| If there is one story my kids love to hear again | | | | What was your first meal after childbirth? |
| and again, it is the story of their birth. But they | | | | What was it like to feed your baby for the first |
| are interested in more than the birth statistics. | | | | time? Make a mental snapshot of those first |
| They want to know how I felt. They want to | | | | feedings and describe it in as much detail as you |
| know how much their new presence in the world | | | | can. |
| meant to me. | | | | What are your memories of your spouse or |
| The most meaningful baby albums, scrapbooks, | | | | partner? What feelings washed over you when |
| and journals go beyond the details of birthweight | | | | you were together with the baby for the first |
| and time of day to capture the true emotion | | | | time? |
| behind the birth. | | | | Were there any feelings of fear? If so, what |
| Here are some questions to help you remember | | | | were you frightened of? |
| the details, whether it was yesterday or years | | | | What advice would you now have for mothers to |
| ago. | | | | be? |
| When responding to each of these journaling | | | | Reflect on how you told distant family members |
| prompts, do not do so directly on the pages of | | | | about the birth. |
| your scrapbook. Write the answers in a journal or | | | | Recall how you felt upon seeing the other |
| even a piece of scrap paper first, and make sure | | | | members of your family. In what special way did |
| to keep your pen moving across the page. If you | | | | they each bond with the baby? |
| get stuck, write "I remember" and then write the | | | | Describe the tiny hands and feet of your baby. |
| first thing that comes to mind. | | | | Which baby gifts were particularly meaningful? |
| Try not to think too hard about what you are | | | | Why? |
| writing. Just try to just keep that pen moving, | | | | How did your pets respond to the new baby? |
| and do not cross out anything. You will edit your | | | | What was the first song you sang to your baby? |
| journaling later and choose which details to include | | | | Tell the story of bringing the baby home from |
| on your scrapbook pages. The most powerful | | | | the hospital. What was the first thing you |
| words and emotions often are not the first to | | | | remember doing? |
| flow from your mind. | | | | Do you remember when you were first all alone |
| Sit with these questions and journal your way to | | | | with your new baby, in your home? Describe how |
| poignant memories and the most sentimental of | | | | you felt. |
| scrapbooks. | | | | What values do you most wish to pass on to |
| What do you remember about your surroundings | | | | your new baby? |
| at the time of the birth? What was the | | | | What dreams do you have for him or her? |
| temperature like? The lighting? Detail the sights | | | | What traditions would you like to instill, to mark |
| and sounds. What small, specific details can you | | | | the occasion of this birth each year? Maybe you |
| recall that really bring the memories home? For | | | | will write your child a heartfelt letter each year on |
| me, it was the cherry Popsicle the nurse wanted | | | | this day, or take a photo of your child wearing |
| me to eat and the coffee my husband was | | | | the same outfit. A daughter may wear your |
| drinking, the smell of which made me so nauseous | | | | wedding dress; a son may wear the high school |
| that my nurse made him take it a trashcan clear | | | | letter jacket of his father. |
| down the hallway. What was it for you? | | | | In what way are you proud of yourself, as a new |
| What about the process of childbirth did you find | | | | mother? |
| surprising? (I know, the answer is "everything!" | | | | How did the instance of becoming a mother |
| but try to find some specifics). You will notice that | | | | change you? How did your worldview change |
| the more specific the memories you recall, the | | | | upon becoming a mother? |
| more poignant they will be to those who shared | | | | How did your relationship with your own mother |
| the experience with you. | | | | change? Was there a shift in perspective? |
| Describe the feeling when your baby was first | | | | Using the above questions as a guide, try to open |
| placed in your arms. Think about the experience in | | | | up and go beyond the surface of the moment. |
| terms of a snapshot. Imagine someone had taken | | | | Writing about the birth experience will help you |
| a photo, just then. Describe the photo. What one | | | | tap the true bliss of this birth. For many of us, |
| or two details most stick in your mind about the | | | | this is the most life changing moment that we will |
| experience? | | | | undergo. Make it last for generations. |
| Who were your first visitors? | | | | |