Yesterday, while at the doctor's office, I was sitting in the waiting room when my eyes fell upon a magazine that caught my fancy. It is called Conceive. The magazine is completely geared at getting you pregnant.
I kind of laughed to myself, because how in the world have I not heard of this publication. I have spent a lot of time researching fertility issues and visiting sites about how to get pregnant and those that offer tools to help track fertility. I have had visits with fertility doctors and conversations with my OB and internist about getting pregnant.
I am the ideal target for Conceive magazine and I didn't even know it existed. The magazine comes out quarterly and offers tips for trying to get pregnant and strategies for couples to cope when it doesn't happen the way you planned.
I perused the issue in the waiting room. They had diet recommendations, yoga poses, and an article on something called the Fertility Ball, which was invented by Brenda Strong, the narrator on Desperate Housewives. Apparently she has a line of yoga fertility DVDs. The reviews on Amazon are favorable. I did a search for the Fertility Ball (looks like a small medicine ball) and one site said it isn't available to June. Here is a link to on of the videos if you want to learn more about her approach.
Personally, I think Conceive Magazine might be a good investment. It isn't expensive and had a lot of information. I also like how they include articles on coping as a couple with infertility. It can really take a toll on a marriage because it is such a stressor. Even for couples to know it is normal can be a big help.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
What Goes Bump in the Day?
I have had what one might call a cautious pregnancy. Though not consider high-risk by my doctor, you know the one with the medical degree, I have decided I am a delicate flower. My self-prescribed delicacy has manifested itself in many ways. None more obvious that footwear. I have pretty much warn two types of shoes since getting that little pink line- Uggs and flip flops. I ventured out in heels a couple weeks ago and skidded, only to be cushioned by a friend. Thus I was proud of my decision to throw fashion to the wind for the majority of my pregnancy. And I stopped working (which explains how I got away with the most casual of foot attire). I got laid off during this time and decided it wouldn't be fair to start some place and only have a couple months to work before going on leave, so we decided to put it off until after the baby arrived and I had a couple months at home with him. You should have seen me walking outside during the winter, I assumed any and all surfaces were ice sheets, waiting to wipe me out. And finally, I have given up heavy lifting, save my dumb bells (16 pounds total) and my adorable niece (maybe pushing 20 pounds).
So now Spring has sprung and I pretty much decided I was in the clear. Last week my parents were in town. My dad left on a Monday and my mom was staying an extra day because we thought, though wrong, that the nursery furniture would be delivered and we could set up the room. At this point I am slightly convinced the baby is going to be sleeping in a drawer.
Since we didn't have a room to decorate and I have purchased all my essentials and washed all the baby's clothes and linens, my mom and I had nothing left to do after we dropped off my dad at the airport. She finally came up with an idea- to go to this store in a suburb about 40 minutes away, because they had something she couldn't find back in Florida that she had been wanting.
It was a beautiful, clear day and we finally arrived to the picturesque suburb, you know the type, with a full-on main street filled with unique stores. We come to a light and stop. I am the only car there. And then bam. Rear-ended. We jerk forward. Admittedly, it wasn't a hard hit at all.
We get out of the car and see this older SUV and the driver, a woman around 65, is just sitting there. My car doesn't have any visible damage. But I start getting worked up about the baby. Now you might be thinking, you were just bumped, your car isn't damaged, why are you freaked out.
I am a somewhat believer in signs, not a full-fledged believer, but that taken with my ill-founded belief that I am semi-psychic sent my mind reeling.
So here are the signs in no particular order:
1) In the child birth class my husband asked, one, yes, one question. The teacher mentioned a condition where the placenta detaches from the uterus and it is very dangerous. He asked, "well how does that happen?" She looking him dead in the eye, and with no inflection or emotion retorted, "car accident".
2) My husband and I are big fans of a bread of dog called a Wheaton Terrier. They look like little teddy bears. If we were ever to get a dog, this would be the one. Well they aren't that common and when we see them, we act like it is a harbinger of a good day. The morning of the accident I was driving him to work and we see not just one Wheaton, but the Wheaton twins, who must live in the neighborhood but I seldom see them. I said to him, "remember we say a Wheaton the day [our niece] was born? Maybe this means we are going to have the baby today."
3) About 5 years ago, I had this dreaded feeling for a couple months that I was going to get in an accident. It really weighed on me. About 3 months into this feeling I got rear-ended after a bizarre series of circumstances. That bad feeling went away, until about 2 months ago, and it came back. Weird, right?
Okay, so now I am thinking, let's say this bump detached my placenta, I need to get to the doctor so she can determine if all is okay, or if I am having a c-section and having this baby today. Time was of the essence.
The driver doesn't get out of her car. She rolls down the window and looks at me and I was starting to cry because of the baby. And she looks at me blankly (btw, I am hugely pregnant, so it isn't like a big freaking mystery as to why I am upset). My mom, who loves to exaggerate says, "she isn't crying about the car she is crying because she is nine months pregnant." Truth be told I was 8.5 months pregnant. But she loves to get sympathy on my behalf. Such as after fibroid surgery, I would say I am doing better than expected and she would be on the phone to one of my aunts saying, "she is just so uncomfortable, poor thing can't get any sleep and it really hurts to move." Got to love her for that.
