From October 2004 until March 2006, I was living in Norway. I was a bit of an oddity among American women there because I was married to an American man, who worked for a local company, instead of being married to a military man or a Norwegian man. This first pregnancy was a surprise and we were privileged to learn the ins and outs of Norwegian prenatal and pediatric care. There are many great things about their system, and a few strange things. I have written several other posts this effect but here post I will share only those experiences directly related to breastfeeding in a foreign hospital.

Let me clarify a few points. For prenatal care, women can choose a personal doctor or the care of a midwife in the Helsestasjon, or neighborhood Health Station. Kari Janne was a wonderful woman. It might have been nice for her to be present during labor and delivery but that was not the case. The hospital I was assigned to was in another town at about 30 minutes away reached by bus, train and bus, or taxi. A combination of three or four nurse-midwives attended me during delivery. A doctor checked on me after delivery. A pediatrician checked on all the babies born there but at home, my daughter was cared for by a baby nurse and I saw a personal doctor. In the past, probably the 70’s or later, births and feeding were more clinical. In more recent years the country’s hospitals are very baby friendly and mothers are encouraged to breastfeed for the next 6-12 months. Most women have to go back to work because of the high cost of living. The father’s get time off then to help with the transition as the child goes off to Barnehagen, or day care/pre-school/kindergarden. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask, after rereading just in case you missed it.

Baby Story Volume 2 – Hospital Stay
Excerpt: “After all the work was done and Sara Ellen and I were both nice and clean, we got comfy on the bed I had just delivered on (cleaned up of course) and were wheeled up to the Postnatal Ward or BarselAvdelingen. A nurse pushed us for a short distance and after bumping into a door frame or something apologized, saying she didn’t have a license to drive it. Then she passed us off to an orderly, who when I asked, confirmed he did have a license to drive the wheeled bed and took me right into the room I would occupy for the next five nights.”

Please take the time to visit the other Carnival contributions.
Breastfeeding 1-2-3: Breastfeeding in the Hospital
The Milk Mama:Newborns, Nursing, and Hospital(ity)
Hobo Mama: Breastfeeding support: A tale of two hospitals
Whozat’s: The Nipple Intervention
The Beautiful Letdown : Breastfeeding in the Hospital
Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog : Please Speak Up
Breastfeeding Mums Blog :Breastfeeding Experiences in the Hospital

Our wedding relfected the best traits. It was beautiful, relaxed, fun, and full of love and meaning. Our honeymoon included time together (even some alone), some with old friends, and some new (though it was really just in the moment). Both events included fun and challenges we worked together to manage. It was just right and not a bad way to spend a bunch of money (we even managed to save some).

Norway was a big beginning to our adventures. We learned to be married with little outside influence or interference. It was hard for me to be away from family for the first time, besides college, and so far besides, but it remains a very special place in our hearts, full of beautiful places and friends. We hope constantly to visit, to see our friends and even more of the stunning country. My pregnancy and Sara Ellen’s birth were truly wonderful, I had a really great experience. But I felt a big need to come back. Sara Ellen’s first plane ride was at three months.

From March 2006 to December 2008 we lived in my parents home. We had so much help in parenting, enjoyed the company of our own parents and siblings as they came and went. Sara Ellen developed great relationships with her grandparents and aunts and uncles as individual as each one. We shared Michael’s high school graduation and college entry, Emily’s college experience and first job, and traveled for three weddings where Sara Ellen charmed friends and family. We experienced separation anxiety when Tim began traveling back to Norway without us for work. We figured out how to survive road trips and getting in time for my dancing (I got great opportunities), exercise (disguised as Chiro Care), Tim’s bell ringing, and our time out for dates (our 1st dinner/movie date was when S was 6 months). We reconnected with old friends and made a few new ones. We hadn’t intended to crash at my parents for so long, and hoped for and wondered when it would be possible to get our own place again.

It was hard to choose a location because work wasn’t taking us anywhere in particular. We finally found a place in Charlottesville that we could afford on tight purse strings that gave us somewhere familiar still in reach of family. I left L’Ecole yet again but also left Calvary and the dancing and ringing we’d done there. We spent that Christmas alone for the very first time. We knew it wasn’t a permenent home but had no idea we would only live there four months! We didn’t make any new friends but did welcome visitors and traveled ourselves for another beautiful family wedding. Making the switch to California and Apple was a hard decision but with a little time it felt like the right next step.

