Wearing my baby From Megan McNair

My first pregnancy was a surprise to me. I managed to maintain my state of shock for almost an entire nine months, leaving my best friend (and also my doula) to do all of the ‘what you’ll need’ planning. In my mind, all I would need was a breast and a way to keep my baby close. There are a few things I never doubted before I became a parent- that I would nurse and that I would want my baby to be with me. I never thought to ready a nursery, purchase a stroller, or invest in baby gadgets.

But I clearly remember the first time I noticed a woman wearing her baby in a sling. I made a beeline to her to find out what it was and where I could purchase it. The Maya Wrap Sling became one of my only ‘must have before baby comes’ items. I skipped my birth preparation classes, but I watched the Maya DVD several times before the baby came.

When I held my tiny, squishy newborn I wondered how on earth I’d ever get her comfortable in the sling. But several days after she was born, I wanted to get out and pick blackberries. Out came the DVD and after 30 minutes of hard work, baby girl was in the sling and I was out the door. It was a feeling of success.

I’ll never forget what it was like to go on that first adventure with her so comfy, so close. Even better was when I realized I could nurse her- hands free!! My little girl grew up in her Maya Wrap. She went on walks with me, attended swim practice on a regular basis (I’m a coach), went to parties,  ballgames, nursed, napped and cuddled. That sling took us both through the first two years together. To me, it represented how I wanted to parent- keeping my baby close, but without giving up the things I love. To Cecilia, it was a safe place to be, a place to relax, close to mom. No matter what was going on around us, she was happy in her sling.