The woman says, "Did I hit you?" This is when I realize we are dealing with a world class space cadet. I ask for her insurance card. She goes through every signal membership card, credit card, business card, and possibly coupon she has collected since 1987 and finally hands over an expired health insurance card. I said, "this is you medical insurance." She looks at me blankly and says, "what did you want?" I further clarify the need for her car insurance, when I notice she has a busted up front head light, from clearly another accident.
I go in my car to call the doctor's office. A couple minutes later I get out of the car and go to the passenger side to get her insurance card. She can't open the window. She literally cannot figure out why. Here's a tip, you need to turn the car on in order to open the window. Not an exaggeration, it took her about 35 seconds to realize this fact. She confessed she didn't have a card, hands me her business card, and says her husband is driving over the insurance card.
There are 2 big reveals. According to her business card, she owns a company. She must have mental faculties because she works and presumably employs people. She is the boss of someone. Even more alarming than her at the helm of a business is that she had a car seat in the back. Someone is allowing their child to be driven around by this woman.
Her husband rolls up and looks at me in all my curvy glory and says, "oh sweetheart, are you ok?" He was super nice. I tried to take a picture of the insurance card with my phone but the lighting was bad, so he opens the car door and we put it on the baby car seat. She had her gaze forward the whole time, never spoke to her husband, and this nice man didn't even acknowledge the space cadet, who herself had just been in an accident. I further deduced from their interactions and the busted headlight that this wasn't the first time he had to come clean up her mess.
My mom and I spent the next 40 minutes in route to the hospital discussing what we think she was on. Our bet was prescription drugs. And in case you are wondering, my mom didn't get the platter, I did offer, but she refused and just wanted me to get to the hospital.
We got sent to triage. I had to change into a gown and they hooked up the Non-Stress Test (NST). Essentially it is a big belt that measures the baby's heart beat. About an hour into it, they said he looks like he is fine and the nurse would call my the doctor from my practice that was on call. The doctor wanted me to stay one more hour and have an internal exam, they kind where they tell you if you are dilated and effaced.
I was secretly hoping I was one of those lucky first time moms that unbeknownst to her was walking around 3 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and when in labor, the nurse would be screaming for the doctor because the baby was going to slide out with the first push.
I have been warned that these exams are very painful. It wasn't ice cream and elephants, but it was okay, I was so eager to hear that I was progressing more than anyone could have hoped, that I just grinned (more like panted) and bared it.
So the verdict, 0cm and 0% effaced. Like I could keep my cervical information to myself.
Bottom line, you can wear sensible shoes, walk with the greatest caution on hazardous terrain, not lift anything heavy, avoid caffeine, alcohol, avoid the sugar I really really really want to be eating every day, and some drugged out lady can send you into a tailspin.
Luckily he was perfect. In 2 days I am going for an ultrasound to see his position and hopefully I will get another 3-D image to share.
So now Spring has sprung and I pretty much decided I was in the clear. Last week my parents were in town. My dad left on a Monday and my mom was staying an extra day because we thought, though wrong, that the nursery furniture would be delivered and we could set up the room. At this point I am slightly convinced the baby is going to be sleeping in a drawer.
Since we didn't have a room to decorate and I have purchased all my essentials and washed all the baby's clothes and linens, my mom and I had nothing left to do after we dropped off my dad at the airport. She finally came up with an idea- to go to this store in a suburb about 40 minutes away, because they had something she couldn't find back in Florida that she had been wanting.
It was a beautiful, clear day and we finally arrived to the picturesque suburb, you know the type, with a full-on main street filled with unique stores. We come to a light and stop. I am the only car there. And then bam. Rear-ended. We jerk forward. Admittedly, it wasn't a hard hit at all.
We get out of the car and see this older SUV and the driver, a woman around 65, is just sitting there. My car doesn't have any visible damage. But I start getting worked up about the baby. Now you might be thinking, you were just bumped, your car isn't damaged, why are you freaked out.
I am a somewhat believer in signs, not a full-fledged believer, but that taken with my ill-founded belief that I am semi-psychic sent my mind reeling.
So here are the signs in no particular order:
1) In the child birth class my husband asked, one, yes, one question. The teacher mentioned a condition where the placenta detaches from the uterus and it is very dangerous. He asked, "well how does that happen?" She looking him dead in the eye, and with no inflection or emotion retorted, "car accident".
2) My husband and I are big fans of a bread of dog called a Wheaton Terrier. They look like little teddy bears. If we were ever to get a dog, this would be the one. Well they aren't that common and when we see them, we act like it is a harbinger of a good day. The morning of the accident I was driving him to work and we see not just one Wheaton, but the Wheaton twins, who must live in the neighborhood but I seldom see them. I said to him, "remember we say a Wheaton the day [our niece] was born? Maybe this means we are going to have the baby today."
