“I don’t know how many fingers or toes she has, but it looks like a lot!” I told my wife immediately following the birth of our daughter. Counting to 10 seemed out of the question as adrenaline ran through my body. The nurses shortly thereafter confirmed our daughter did have 10 fingers, 10 toes and everything else she was suppose to have. We couldn’t be more grateful.

Gracelyn Nomena Knutson entered the world at 6:02 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, weighing 8 pounds and 7 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches long. Both mom and baby were healthy, and our lives were changed in an instant. This little girl put her mother through the most tremendously difficult pain for more hours than there are in a day, and Sera still cried tears of joy when she held her for the first time.

One thought has kept reappearing in my mind throughout this last week: We could have never done this on our own. There are some births that occur by the book with little or no medical interventions, but Gracelyn’s was far from it. Line by line our ideal plan for her birth was necessarily taken apart until she finally arrived and an unknowable peace descended on the now increased Knutson family.

According to the often-quoted African proverb, it takes a village to raise a child. We had the opportunity to meet part of that village over the last week, and we’ll never be able to repay the care we received. Nurses, doctors, family, friends and co-workers have all supported us during this fascinating first week, and we’re so thankful.

I have never truly appreciated nurses until our time spent at the hospital leading up to Gracelyn’s birth. The women who helped Sera and I through our daughter’s birth were incredible. Their attention to detail, level of care and ability to comfort truly saved us from losing our minds. Giving birth is obviously difficult; you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who would disagree. These nurses choose to spend their lives in the throes of labor every single working day. I have no clue how they do it and find fulfillment in their work. Certainly if you’re lucky and have a birth during your shift, they have the opportunity to witness a miracle over and over again. However, the nurses we had, in more than one case, worked multiple shifts before our little girl arrived. I cannot imagine caring for a laboring woman for my profession. These people are heroes.

Our village has continued to grow since coming home, and I’m left in awe of the support we’re receiving. Sera’s mom is staying with us for several days, co-workers are offering to bring us meals and friends are giving us tremendous advice on how to make these first days a success so our future days will be easier. A strong foundation for baby Gracelyn has been laid, and we’re so fortunate.

There are however, some little baby boys and girls born without this kind of support. Their parents might count the members of their village on one hand. I hope we can find ways to support these dads, moms and new babies so they can have the same opportunities to succeed that Gracelyn is already enjoying.

Our little girl’s name means God’s unmerited favor and blessings (Gracelyn) given to us (Nomena). We’ve received so much unmerited favor and blessings in this first week of her life, and I hope we can now share that with other new moms and dads in some way. If you have the opportunity, reach out to the new parents you know. Share with them a secret to success, buy them a snack or meal or offer to do something simple like fold laundry for a day. A village shouldn’t just be supporting you; you should also be supporting your village. It’s amazing how powerful a community can be when it comes together, and Sera and I are so thankful to be able to experience that power and support during this incredible time of learning how to parent.

 

Rochester resident Matt Knutson is the communications and events director for United Way of Olmsted County.