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Sonya Sodhi

Professor Zumstein

English 114B

26 March 2017

The Day I Was Introduced to Motherhood and That Was All That Mattered

It began as I was admitted into the hospital, it was a significant time to focus on myself

and block out all the white noise around me. Having became aware that I had become an adult at

this time; laying in the hospital bed I had endured the worst of pains and found what loving

someone truly meant. The place I perceived family meant well, the place I promised the only

change I wanted to bring about was the change that could bring out my best self and forgive

someone that I used to know. One thing that impacted my entire life was the change. Let's be real

honest, change is hard. It is human nature to persistently attempt to acquire things that an

individual is used to, but no one ever said every change has a negative connotation. The change

that I encountered in this case dealt with months of waiting and enduring, even by attending

weekly checkups at the obstetrician; I had a baby girl in my belly. It did not hit me that

motherhood was only months away, letting go of my childish habits and transitioning to a

compassionate mother had to happen quickly. This establishment was accompanied by warm and

fond memories, where everyone that came into the room and performed a procedure or simply a

considerate act made everything more comfortable- they became a part of my life, everything

from the hospital, to the room, and to the staff.

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The hospital was significant as I was forced to be comfortable in uncomfortable

circumstances, with constantly new people coming in and out of the room, from nurses to

doctors, new faces that saw everything from the worst of me (mentally due to the crazy

contractions) to my physical body. Realistically, whether nurse or doctor, they were educated

and trained to remain personable and act responsibly to a patient's' discomforts and requests.

Northridge Hospital Medical Center's birthing floor is imperative in dedicating their patients a

respectable and comfortable surrounding all around. According to the Dignity Health website,

"our maternity suites are beautifully furnished and decorated for a homelike feel. Soft colors,

wood floors and coordinating bedding offer a comfortable, yet highly functional and nurturing

room for your stay." Not only was the nature of the surrounding like a home away from home,

my family, some friends, and a good number of hospital employees assured me there were

people whom believed I could take on the responsibility of parenthood and my life did not end.

In fact, it was just starting, I chose to live a different way from most of my past 18 year. I
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matured in those hours to know I was in no way to be judged or frowned upon; Northridge

Hospital Medical Center provides family oriented services with the essential support. Northridge

Hospital Medical Center the beginning of my adulthood, a new chapter in my life started, where

change was eminent

Having to adjust to living in a hospital is not the easiest transition. I have seen people in

various stages as I walked through the hall including those quite feeble. One must remain

strong-willed in order to face the daily challenges to the point of leaving the hospital. Self-love is

rather important because without confidence in ourselves, our range for success is limited. A

hospital in historical context is a place where people go to improve their overall health when they

are not in their best physical or mental state. It is also a place where time and space and

intertwined as you discuss with the miracle of life. Bringing an infant into the world is initiating
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the time/space continuum for the new life, it extends life beyond ourselves. The newborn does

not comprehend the space that it is in because it is too young. The hospital is a temporary place

for the newborn to breathe in air and life for the first time. It is a space that causes change in

someone's life as they now deal with new responsibilities of caring for someone other than

themselves. The birth of a child marks a vital change in a woman's life. She transitions from a

girl into a woman. She must occupy this new space of being a mother and must require more

space for her and her new baby. Once the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut from the baby

which ties the mother and infant united. The baby occupies a new space in terms of the world

rather than the embryo that it inhabited for 9 months prior to being born. The hospital connects

that space and place as now a life begins for the baby while a new lifestyle initiates for the

mother.

A hospital, in my mind, did not have much significance for a person unless they are sick

or pregnant. For me, as a pregnant woman, it became essential because I witnessed the miracle of

life before my very eyes. Doctors and nurses helped to ease the new space for the baby and as
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well as the mother. They reassured that everything would go smooth. Good vibes resulted in

great results as the baby entered the world and the employees made the mother and child feel

right at home. The child entered a world completely different from being in the womb. The

mother of the child grew a connection to the hospital because this is where the next stage of their

life begins. Now the space that she requires in her life is now doubled as new responsibilities

arise to the surface. The baby is in a new place and must learn to adapt to its new surroundings as

the mother provides parental care, while keeping her confined to a close space until she is mature

enough to move on.

Like most mothers, I developed the instinct to devote every single feature of parenting

into my reasoning in the choices made. Normally. a hospital visit is a few hours long, preparing

for a life altering event is not plausible. Being a first time mother, one does not realize that a

strong support team is all one needs after a blistering long day of pushing and temporary tedious
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contractions. I jumped out of my mind with pain, at that point, no questions asked as I requested

an epidural; a medicine that introduced the definition of the light at the end of the tunnel that

made such a strange and sterile environment, a place I welcomed the visit from the stork. The

sudden realization after labor latches on, that the little miracle laying on my chest is mine, but

how was I to know how to take care of another humans life with my heart still trending, still

shocked at how terribly exhausted I was and how fatigued my body was. Not to mention,

immediately after labor I had visits from different midwives and neonatal nurses each visit about

15 to 20 minutes bringing in intricate information- at that time meaning much of the information

did not have time to properly process in my limbic system. All I was focused on was my

relaxation and rehabilitation. I needed immediate assistance with my performance, having an

extensive stay at Northridge Hospital Medical Center was in my best interest. That way I had the

opportunity to bond privately with my newborn for the first time, with the reassurance that help

was only the press of a buzzer away. One never knows if they are ready to take on a new

challenge until one knows the basic- or until that thought is put in motion. The amazingly

attentive team at Northridge Hospital Medical Center became the center of my support system,

believe it or not, even my mother at the time was my second circle of support. They reminded me

how much love a place can create and the affection a stranger can give to another stranger in

their time of need.

At Northridge Hospital Medical Center, dignity is valued in the hospital because

everyone needs to be on the same page. Everyone that is involved in the miracle of lifes process

must be on equal terms. Following the proper procedures while also being considerate to the

woman in labor. Patients want to feel welcome in the hospital and maintain an optimistic
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attitude. It is a part of the nurse and doctor's job to be good with patient relations, and to make

sure everything will run smoothly, and the child will be born with no problems.