“Absolutely, you can do that,” my OB confirmed with a smile. “You’re actually the first person to ask me!” With that reassurance, we bundled our unnamed baby girl and made our way home.
It wasn’t as though we hadn’t pondered names at all. Since learning we were expecting another girl, I had been meticulously flipping through my extensive baby name collection. My partner and I compiled lists of our favorites, but it soon turned into a competitive game. We shot down each other’s selections with comments like:
- “Too vintage.”
- “Sounds too similar to our first daughter’s name.”
- “Way too trendy.”
- “Seriously? That’s straight outta the ’80s!”
- “I’ve never liked that one.”
- “No way. There was a girl in my grade with that name, and she was the worst.”
After much deliberation, we narrowed it down to three names, but I couldn’t bring myself to make the final decision. It wasn’t indecision per se; it was my need to be absolutely confident that we were selecting the perfect name for our baby girl. I’m a bit of an overthinker like that (and yes, it’s draining), so I decided to let those names simmer a little longer.
As my due date edged closer, we adopted an approach of waiting until we met our little one. I was sure that upon seeing her, we would just know: “Yes, this is the name that fits her perfectly!”
However, when labor unexpectedly hit a week early, I was anything but ready—not for the delivery and certainly not for naming. The birth was a whirlwind, and just an hour and a half after it began, I found myself gazing at our beautiful, wrinkled baby whose loud cries suggested she was destined to have a name, regardless of what we chose.
“Does she look like a Name Choice A? Or perhaps a Name Choice B? What about Name Choice C, which we haven’t discussed in ages?” I inquired of my partner, seeking some clarity. “She looks like a brand-new baby. She’ll be whatever name we choose,” he replied unhelpfully.
After two sleepless nights in the hospital, the time had come to head home. I had carefully selected her coming-home outfit weeks beforehand, and the car seat was ready. Yet, we were still lacking one critical element: a name. Anxiety washed over me. We couldn’t leave without a name! What if we chose the wrong one? My mind raced in a fog of exhaustion and hormones.
But guess what? Those so-called “experts” were wrong. You can, in fact, leave the hospital without naming your baby. My doctor’s confirmation was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I had time—14 days, to be precise—before I needed to submit her birth certificate paperwork. That felt like an eternity in baby-naming terms, and I was eager to escape the limbo.
Once home, my family and I took turns staring at our little girl, experimenting with names. “What do you think of Name Choice A, Baby Girl?” She responded with some spit-up. “How about Name Choice C? What do you say?” She merely blinked and yawned, seemingly uninterested in our naming quest. Typical.
Finally, after three days, I was certain. I had clarity. Our baby girl had a name, and I felt ready to share it with the world—friends, family, social media, or anyone who glanced in our direction at the coffee shop. We had chosen the right one for her.
So, if you find yourself in the same boat, my unsolicited advice is this: take your little one home first, then decide on the name. Names shouldn’t be rushed. And that’s perfectly fine.
P.S. Our baby girl became Lily, our second daughter was named Clara, and then came the unexpected surprise of triplets: Ava, Mia, and Zoe. Let’s just say picking three names? That’s a whole new level of complexity!
If you’re interested in more about home insemination, I recommend checking out this post for helpful tips. For those focusing on enhancing fertility, you might find these supplements valuable. Also, for in-depth knowledge about the process, here’s a great resource.
In summary, when it comes to naming your baby, remember that it’s okay to take your time. You can leave the hospital without a name, and sometimes that’s the best approach to ensure you make the right choice.
Keyphrase: leave the hospital without a name for your baby
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]