3) About 5 years ago, I had this dreaded feeling for a couple months that I was going to get in an accident. It really weighed on me. About 3 months into this feeling I got rear-ended after a bizarre series of circumstances. That bad feeling went away, until about 2 months ago, and it came back. Weird, right?
Okay, so now I am thinking, let's say this bump detached my placenta, I need to get to the doctor so she can determine if all is okay, or if I am having a c-section and having this baby today. Time was of the essence.
The driver doesn't get out of her car. She rolls down the window and looks at me and I was starting to cry because of the baby. And she looks at me blankly (btw, I am hugely pregnant, so it isn't like a big freaking mystery as to why I am upset). My mom, who loves to exaggerate says, "she isn't crying about the car she is crying because she is nine months pregnant." Truth be told I was 8.5 months pregnant. But she loves to get sympathy on my behalf. Such as after fibroid surgery, I would say I am doing better than expected and she would be on the phone to one of my aunts saying, "she is just so uncomfortable, poor thing can't get any sleep and it really hurts to move." Got to love her for that.
The woman says, "Did I hit you?" This is when I realize we are dealing with a world class space cadet. I ask for her insurance card. She goes through every signal membership card, credit card, business card, and possibly coupon she has collected since 1987 and finally hands over an expired health insurance card. I said, "this is you medical insurance." She looks at me blankly and says, "what did you want?" I further clarify the need for her car insurance, when I notice she has a busted up front head light, from clearly another accident.
I go in my car to call the doctor's office. A couple minutes later I get out of the car and go to the passenger side to get her insurance card. She can't open the window. She literally cannot figure out why. Here's a tip, you need to turn the car on in order to open the window. Not an exaggeration, it took her about 35 seconds to realize this fact. She confessed she didn't have a card, hands me her business card, and says her husband is driving over the insurance card.
There are 2 big reveals. According to her business card, she owns a company. She must have mental faculties because she works and presumably employs people. She is the boss of someone. Even more alarming than her at the helm of a business is that she had a car seat in the back. Someone is allowing their child to be driven around by this woman.
Her husband rolls up and looks at me in all my curvy glory and says, "oh sweetheart, are you ok?" He was super nice. I tried to take a picture of the insurance card with my phone but the lighting was bad, so he opens the car door and we put it on the baby car seat. She had her gaze forward the whole time, never spoke to her husband, and this nice man didn't even acknowledge the space cadet, who herself had just been in an accident. I further deduced from their interactions and the busted headlight that this wasn't the first time he had to come clean up her mess.
My mom and I spent the next 40 minutes in route to the hospital discussing what we think she was on. Our bet was prescription drugs. And in case you are wondering, my mom didn't get the platter, I did offer, but she refused and just wanted me to get to the hospital.
We got sent to triage. I had to change into a gown and they hooked up the Non-Stress Test (NST). Essentially it is a big belt that measures the baby's heart beat. About an hour into it, they said he looks like he is fine and the nurse would call my the doctor from my practice that was on call. The doctor wanted me to stay one more hour and have an internal exam, they kind where they tell you if you are dilated and effaced.
I was secretly hoping I was one of those lucky first time moms that unbeknownst to her was walking around 3 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and when in labor, the nurse would be screaming for the doctor because the baby was going to slide out with the first push.
I have been warned that these exams are very painful. It wasn't ice cream and elephants, but it was okay, I was so eager to hear that I was progressing more than anyone could have hoped, that I just grinned (more like panted) and bared it.
So the verdict, 0cm and 0% effaced. Like I could keep my cervical information to myself.
Bottom line, you can wear sensible shoes, walk with the greatest caution on hazardous terrain, not lift anything heavy, avoid caffeine, alcohol, avoid the sugar I really really really want to be eating every day, and some drugged out lady can send you into a tailspin.
Luckily he was perfect. In 2 days I am going for an ultrasound to see his position and hopefully I will get another 3-D image to share.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Shell Shocked
Yesterday we attended the 8 hour birthing class called "Great Expectations". It honestly felt like a rite of passage. Since pretty much everyone I know has a baby, I thought I knew what the class was all about.
Well, I was not prepared. It left me wanting a c-section. I am only half kidding. They showed several child births and all of them were natural. No epidurals in the bunch. The funniest part was not one person in my class was planning on going sans drugs. Questions included, "At what point would I get the epidural?", "If I am having contractions seven minutes apart but they are horribly painful, can I come in for an epidural or will I be sent home?".
My husband made noises like he was being sickened and averted his eyes during the crowning and delivery. I cannot blame him. After that scene, one expectant father inquired, "Is there anything you can give the dads so they don't pass out?" The nurse leading the class looked at him in a judging way and answered, "a chair,".
The class and hospital tour just made everything much more real. I have 7 weeks left until my due date. In some ways, I feel like I have been pregnant forever but in other ways, I can't believe there is an end in sight.
Well, I was not prepared. It left me wanting a c-section. I am only half kidding. They showed several child births and all of them were natural. No epidurals in the bunch. The funniest part was not one person in my class was planning on going sans drugs. Questions included, "At what point would I get the epidural?", "If I am having contractions seven minutes apart but they are horribly painful, can I come in for an epidural or will I be sent home?".
