The View From Here: It’s a matter of perception
Every once in a while, the old saying that anything is possible comes true.
That was the case for me about seven months ago, when I gave birth after 10 years. What an experience and what a joy a new life can be. Anything that was wrong before and anything that is wrong now has been overshadowed by the fact that we have added a perfectly healthy, happy new bundle of joy to our family. Our son, who begged for years, finally has a little brother.
The experience brings the little things in perspective quickly and changes a lot. You realize what a responsibility you have and what a responsibility others have to make sure you receive the best of care.
Early on, I operated under the peaceful bliss of ignorance as I didn’t realize a life was growing inside me. As the months passed on and I became encumbered with that life, I became more aware than ever that my care was especially important.
Among other things, I was worried about working because journalism is no 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. We’re out in the community dealing with the trials and tribulations of people’s lives and we don’t plan them.
I was especially concerned about stress levels that come with news cycles and about those who would antagonize a pregnant woman in relation to that work, not to mention the onslaught of the summer heat and physical limitations.
Yet I plodded through board meetings, covered some unfortunate local controversies, facilitated reporting on major new developments in the city and even covered a tornado and flood or two.
Many, many people asked questions about the baby and I was thrilled they were interested. In fact, people from the community in general were genuinely happy for us, which was neat since I experienced childbirth the first time in a foreign country.
But I began to worry even more so when “the question” would ultimately surface – was I having it here? In fact, I got asked that question so many times, I started to wonder what was wrong with “here.”
Granted, I don’t have much to compare specific experiences to after giving birth in Germany where, for more than a day, there was no one around who could or would speak English. My experience here was different from that.
My experience was way different from that. In short, it was terrific.
So I would say thank you to Dr. Mary Jane Jamieson and Dr. David Watlington, who took good care of us even as I developed problems that could have had serious consequences, as well as to River Park Hospital’s birthing unit nurses, who made everything go smoothly and were sure to communicate to me everything that was happening. All were professional and experienced and that made a huge difference in the outcome.
The big picture and public relevance is that one can choose to perceive things any way they want to – it’s called selective perception and everyone is prone to it, especially in small towns. I bet no one at the hospital in Germany remembers me. But I bet they remember me here, as I remember them, and that matters.
Maybe it’s time to change public perception that people with relatively normal pregnancies have to go elsewhere.
I did an awful lot of worrying last year. As it turned out, there wasn’t so much to worry about after all. With months of perspective behind me, the answer to the question of what’s wrong with “here,” at least in my limited experience, is … absolutely nothing.
Amy Satterwhite is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].