Coming out here has been another series of awesome blessings, and I do mean “awe”some. Tim is busy at a great job at a company he really respects. Sara Ellen and I have both found great friends. We all enjoy the space we have in our new home and the beauty of local landscapes. Tim is getting to know his co-workers with game nights (cards, not like in Oslo), and Sara Ellen and I have been getting back to dancing. It’s hard for me after so many months of nothing but I am determined to be stronger and healthier.

Communication has been the biggest key to success, between me and Tim, and between us and Sara Ellen. Incredible grace and forgiveness has been equally crucial. We are so grateful to reach this time and excited to have an opportunity to properly celebrate. Sara Ellen will experience her first sleepover with a friend (her 1st night away was last summer with grandparents) and Tim and I will visit a new and famously beautiful area for our first getaway in five years!

One hundred and one years ago, Norway finally became free from rule of the other Scandinavian (Denmark & Sweden) countries. It had gone back and forth but this time they actually made their own Constitution. The friendly, lovely country has a Parliament (Storting) and Royal (Kongelig) family.

We were there last year, and I hope we’ll see photos from this year. It is a fancy affair. Norwegians wear their bunad, traditional regional costumes, or dress up. It’s really a day for children. School Marching Bands come up Karl Johans Gate and around in front of the Palace. This is quite different from American Independance Day festivities which are often less formal, include military (or local services) parade, cookouts and fireworks. Fireworks would probably be included on May 17th but though spring is still chilly, the evening sky is still too light.

We will surely visit someday to show Sara Ellen her birthplace.

Tim brought me pink roses and his mom left a nice card for me.

We went in today to do the Report of Birth stuff and were also given forms for her passport and social security number. All done in one swoop. Yesterday I got some passport photos and I thought they’d work but they wanted her face straight on. I was recommended a nearby photographer and after we finished up the rest I headed over there. It was a bit of a challenge getting her eyes to open and stay open but the employees were really nice and seemed to have fun. I had been given a labeled envelope to put them in and just dropped them off as I passed by on the way home, no need to go through security again.

One of the women who went over our paperwork (and performed the oath for the passport) said “I have kids, but that is one cute baby.”

I also had another opportunity to get some exercise. These two times I’ve gotten in 30 minutes. It included a warm-up, stretches and then some abdominal work. By that time Sara Ellen gets a little fussy. As it is my abdominals I want to work, this suits me fine so far. Maybe in the evening or on weekends I can get Tim to hold her while I do the full hour.

We pick up our snazzy new stroller on Monday.

Oh, and it’s still snowing!

Mom, Tim, and I met Dad, Emily, and Michael at our nearest train station around noon. We went to the apartment they are renting and then had a late lunch at Gio’s, our “place”. Besides going there for random dinners ourselves and with friends, it was our choice for our anniversary, Tim’s sister’s first night here, as well as my mom’s when she arrived 3 weeks ago. Hard to believe Mom has been here that long.

In a couple days Sara Ellen will be three weeks. Three days before she is three months, March 3rd, we’re coming home to the USA! Right now we’re sitting in the family’s apartment waiting for them to return from Christmas food shopping, then we’ll finally go out. Tim just changed our plane tickets to 3/3/06 and got the ticket for Sara Ellen. She and I have been getting accustomed to going out using the sling. I was really nervous but a couple of days ago we made our first trip out to the grocery store. She isn’t always happy getting in but once I start moving she falls asleep. She’s all squished but she’s only been out in the world two weeks so it’s not like she’s forgotten how comfortable she was inside. I am really happy how well going out and breastfeeding, while out and in general is going. It’s so convenient, nothing to pack or prepare. It did take some getting used to. The sling works well but at times, especially when my shoulder hurts, I’d like to get a stroller sooner than later.

Happy Birthday Dad.

8:45ish AM
2:45ish PM

But wonder of wonders, there was actually sun today. I’ve heard it is, and will continue to be a warm winter. Well it really isn’t so cold. I’m not sure of our chances for a white Christmas.