My husband made noises like he was being sickened and averted his eyes during the crowning and delivery. I cannot blame him. After that scene, one expectant father inquired, "Is there anything you can give the dads so they don't pass out?" The nurse leading the class looked at him in a judging way and answered, "a chair,".
The class and hospital tour just made everything much more real. I have 7 weeks left until my due date. In some ways, I feel like I have been pregnant forever but in other ways, I can't believe there is an end in sight.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
To Push the Push Present
I had never heard of a push present until about four years ago, when a friend of mine from Long Island told me about the concept. Essentially, a new dad presents his wife with a sizable gift when the baby is born. It is a token of thanks for the child, for carrying the baby, and for going through the pain of labor.
I thought maybe this was just an east coast thing, but in fact, it has fully migrated over to midwest. My close friend got diamond stud earrings. Another got a beautiful necklace. I had one friend that was less than subtle about making her wants for a push present known. She actually sent him a link to Tiffany's with two things she would want- either a necklace with the baby's first name initial or a locket to put his picture in.
Not only did she send him the links and harshly remind him, she even had me remind him, which I couched with, "I am only saying something for your own good, she will be pissed if you don't do it." Her thought was he never makes an effort for birthdays or anniversaries, he just never put energy into doing something nice for her.
Well delivery at 41 weeks came and went and there was no push present and she was in fact pissed.
Personally, I don't care about a push present, the baby is present enough. However, I did tell my husband for my push present, I want a large diet coke with 4 lemon wedges pre-squeezed into my savory drink. Ideally, I do want one of those beer helmets where I can put in two diet cokes (lemoned of course) and have the straws feed directly into my mouth. That would be the most thoughtful gift of all.
I thought maybe this was just an east coast thing, but in fact, it has fully migrated over to midwest. My close friend got diamond stud earrings. Another got a beautiful necklace. I had one friend that was less than subtle about making her wants for a push present known. She actually sent him a link to Tiffany's with two things she would want- either a necklace with the baby's first name initial or a locket to put his picture in.
Not only did she send him the links and harshly remind him, she even had me remind him, which I couched with, "I am only saying something for your own good, she will be pissed if you don't do it." Her thought was he never makes an effort for birthdays or anniversaries, he just never put energy into doing something nice for her.
Well delivery at 41 weeks came and went and there was no push present and she was in fact pissed.
Personally, I don't care about a push present, the baby is present enough. However, I did tell my husband for my push present, I want a large diet coke with 4 lemon wedges pre-squeezed into my savory drink. Ideally, I do want one of those beer helmets where I can put in two diet cokes (lemoned of course) and have the straws feed directly into my mouth. That would be the most thoughtful gift of all.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Just Sitting Here Remincising
It is Saturday night and my husband has been at work all day (minus a 2 hour break for our infant CPR class) and it doesn't seem like he is coming home anytime soon. So before I settle in for a night with a Lifetime movie, I decided to spend some time cleaning out my e-mail inbox.
After sorting through way too much junk, I started deleting e-mails between me and my best friend. After going through a bunch of recent messages, I thought it would be interesting to go back to see what we were talking about before and after my surgery, when I thought I was pregnant in September and wasn't, and when I was finally pregnant in October.
It made me really hopeful for all of my TTC friends (which is a club growing by the day). In September, I was convinced I was pregnant only to find out that not only was I not pregnant but I had luteal phase defect. I wrote to my friend that I just can't see it happening anymore. I then started mapping out all these contingencies, like if I am not pregnant in October, then I can't do Clomid and IUI in November because we would be in Italy and my husband wouldn't have had a semen analysis which the doctor requires before fertility treatments. I wouldn't have been able to get the prescription in time and couldn't be monitored. So for me, the pregnancy took me by surprise, because to a large degree, I had given up hope.
Speaking of giving up hope, during my infertility journey, I met via email a friend of my cousin. Both my cousin and I each had two miscarriages. She had two good friends also having issues. One of them had been trying longer than both of us. She was actually the one that turned me on to Atkins, because her fertility doctor made her go on this extremely strict diet to help regulate hormones. Well in the time since we were all in the same boat, my cousin got pregnant and now has a 4 months old and I am 8 months pregnant. I think that is a tough pill to swallow - knowing people that weren't even trying when you started TTC and now have kids or are about to. Well great news, the IVF finally worked, and she is 8 weeks pregnant with twins! She had said this was her last shot because it was just talking a horrible toll on her.
As I mentioned before, it seems there is a new wave of friends trying now and I am really excited for them. Some had tried before and issues were found that have since been corrected (like thyroid irregularities), others have tried casually but are now getting more serious with the beloved Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor, and some are just throwing their hat in the fertility ring.
The one thing I wish for them, which I wasn't able to maintain, is a breezy attitude and to know it doesn't matter in the scheme of things if it happens the first month or six months later. I know if someone had told me it was going to take me sixteen months, but I knew at sixteen months, it would work, I would have been a lot more fun to live with. There's a job for me- a pregnancy oracle.
