “How much should an (X) month old weigh?”, “newborn rash photos”, “What counts as sleeping through?”, “Why isn’t my baby sleeping through?” … it was never-ending.
Attending a CPR Kids class gave me a feeling that was priceless – CONFIDENCE. Confidence that I would know what to do IF something were to happen. I was prepared, I had armed myself with the skills to know how to respond if my daughter choked, or was burnt, or had a high fever, or if the unthinkable happened and she ever needed CPR.
Thankfully, I have not had to use any of these yet – but knowing how to if I needed, really feels like a little secret in my back pocket. It makes trips to the pool or park, or my little one trying new foods, that little less scary.
And let’s face it, with the number of anxieties that come with parenthood, ticking a big one off of the list in knowing first aid and CPR, is priceless. I only wish I had done it sooner!
