If being home alone with a newborn has left you feeling a little overwhelmed, stressed and unsure about what you are doing, you are NOT the only one. There is nothing wrong with you, and you are not failing at parenthood. New parents have rarely ever done this alone before. The problem is the current cultural structure that fails to support new parents in the USA, especially now.
Back in the day, folks grew up in a “village”. As a young child people regularly saw pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Their mother may have had children when they were old enough to remember. Seeing pregnant bellies was a normal part of daily life. Labor was a community event for women. Young girls probably participated in keeping birth-givers company early in labor. When older, many probably had the opportunity to stay with a close friend or relative throughout active labor, and maybe even witnessed the birth of a baby.
Back in the day, folks grew up in a “village”. As a young child people regularly saw pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Their mother may have had children when they were old enough to remember. Seeing pregnant bellies was a normal part of daily life. Labor was a community event for women. Young girls probably participated in keeping birth-givers company early in labor. When older, many probably had the opportunity to stay with a close friend or relative throughout active labor, and maybe even witnessed the birth of a baby.