After sorting through way too much junk, I started deleting e-mails between me and my best friend. After going through a bunch of recent messages, I thought it would be interesting to go back to see what we were talking about before and after my surgery, when I thought I was pregnant in September and wasn't, and when I was finally pregnant in October.
It made me really hopeful for all of my TTC friends (which is a club growing by the day). In September, I was convinced I was pregnant only to find out that not only was I not pregnant but I had luteal phase defect. I wrote to my friend that I just can't see it happening anymore. I then started mapping out all these contingencies, like if I am not pregnant in October, then I can't do Clomid and IUI in November because we would be in Italy and my husband wouldn't have had a semen analysis which the doctor requires before fertility treatments. I wouldn't have been able to get the prescription in time and couldn't be monitored. So for me, the pregnancy took me by surprise, because to a large degree, I had given up hope.
Speaking of giving up hope, during my infertility journey, I met via email a friend of my cousin. Both my cousin and I each had two miscarriages. She had two good friends also having issues. One of them had been trying longer than both of us. She was actually the one that turned me on to Atkins, because her fertility doctor made her go on this extremely strict diet to help regulate hormones. Well in the time since we were all in the same boat, my cousin got pregnant and now has a 4 months old and I am 8 months pregnant. I think that is a tough pill to swallow - knowing people that weren't even trying when you started TTC and now have kids or are about to. Well great news, the IVF finally worked, and she is 8 weeks pregnant with twins! She had said this was her last shot because it was just talking a horrible toll on her.
As I mentioned before, it seems there is a new wave of friends trying now and I am really excited for them. Some had tried before and issues were found that have since been corrected (like thyroid irregularities), others have tried casually but are now getting more serious with the beloved Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor, and some are just throwing their hat in the fertility ring.
The one thing I wish for them, which I wasn't able to maintain, is a breezy attitude and to know it doesn't matter in the scheme of things if it happens the first month or six months later. I know if someone had told me it was going to take me sixteen months, but I knew at sixteen months, it would work, I would have been a lot more fun to live with. There's a job for me- a pregnancy oracle.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Notebook
Today was my consultation with the pediatrician. My sister-in-law and good friend have both used the practice, which is good enough for me. Yesterday I put together a list of 19 questions and after another restless night with tons of time to think, I added one more for good measure.
First off, when you go to a pediatrician's office, without a child, the first thing you feel is tall. I was surprised at how sterile the environment was -where were all the toys? But then I realized, it seemed nobody cared about germs in the 80's when I was a kid and now we are pretty much all germ phobs.
After answering my 20 questions to my complete satisfaction, they doctor actually asked to photocopy my notebook because these they are questions new parents want to know but don't always seem to ask.
Here are my questions. I will also write short responses to some that are specific to her practice.
1. What medicines/toiletries/supplies should I have in the house?
A: Rectal thermometer, Vasoline, Desitin or other diaper cream, and a saline nasal spray (like Ocean Spray, but make sure it isn't a decongestant), Unscented Baby Products (not the traditional Johnson & Johnson in case they have sensitive skin). You don't need Tylenol for the first month or so because if the baby has a fever, we will want you to bring him in.
2. What are your policies for calling with questions? Is there a fee for after hours calls?
3. What is the schedule for well-checks? Do you see the same doctor?
A: At the beginning it depends on how the baby is doing but typically 1 wk, 2 wks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12, 15, and 18 months?
4. What are your policies for sick visits? Is there a separate waiting room? Will we get a same day appointment?
5. I have concerns about vaccines. Why don't you offer a modified vaccine schedule? What's your take on prophylactic treatment with probiotics/vitamins?
A: I won't go into everything because it was a long discussion but she believes there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism and she has never seen a kid regress from vaccines (though said they wasn't relevant because you need to really look at hundreds of thousands of practices). She also saw no medical evidence that treating kids with specific vitamins and probiotics does anything. I asked about why when I was a kid 1 in 10,000 kids was diagnosed with Autism and now it is approximately 1 in 50 boys. She said she thinks it is how we are classifying people now and cited a British study that looked at adults with mental retardation and found the numbers were the same. After our talk, I felt much better about vaccinating on the prescribed schedule.
6. What are signs to look for that something might be wrong and should call (i.e. fever)?
A: Fever when under 2 months, screaming in pain, lethargic.
7. When do you think sleep training should begin?
A: Technically, a baby can start being trained at 2 months. Once they start smiling responsively they can learn. Most people tend to start at 4 - 6 months. It is a personal preference.
8. What formula do you recommend? I had a bad reaction to milk based formula, should I start with soy? How will I know if he is having a bad reaction?
A: Enfamil, Kirkland, Similac are all good and pretty much the same. Kirkland (Costco's brand) is actually Similac. All have the omegas added in. Start off using milk based formula. If he has an intolerance he might be extremely fussy (6 hours of crying versus 2 or 3) and blood in stool.
9. Both my mom and I have a bad reaction to erythromycin (stomach cramps). I read the eye gel used at birth is erythromycin, should I be concerned?
