#first bath

The Surrogate Chapter 42 First Bath

“Are you ready?” The nurse asks. Claire looks at Jamie, fear in her eyes. He gives her a smile. They can do this, his eyes say. She nods and turns to the nurse.

“Yes. Let’s do this.”

It is time for Faith’s first bath with her parents. Part of the things they have to learn to do before bringing Faith home. It is a nerve-racking experience.. She is so tiny.

“I will be right there. I won’t let you harm her.” The nurse reminds them. Anxious parents are a big part of her job. They both nod and follow her out.

A tiny bathtub is set up, with several towels, gentle baby bath, clothes, and a two washcloths. Faith is carried in, wrapped in a pink blanket. Hooked only to oxygen, she is laid in her mama arms.

“Unwrap her and place her in the tub, face first, no soap.” The nurse reminds them. They unwrap her together, carefully removing her tiny nappy. They lower her carefully into the bath. Her blue eyes get huge at the feel of the warm water under her. Jamie supports her head and shoulders. Claire carefully wets one if the rags and gently wipes from her eyes out. Faith pulls a funny face, making her parents laugh.

“Like that, do you lass?” Her daddy coos.

Claire, as instructed, changes to the clean cloth, adds a drop of the baby bath, and gently starts to wash her down. Under the folds of her neck, under her arms, just starting to show some baby fat,, her tiny chest and belly. All the while, Jamie is softly talking to her, explaining what mammy is doing.

“Hair is last so she doesn’t lose to much body heat.”

“got it.” They had discussed it before hand. They wished to show that they can both bath her. So Jamie, with slightly steadier nerves, is to do her hair. Claire carefully changes places with him, taking her daughter’s head in hand.

“Hi love. Daddy is going to wash your hair, then we will get you all bundled up and snuggly and you can eat. Yes, mammy knows you are hungry. I do. But you need to get you all clean.”

Jamie wet the cloth, places a bit of the baby bath on it, and runs in over her doll sized head. He is gentle but firm, getting all her red curls.  He then re-wets the cloth, and carefully rinses the soap out. Claire lifts her out and lays her on the prepared towel. It is wrapped around her, the other is used to dry her hair, a task Jamie does. He then places the knitted pink hat on her head. Claire dries her body, keeping her mostly covered as she does. She then dresses her, only exposing the skin she needs to as she places her clothes on. Nappy, the bottom of her soft sleeper, the incredibly tiny t-shirt, the top of the sleeper. She fastens it up and swaddles her back in the pink blanket.

“All cuddly and warm again. Ready to eat lovey?”

“Perfect. You two did wonderful. I will remove her bath stuff and leave her to feed her.” The nurse smiles as she prepares to leave.

Please don’t mind my blood stained pillow. I’m diabetic so if I check my blood sugar in the middle of the night when I have off, I don’t care, I’m going back to sleeps!

Here he is with his mouse at 1am. I work overnights so my husband uncovered him and sent me a pic. He sleeps under the covers.

All clean!

Ivanko’s first bath