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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Séamas O’Reilly

Magic curtains and a 36-hour blur mark the arrival of our newborn daughter

Midwife holding new born baby in hospital after birth
‘It’s calming attempting the posture necessary to hold your infant, only to see a midwife pick one up as if it’s an avocado she’s checking for ripeness.’ Photograph: Janine Wiedel/Alamy

Since birth requires an overnight stay, and our daughter arrived at 9.20am, we had a minimum of 36 hours in hospital, getting to know her and giving staff the chance to do all the tests they do to make sure your child is a fully operational baby.

We also spent five days in the hospital with my son, there are several workplaces we’ve spent less time in than Homerton hospital. We were there so long that time we ended up signing retirement cards for some of the nurses, and were probably only a few hours away from having Amazon packages delivered to the ward. It’s weird being in somebody’s workplace in any context, let alone dressing, undressing, and brushing your teeth there. Sleepless nights spent pacing and cuddling already have a surreal tinge, and more so when only a thin curtain separates you from the daily labours of an entire workforce, with all the soft footsteps and beeping and shift changes those entail.

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