A: No, erythromycin commonly creates stomach issues. Kid isn't going to go blind.
10. Why does an infant need a Hep B vaccine? Should I delay it until his immune system is more mature?
A: It isn't exclusively an STD. 1/3 of the cases origins are unknown. It is more prevalent in other countries and when people from those countries come here, our kids are exposed. 95-98% of her patients get it in the hospital.
11. How do we care for the circumcision and belly button?
A: You don't really need to do much for the belly button, just sponge bathe until it falls off. For the circumcision, for the first week, use Vaseline and gauze. The second week, you need to push back the skin. (I stopped her there because it freaked me out and figured I would ask at his 2 week appointment).
12. Should I wake him to eat? If so, when should I stop?
A: You should until he regains his birth weight. After that, you don't need to.
13. How often should we bathe him?
A: Every 3 days. Just clean with a washcloth daily in chin and arm folds, and of course after diapers.
14. Should I routinely use a diaper cream or only if he is irritated?
A: You don't need to unless he is irritated, but if you know he has sensitive skin and gets rashes, you might want to.
15. Any suggestions to avoid SIDS?
A: No bumpers, no stuffed animals, put him to sleep on his back. Don't let him sleep in his car seat for more the 2 hours. You don't want him sleeping in there for 6 hours at a time. I strongly discourage a family bed.
16. How soon until I can take him on walks? How do I protect from sun? How long until I can take him into closed places (i.e. stores)?
A: You can take him out the first day you are home. Don't use sunscreen until he is 2 months. I recommend Blue Lizard sunscreen. Just use the screen on stroller or cover with a blanket. You are going to have to take him to the grocery store, so bring him in his car seat and put a blanket over it, so people aren't breathing on him. (Another note: I asked my friend who is a dermatologist, she also said 2 months and don't take the baby out when the sun is the strongest. Do expose for about 10 minutes to get some vitamin D).
17. How much do we feed him? How do we know when to increase his food intake?
A: Weight checks, how satisfied they seem, urine output. You will learn the signals and we will go over this in the hospital. If you are breast feeding, he will just take it and your supply will increase to keep up, you probably won't notice. Follow up question: After 2 months, should I try to increase day time feedings so he needs less at night? A: Yes, if the kid is taking a 5 hour nap but is up every 2-3 hours at night, wake them up to give them more during the day so you can get longer stretches of sleep at night.
18. Is it ok to just use the filtered water in my sink or do I need to buy baby water?
A: Filtered water is fine. Room temperature is easiest for the parents because you aren't always figuring out how to warm the bottle.
19. When do I use a humidifier?
A: They have limited use. For one, they can get moldy. Also, if the room is big, it might not be that effective. But if the kid is sick, put it by the crib. Taking a baby into a steamy bathroom or steam shower a couple times a day also is pretty helpful when they are congested.
20. What are your thoughts on sleep positioners?
A: I am not crazy about them. They are like a giant bumper, a SIDS risk. Kids aren't really rolling over before 3 months and if their arm gets caught in the side of the crib, they can usually get it out themselves. But I had a patient at three months that was rolling on his stomach, so she thought he should use one.
That's it in a nutshell. Obviously some of these questions are specific to my medical history, but it might jog your memory. Happy interrogating!
First off, when you go to a pediatrician's office, without a child, the first thing you feel is tall. I was surprised at how sterile the environment was -where were all the toys? But then I realized, it seemed nobody cared about germs in the 80's when I was a kid and now we are pretty much all germ phobs.
After answering my 20 questions to my complete satisfaction, they doctor actually asked to photocopy my notebook because these they are questions new parents want to know but don't always seem to ask.
Here are my questions. I will also write short responses to some that are specific to her practice.
1. What medicines/toiletries/supplies should I have in the house?
A: Rectal thermometer, Vasoline, Desitin or other diaper cream, and a saline nasal spray (like Ocean Spray, but make sure it isn't a decongestant), Unscented Baby Products (not the traditional Johnson & Johnson in case they have sensitive skin). You don't need Tylenol for the first month or so because if the baby has a fever, we will want you to bring him in.
2. What are your policies for calling with questions? Is there a fee for after hours calls?
3. What is the schedule for well-checks? Do you see the same doctor?
A: At the beginning it depends on how the baby is doing but typically 1 wk, 2 wks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12, 15, and 18 months?
4. What are your policies for sick visits? Is there a separate waiting room? Will we get a same day appointment?
5. I have concerns about vaccines. Why don't you offer a modified vaccine schedule? What's your take on prophylactic treatment with probiotics/vitamins?
A: I won't go into everything because it was a long discussion but she believes there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism and she has never seen a kid regress from vaccines (though said they wasn't relevant because you need to really look at hundreds of thousands of practices). She also saw no medical evidence that treating kids with specific vitamins and probiotics does anything. I asked about why when I was a kid 1 in 10,000 kids was diagnosed with Autism and now it is approximately 1 in 50 boys. She said she thinks it is how we are classifying people now and cited a British study that looked at adults with mental retardation and found the numbers were the same. After our talk, I felt much better about vaccinating on the prescribed schedule.
