Number of days in Amsterdam – 128
Number of days without a bike theft – 125
Days since it last rained – 0
Today, the kraamzorg paid us a visit.
I have mentioned the system before, but for those of you who are just tuning in, the kraamzorg is a maternity nurse who will be coming to our house every day after the baby is born for about eight days, taking vitals, answering questions and making sure everything is going OK.
It’s one part of the medical system here that I find amazing. Sure, they don’t want you staying in the hospital after you give birth for so many reasons, but that doesn’t mean you’re going home to sort it all out alone. That’s what the kraamzorg is for.
We had heard from other pregnant folks that the initial krammzorg visit can be stressful. This is where she patrols your home, examines all the supplies you have, and tells you how badly you’re already doing as a parent what you need to buy.
Ours really wasn’t too bad.
We still needed a thermometer, which we knew, and some specific linens, which we didn’t. There were a few other odds and ends as well. Fortunately, we can get everything at the HEMA up the street.
Or we could, if it wasn’t gutted for renovations.
Grrrr… Dammit HEMA.
She also told us we need to get the bed up on blocks for ease of examination during labor and in the few days afterward (which we knew, but didn’t know where to go for the blocks, but she gave us that info) and gave us the book of the baby’s medical records, which is something we’ll be responsible for.
That’s something new here, too. Now, with the midwife and with the baby, we have medical records of our own that we’ll bring to the appointments. I guess it keeps them from having to file things, and puts the onus on us to keep it all together.
After the kraamzorg left, there was a large mail delivery to the the building. And when I say large, I mean that multiple packages being delivered on the same day, causing a traffic jam on the landing as we tried to sign for and get our packages up the stairs.
The guy below us got a new surround system.
I got a box of baby bottles.
There’s something unfair about that.
We also got a book delivered from Nicole’s sister. It’s called Itsy Bitsy Yoga: Poses to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer, Digest Better, and Grow Stronger, and it’s essentially a bunch of yoga exercises to do with your baby from birth on that are supposed to not only be beneficial to her health, but to her mental and emotional well being, and good for creating a bond. It’s endorsed by Doctor Karp, the guy behind Happiest Baby on the Block, which all my parental friends have raved about, so we’re giving it a shot.
In addition to hoodies, like I mentioned yesterday, it seems that every available surface has a book lying on it right now. This really is no different than back in Detroit, but in Detroit, they weren’t all books on taking care of babies. That really is the whole of my informational intake. Every free waking moment, I’m rereading about the delivery, or baby’s first day home, or changing diapers, or skipping ahead to solid foods, or tracking down when I need to worry about baby gates and outlet covers or… and on and on.
I just want to be ready, and accept that I never will be. I just hope we have a kid who’s flexible and accepting of ineptness, and willing to accept that we’re really trying.
Something I didn’t know at the beginning was that the book they give you is also available in English. We have both so that we can read the info in English but have the Dutch one for when he is older.
Also, there is an Itsy Bitsy Yoga class in Amsterdam which might be fun for the Kitten once you are all out and about again. I can send over the details if you want?
Yes, please do!