Baby Bootie Hotline

My new grandson, Abel, spent his first night at home last night.

When I asked my daughter how the night went, her answer was that it was "sketchy"

That made me laugh. That also made me remember when we brought her home. In the middle of the night I placed her on our bed and asked my panic faced husband "now what?"

We eventually figured it out just like Abel's parents will.

But never fear, because what you can't figure out on your own....you can call and ask the

 Baby Bootie Hotline!

This was the phone number to the nurses at the hospital where my children were born,

and yes I called and called often.

 I will always remember the last time I used this phone number. I was completely at my wits end. I was trying unsuccessfully to nurse my beautiful baby and she was crying, and I was crying and my panic faced husband hid in the kitchen. In tears, I called the hotline and almost before those familiar words "Baby bootie hotline" were out of the nurses mouth, I began to sob out my story. I sprang into a high pitched tone voicing my feelings of my frustrations, my fears and my incompetence.  I was in the middle of my tirade explaining what I really thought of breast feeding, when I hear the nurse say "Janette?"  Wow, I must have really called them too many times, no wait....."Theresa?"  Yup, it was the voice of my life long friend Theresa at the other end of the line. If you know Theresa, you know she did not just say "Janette?" She said it with hint of laughter to her voice.  I was busted, she now knew I was a complete idiot.

To hear Theresa tell the story, while in the middle of my melt down I admitted to finding breast feeding repulsive. Did I really say that??? I am guessing so.  Basically she told me that if I didn't want to nurse, then don't do it. hmmm..."But my doctor thinks I am doing it, don't I have to wait to discuss it with him?"  Her answer was simple "She's your baby, you can do what ever you want."   The answer to my problem was so easy I could not even see it! She was my baby and I could make the decissions. That was the last time I felt the need to call the baby bootie hotline.

Over the years this story has been told and retold, and Theresa and I always laugh!