6. What are signs to look for that something might be wrong and should call (i.e. fever)?
A: Fever when under 2 months, screaming in pain, lethargic.
7. When do you think sleep training should begin?
A: Technically, a baby can start being trained at 2 months. Once they start smiling responsively they can learn. Most people tend to start at 4 - 6 months. It is a personal preference.
8. What formula do you recommend? I had a bad reaction to milk based formula, should I start with soy? How will I know if he is having a bad reaction?
A: Enfamil, Kirkland, Similac are all good and pretty much the same. Kirkland (Costco's brand) is actually Similac. All have the omegas added in. Start off using milk based formula. If he has an intolerance he might be extremely fussy (6 hours of crying versus 2 or 3) and blood in stool.
9. Both my mom and I have a bad reaction to erythromycin (stomach cramps). I read the eye gel used at birth is erythromycin, should I be concerned?
A: No, erythromycin commonly creates stomach issues. Kid isn't going to go blind.
10. Why does an infant need a Hep B vaccine? Should I delay it until his immune system is more mature?
A: It isn't exclusively an STD. 1/3 of the cases origins are unknown. It is more prevalent in other countries and when people from those countries come here, our kids are exposed. 95-98% of her patients get it in the hospital.
11. How do we care for the circumcision and belly button?
A: You don't really need to do much for the belly button, just sponge bathe until it falls off. For the circumcision, for the first week, use Vaseline and gauze. The second week, you need to push back the skin. (I stopped her there because it freaked me out and figured I would ask at his 2 week appointment).
12. Should I wake him to eat? If so, when should I stop?
A: You should until he regains his birth weight. After that, you don't need to.
13. How often should we bathe him?
A: Every 3 days. Just clean with a washcloth daily in chin and arm folds, and of course after diapers.
14. Should I routinely use a diaper cream or only if he is irritated?
A: You don't need to unless he is irritated, but if you know he has sensitive skin and gets rashes, you might want to.
15. Any suggestions to avoid SIDS?
A: No bumpers, no stuffed animals, put him to sleep on his back. Don't let him sleep in his car seat for more the 2 hours. You don't want him sleeping in there for 6 hours at a time. I strongly discourage a family bed.
16. How soon until I can take him on walks? How do I protect from sun? How long until I can take him into closed places (i.e. stores)?
A: You can take him out the first day you are home. Don't use sunscreen until he is 2 months. I recommend Blue Lizard sunscreen. Just use the screen on stroller or cover with a blanket. You are going to have to take him to the grocery store, so bring him in his car seat and put a blanket over it, so people aren't breathing on him. (Another note: I asked my friend who is a dermatologist, she also said 2 months and don't take the baby out when the sun is the strongest. Do expose for about 10 minutes to get some vitamin D).
17. How much do we feed him? How do we know when to increase his food intake?
A: Weight checks, how satisfied they seem, urine output. You will learn the signals and we will go over this in the hospital. If you are breast feeding, he will just take it and your supply will increase to keep up, you probably won't notice. Follow up question: After 2 months, should I try to increase day time feedings so he needs less at night? A: Yes, if the kid is taking a 5 hour nap but is up every 2-3 hours at night, wake them up to give them more during the day so you can get longer stretches of sleep at night.
18. Is it ok to just use the filtered water in my sink or do I need to buy baby water?
A: Filtered water is fine. Room temperature is easiest for the parents because you aren't always figuring out how to warm the bottle.
19. When do I use a humidifier?
A: They have limited use. For one, they can get moldy. Also, if the room is big, it might not be that effective. But if the kid is sick, put it by the crib. Taking a baby into a steamy bathroom or steam shower a couple times a day also is pretty helpful when they are congested.
20. What are your thoughts on sleep positioners?
A: I am not crazy about them. They are like a giant bumper, a SIDS risk. Kids aren't really rolling over before 3 months and if their arm gets caught in the side of the crib, they can usually get it out themselves. But I had a patient at three months that was rolling on his stomach, so she thought he should use one.
That's it in a nutshell. Obviously some of these questions are specific to my medical history, but it might jog your memory. Happy interrogating!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mini Mick Jagger and the Hand Slap
Last week I had my first appointment in 4.5 weeks. I was a little nervous because I had put on too much weight since the last appointment. But there is a back story to this.
I normally weigh myself every day or two. Well two weeks before my last appointment I weighed myself on a Monday, and then didn't the rest of the week. That weekend I went out of town to visit my best friend who is also pregnant. We are roommates from college and used to love Papa John's Pizza in college but they don't have one in Chicago. So we ordered in Papa John's, because we could. We also had TCBY during the day with Reese's Cups sprinkled on top. But heck,we were pregnant. I then get back and the next day had my Bachelor Party (a screeing of the Bachelor Final Rose, it is a tradition I have had for about 8 years for the people in my Bachelor Pool). And so there was more pizza eating and some candy eating. So yes, I threw nutrition to the wind for a 3 day bender.
