Doctors Office Do's and Don'ts

My little pumpkin gave us quite a scare last week! I came home from work and was enjoying a fun afternoon with Bryn. After taking a short nap, Bryn awoke with a fever of 104.7! I went into panic mode, called the doctor, called my mom, googled like a mad woman only to find that we weren't in the dangerous temperature. 106 is a the appropriate temperature to freak out. Pheww! I was still clearly worried. We got her into a luke-warm bath and immediately started tylenol. The next day we went to the ped. and he took a urine sample and sent us for blood-work (seriously the most painful thing EVER for mommy and baby both). Long story short, she had a urinary tract infection and amoxicillin cleared it up very quickly.  At the end of this whole ordeal, I decided I needed to add a blog about what to do and not do when you are talking and visting with the pediatrician.

Do's

• Call right away: Even if you are only slightly worried. Their conditions can worsen very quickly and you really want to safe rather than sorry.
• Write down all symptoms: When you go into Mommy-Panic-Mode it is very easy to forget times and symptoms. You want to give the doctor or nurse a clear timeline so that they can accurately diagnose and treat your little one
• Relax: I know this sounds like a COMPLETELY unreasonable request but it will help calm your peanut and a calm baby makes a calm mommy. Being frantic will not help the situation. I did not follow this advice and I, not only freaked myself out, but I made Bryn hysterical.
• Listen, write down, or ask the ped. for list of instructions: I can be hard to focus on what the doctor is telling you about your little one either because you are focused on a fussy baby or they are just throwing WAY too much information at you at once. It is easy to miss details about how to treat you baby's condition.
• ASK QUESTIONS: If you do not understand something the ped. is telling you do not feel stupid for asking even the most basic question (how could they have gotten this condition? Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening again? How long should symptoms last?) Believe me! I asked everything. You may think of questions even after leaving the office but just call and leave a message. I was on the phone for 15 minutes just asking questions I thought of after walking out the door!

Don't:

• Blame yourself: Little ones get sick, they get hurt and blaming yourself will only make the situation worse. Instead, focus on getting them feeling better. Don't be so hard on yourself.
• Let the Ped. dismiss your worries: You have a right to ask questions, to be concerned. You didn't go to medical school and you have a right to answers (as long as they have them) Afterall, you pay them for this!
• Be afraid for a second opinion: This is why I actually prefer a practice with several doctors. I have gotten to know each of them and how they handle situations and answer questions. I called with questions 2 or 3 times and asked for different doctors to look at her charts and give me their opinion over the phone. This helped me understand Bryns symptoms and treatment better and gave me more piece of mind. Every doctor is different. I was able to take advice from each of them and use it in a way that really helped me treat her condition in a way that worked for her.
• Change any treatment without talking to the pediatrician first: If they are on several medications this could really affect the outcome and could prolong the sickness. If you don't understand what the medications or treatments they gave you are really doing or how important they are then CALL THE PED!
• Use the internet like the Bible: This will only confuse you. However, a little google work will help you to come up with a few questions to ask the ped.

I hope these tips will help you when visiting the doctor and calm your nerves when dealing with a sick little one.

What a difference a month makes!

It's hard to believe that just 3 short months ago our beautiful daughter arrived and changed our lives forever!

Looking back I can remember when everyone used to say "Can you believe how fast they grow?!" I will admit, those first 2 months were brutal and I couldn't have disagreed more with that statement. Time just felt like it stood at times. But there was a clearly defined week when we really started to "get along" and enjoy each other. Ever since then I have felt guilty for wanting time to fast forward. I would do it all over again. :)

I have learned now that it is best not to blink because I might miss something. Shes just changing so much everyday and I am pretty sure my facebook friends without kids are like "Uggghh! Not another baby picture. We get it! You love your baby!" I feel the need to capture every moment.

This is how much Bryn's changed:

Sleeping:

• 1 month old: hard to go to sleep, hard to stay asleep, up every 2 hours for about 2 hours......lets just say it looked like I had my eyeshadow on upside-down
• 2 months old: easier to go to sleep but she still fought it, slept for about 5 hours at a time...Momma looked less like a zombie
• 3 months old: sleeping through the night, could put her in her crib half awake and she would put herself to sleep, needed satin bunny to cuddle with <<sigh>>

Playtime:

• 1 month old: lasted about 10 minutes before she pooped out.....literally
• 2 months old: facial expressions always got a smile and maybe a little giggle here or there, really cranky this month because of the reflux
• 3 months: bouncing around like a kangaroo in her jumper, laughing constantly, liked playing with anyone, can go for hours

Meals:

• 1 month old: 1-2 oz every 2-3 hours all day long......momma= milk machine
• 2 months old: 4 oz. every 3-4 hours all day and every 5-6 at night
• 2 months old: 6-7 oz. every 4-5 hours all day and none at night....<<<big grins>>>

Milestones:

• 1 month old: first smiles
• 2 months old: first giggles, stronger neck, trying to put pressure on legs
• 3 months old: jumping in her jumper, holding her head up all on her own, sits up for a few seconds by herself, trying to roll over, standing for a few seconds while we hold her. Watch out! Next month she will be rolling all over the place.

Mommy's Mental Moments:

• 1 month old: OMG!! What did I get myself into...
• 2 months old: Ok. This isn't so scary. <<snuggles Bryn all day>>
• 3 months old: Where the heck did the time go? Can I go back please??  I'm not ready for her to grow up yet. <<pouty face>>

Cries:

• 1 month old: progressively got louder, wanted to invest in ear plugs
• 2 months old: scratch the crying. We went straight to screaming.
• 3 months old: rarely do we scream and when she cries they are very specific. Shes getting more patient with us :)

Looks.....the obvious one:

• 1 month old:

 

•  2 months old:

•  3 months old:

Moral of the story: DO NOT WITH THE TIME AWAY. Every moment, milestone, snuggle, and even cry (or scream) is precious. You WILL want every moment back. Even the challenging ones. Enjoy each day as if you will get another one like it.

-One VERY proud Rookie Momma

p.s: Thank you so much for following our journey. I love hearing from everyone telling me they follow this blog. It really means a lot and I am so glad you are laughing (and crying) with us on this crazy journey called parenthood. :)