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