Well Tuesday, three days before the last appointment, I weighed myself and was up 5 pounds from the Monday before, not to mention a couple pounds from the rest of the month.
I then started crazy workouts, like an hour and a half on the elliptical everyday. I only got carbs from fruit and vegetables. And by my Friday appointment I lost 4 of the 5 Papa John's pounds.
Well two days after the appointment I put on those 4 pounds right away, to no fault of my eating or exercising, which had gone back to normal routines.
During the last 4.5 weeks I put on 9 pound, but I like to think it was really 5 because of the 4 Papa John's pounds. I told my webkins and they were all like, the doctor isn't going to say anything. Wrong. She did. She she that was a lot of weight to put on in a month (four AND a HALF weeks, thank you very much) and then asked if I was drinking calories- nope, just water. Working out- yep about 4 times a week. So she said to watch portions and I would be checked again at my next appointment which is only 2 weeks away. So that was the bad news. She wasn't mean about it, so I didn't want to burst in tears, I certainly didn't want to hear about it though.
The good news is she too had anterior placenta. This is where the placenta is in front of the baby. Normal placenta is behind the baby between the baby and the spine. You don't feel much movement because it is like the baby is kicking a sponge and the shock is being absorbed by the placenta. It is a total mindtrick and drives me crazy. I go days without feeling a kick and then the next day he will be active. I told her this so she sent me for an Ultrasound. It has been 10 weeks since my last scan.
I got a 3-D picture. It is so crazy. I had one at 19.5 weeks but he looked like a teenage mutant ninja turtle. Now he actually looks like a cutey baby. But he does have on noteworthy feature. During her exam, the tech kept saying, "check out those lips". I couldn't see much. Well then she prints out the pictures and my kid has some massive and I mean massive lips. No one that I know of on either side of our families has disproportionately large lips. The tech said it could be swollen from all the fluid in the womb.
So I send my hubby the picture and he writes back asking about his mouth. I met with the doctor again and she said it is probably the technology and this is why she doesn't like these pictures because it makes parents neurotic.
I normally weigh myself every day or two. Well two weeks before my last appointment I weighed myself on a Monday, and then didn't the rest of the week. That weekend I went out of town to visit my best friend who is also pregnant. We are roommates from college and used to love Papa John's Pizza in college but they don't have one in Chicago. So we ordered in Papa John's, because we could. We also had TCBY during the day with Reese's Cups sprinkled on top. But heck,we were pregnant. I then get back and the next day had my Bachelor Party (a screeing of the Bachelor Final Rose, it is a tradition I have had for about 8 years for the people in my Bachelor Pool). And so there was more pizza eating and some candy eating. So yes, I threw nutrition to the wind for a 3 day bender.
Well Tuesday, three days before the last appointment, I weighed myself and was up 5 pounds from the Monday before, not to mention a couple pounds from the rest of the month.
I then started crazy workouts, like an hour and a half on the elliptical everyday. I only got carbs from fruit and vegetables. And by my Friday appointment I lost 4 of the 5 Papa John's pounds.
Well two days after the appointment I put on those 4 pounds right away, to no fault of my eating or exercising, which had gone back to normal routines.
During the last 4.5 weeks I put on 9 pound, but I like to think it was really 5 because of the 4 Papa John's pounds. I told my webkins and they were all like, the doctor isn't going to say anything. Wrong. She did. She she that was a lot of weight to put on in a month (four AND a HALF weeks, thank you very much) and then asked if I was drinking calories- nope, just water. Working out- yep about 4 times a week. So she said to watch portions and I would be checked again at my next appointment which is only 2 weeks away. So that was the bad news. She wasn't mean about it, so I didn't want to burst in tears, I certainly didn't want to hear about it though.
The good news is she too had anterior placenta. This is where the placenta is in front of the baby. Normal placenta is behind the baby between the baby and the spine. You don't feel much movement because it is like the baby is kicking a sponge and the shock is being absorbed by the placenta. It is a total mindtrick and drives me crazy. I go days without feeling a kick and then the next day he will be active. I told her this so she sent me for an Ultrasound. It has been 10 weeks since my last scan.
I got a 3-D picture. It is so crazy. I had one at 19.5 weeks but he looked like a teenage mutant ninja turtle. Now he actually looks like a cutey baby. But he does have on noteworthy feature. During her exam, the tech kept saying, "check out those lips". I couldn't see much. Well then she prints out the pictures and my kid has some massive and I mean massive lips. No one that I know of on either side of our families has disproportionately large lips. The tech said it could be swollen from all the fluid in the womb.
So I send my hubby the picture and he writes back asking about his mouth. I met with the doctor again and she said it is probably the technology and this is why she doesn't like these pictures because it makes parents neurotic.
We had decided we weren't going to get a 3-D at one of those places that you pay to go. But I have to say, I am so happy we have a picture. Even though it probably will look nothing like him, it makes it so real. He is estimated to be 3lb 4oz and he looks like a baby. As much as I loved him before yesterday, I think I love him more now, just because it is so clear there is a little person inside. I definitely think our parents feel more connected too.
Check out the rock star.
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