Mommy Intuition

As Mother's we all have mommy intuition. We know when something is not right with our child. We can distinguish what each cry means and we always know what our kids want. Some people dismiss our mommy intuition as paranoia but most of the times, us mom's are right.

At Gianna's 6 month appt her Dr said she had fluid in her lungs. He kept going on and on about this fluid and how heavy of a breather she is. He got me so scared and when I kept asking questions about it he said it's fine as long as she doesn't have a fever. What was I to do. I listened to the Dr. My mom(whose a nurse) was livid and said fluid in the lungs is never good.She demanded I make another appt. But I didn't since the Dr said she didn't have a fever. I religiously took her temperature three times a day and still no fever. A few days later G started acting weird. Very unlike her smiley self. So I called the Dr and got her in. This time we saw a new Dr and I told her what happened at her last appt. She was so mad that the Dr did no additional tests. However she took a good listen at G's lungs and there was no fluid. And all her odd symptoms, the runny nose, congestion, inactiveness was signs of teething. Sure enough G got her molar's in a few days later

Fast forward a week. G developed this horribly barky cough. She couldn't sleep at night due to this cough. I called the Dr for two weeks straight. They had no appts for her and said since she had no fever she was fine. Finally Thursday night I took her in to the er. Sure enough she had an upper respiratory infection, an ear infection and luckily tested negative for RSV. The Dr was so mad my physician refused to see her and said kid's can still be sick without a fever. I'm just glad I stuck to my gut and took her in. IF I would have kept waiting to get a Dr appt G's cold could have gotten way worse.

Last night on Facebook someone posted this story about Mother's intuition. It is amazing. A little long but keep reading. YOu won't regret it. It brought tear's to my eyes



Saving My Baby
I gave birth on a February afternoon by repeat caesarean. A pink, squalling bundle was handed to me, and I gazed lovingly into eyes that seemed to recognize me. I whispered sweet words of belonging to this girl child of mine, and comforted her outraged cries. She was the daughter I so desperately wanted.

A week after her birth, a friend dropped off a ring sling. I snuggled my 7 lb bundle into it and went about my way with a mostly content baby. Within two weeks, I was wearing her constantly. Towards afternoon, she’d begin to sob and scream inconsolably. She would arch and thrash, refuse to nurse, refuse a soother, the swing, my arms. The only thing that would quiet her screams was the sling.

Screamy baby began to lose weight. I carried her – day in, day out – in the sling. Repeated trips to the doctor revealed nothing. She was unable to nurse, screaming hysterically within moments of latch on.I was told rudely “ Do breast compressions. Breast is best.” Breast compressions made her choke and gag... and scream. I began feeding her formula. We went back to the doctor. Reflux. Milk Intolerance. Delayed gastric emptying. Her weight gain was poor, and the screaming increased in volume. Nights were long, filled with arching, thrashing baby. There was many a night that I slept with her in the sling, sitting up on the couch, unwilling to move her from her comfort zone. People told me I was spoiling her. I told them “ We’re coping. This is all that works.” I was told to let her cry it out, but I had no desire to abandon my child to a dark room to cry out her angst. My responsibility to her did not end when the sun went down. I whispered in her ear that I couldn’t stop her crying, but I could hold her while she cried.

I paced the floors with her, snuggled tummy to tummy in the sling. At six months, I begged the doctor to hospitilize her – I knew something was dreadfully wrong. The paediatrician agreed. She was poked, prodded, xrayed, and force fed. The screaming continued.

A day before discharge, my pediatrician’s partner waltzed into our room with his holier than thou attitude. He told me I wasn’t putting in the effort to feed her, to put her in another room to sleep and let her cry it out. I banned him from treating my child.

I worked part time, baby in sling. I got a mei tai, two more ring slings. I carried her everywhere. In the shower. To the doctor, to the park, on playdates. People nastily asked me how she would learn to walk if I never put her down. I ignored them. Carrying her stopped the screaming.

Just before her first birthday, she developed a high fever and cough. I took her to the ER, still wrapped in my sling. We waited 7 hours. Xrays revealed her heart was enlarged. We were admitted. I carried her nonstop for the next few days – through a terrifying whirlwind of echocardiograms and finally a diagnosis. During one particularly memorable screaming fit, a nurse turned to me in tears, and handed me my sling. My daughter quieted, safe in her sling.

She was in heart failure. A rare and very serious heart defect had been causing massive heart attacks. Fatality rates were 90% in the first year. The screaming was her suffering from crushing chest pain. In the hallway, the cardiologist turned to me and quietly told me that it was my parenting – the constant carrying – that had allowed her to survive against all odds.

My daughter never cried alone, left in a room. Had I ever practiced CIO, I would have woken to a lifeless baby. I held her through months of gut wrenching doubt, moments when I cried too. But today, I watch my daughter play and run, and laugh. I carried her through a mom’s worst nightmare... and we both survived.

