Homecoming

Just prior to discharging us, a nurse walked us through a postpartum care booklet that the hospital gives to new moms. It covers how to care for your newborn, how to feed him or her, how to take care of mom, rest and sleep. Kind of like a manual for a newborn.

We remain surprised by the whole hospital experience. A major abdominal surgery should only be performed by highly trained staff, and I have no doubt that that's who operated on Flick. A teaching hospital is a concept that we both support, and we came across many kind and caring students, residents and doctors.

But, as a healing institution, why is hospital food so crappy? Why do they give sugary "liquid" foods like cherry gelatin? How come they couldn't get the vegetarian request right, instead offering a Western omelet (containing ham) to Flick? Why is the bedside manner  between nurses so different? Some were experienced, helpful and compassionate, while others were cold, disinterested or unapologetic. Why did the nurses have contradictory advice, e.g. allowing baby to sleep on mom vs. in hospital bassinet, or which painkillers Flick was allowed to take?

Anyway, we got to leave the hospital this afternoon, but not before the nurses checked that our baby was properly bundled up in his car seat. A whole new world awaits you, little man!