When Your Baby Falls

It happened.  I dropped Kaya.  Not on purpose, not viciously... heck, I didn't even realize that I was holding her.

It was 6am.  She started fussing, hungry again.  I sat up really quick to get to her, and before I could realize what was happening she flew off my chest and landed in the floor.  Apparently at her 3am feeding I had fallen asleep with her on my chest while I was trying to burp her.  I'm sleeping on the couch right now, so it wasn't a huge fall - maybe a foot to the ground.

But man, talk about feeling like a horrible momma.  I think it scared her more than anything, after consoling her for a few seconds she was calm again and looking for her bottle.  Needless to say, it was hours before I set her down again as worried as I was that I had hurt her.

If your baby does fall, here are a few things to remember:

• Stay calm   It is important to fully assess any damages, so before you start screaming and running in place, take a deep breath and pick your baby back up.  By being calm, you can soothe your baby enough to do a quick damage report.
• Check for injuries  Make sure there aren't any serious wounds or broken bones.
• When to call the doctor  If you do see serious wounds, broken bones, or if your baby is inconsolable call 911.  If your baby hit their head, call your doctor to see if they want you to bring her in or if you should go to the emergency room.  Always err on the side of caution: if you think there might be internal injuries, or if you are worried that he may have a concussion, take him to the doctor.

Chances are, if your baby seems to be themselves and is acting normal - she's probably ok.  

I am in no way a medical professional, and this is not meant to diagnose nor treat a fall.