Sarah Kaganovskyhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Updated- October 2010~

Mila is now a happily thriving three and a half year old. The scrawny screaming baby has grown into a confident and outgoing preschooler because of the constant babywearing. looking back, it amazes me... My trusty sling and I... We SAVED her.

Mila now has had two brain surgeries as well. And a little sister! The only way I've been able to care for them both is to be wearing one. In a way, babywearing has allowed us to cope as a normal family. The baby deserves Mommy. Mila requires hands on care. And I can provide both girls exactly what they need!
Here is a link to the author's blog. CLick HERE

Surprise...

The hubs and I have always said we wanted a big family. We got married both think we wanted no kids and changed that to wanting 4 kids. After Gianna was born as we held our newborn baby girl in an euphoric state of bliss we jokingly asked each other, Ready for another?

When Gianna was a few months old we actually sat down and discussed when we wanted to try for another. We both agreed to wait until she turned one. The hubs would have another right away but I wanted to wait. After the hubs left at the end of January I did some more thinking on the subject and I decided I wanted to wait until she was 2. Every moment with her is amazing and watching her grow has been so exciting. She will only be our only child once and I wanted a few years to spoil the heck outta her. In face I even though about waiting until she was 3-4 before having our second kiddo

Well God has other plans doesn't he because after buying a pregnancy test on a whim, we found out we are expecting baby number 2. Yup cue in shock and disbelief. I have a 7 month old and am pregnant again. This is so now how I wanted it to happen

I didn't even think it was possible due to breastfeeding and all but like they say it only takes one time. I had gotten my period once since having Gianna at the beginning of January. When I missed it I thought it was due to breastfeeding and wacky periods. But this past weekend I had a few drinks and wanted to make sure my missed period was due to hormone levels fluctuating and not a pregnancy. I threw a test in my cart at walgreens when buying some cold medicine and i bought a pack of one knowing it couldn't be positive

I took it the minute I got home and that positive sign popped up in two seconds flat. I went to the dr yesterday as well for a blood test and got it confirmed. I'm anywhere from 5-7 weeks. I have to go back to the ob clinic and set up an appt.

After taking the test instead of being excited. I cried. And when I looked at Gianna I cried even harder. She is my baby the love of my life and I feel like I'm jipping her of time spent with me. I def won't be able to nap and rest a lot during this pregnancy and the hubby will be gone July-November and then leave again in Jan for 6-9 months so it'll be just me with 2 under 2. And of course my paranoia and anxiety have set in and I'm worried that if something happens to me I'll leave Gianna behind

I know I'm not being very rational right now. I think once this all settles in I will feel better about the situation. And I know this is all according to God's plan so I just need to trust in that.

So yes baby number 2 is on the way!

7 Month Update

Gianna

I can't believe you are already 7 months old. Time is just flying by. You are at such a fun age. You have your very own personality and it has been so much fun watching how much you've changed this past month

You are now sitting up on your own, crawling everywhere and pulling yourself up to standing on everything you can. There is never a dull moment in the house and I have to constantly watch you since you will get into everything! You love our coffee table for some reason. You are always pulling yourself up on it and when you do you look around to make sure you had an audience with a huge grin on your face. It's hilarious!

You love your Sophie, your learn and laugh puppy, your ride along dino and your play table. You also love Mommy's phone which you are constantly trying to grab and call after.

Your daddy has been gone this month and every night when he calls we put him on speaker phone. The grin on your face the minute you hear his boice is priceless. It's just the sweetest thing. You love your daddy

You are still a mommy's girl however. As brave as you get exploring new toys and crawling all over the house, you constantly look around to make sure I'm nearby and crawl back over to me as if you are checking in with me. It's so sweet.

Monthly Stats
Weight-15.5 pounds(32%)
Length-25.5 inches(30%)
Head- 41.5(17%)
Overall you average in the 56 percentile!

Diapers
Currently in size 2. I'm on my last box and am going to start putting you in 3's

Clothes
Mostly 6 months. Some 3 month clothes still fit and you can wear 9 month clothes but the pants are usually too long for you. You are going to be short like your mom

Food
Still breastfed although Mommy is making your own baby food now. You get organic oatmeal in the morning and then in the late afternoon you get one food.
Your favorites are peas, prunes, pears and avocado
You hate banana's, apples, squash and zucchini
This month I made sweet potatoes, carrot's, pea's, bean's and pumpkin which I will start introducing to you
We also started baby yogart and you love it!
The Dr says you can now eat 3 meals of food a day which I will start soon. When we started it last month it was too much for you
We also tried introducing a sippy cup and you want nothing to do with it. You just eat it

Sleep
You still get up quite frequently throughout the night. You wake for the day at 545 but some days lately it's been at 300 in the morning. And you won't go back to bed! When Daddy gets back we are going to start eliminating one nightly feeding

"Talking"
You just started saying dada, baba, gaga and ahh a few days ago. You get very vocal when playing with your toys
I am always trying to get you to say Mama and whenever I say it you burst out laughing. Silly girl

And now for some monthly pics