Make Wyatt's a double. Calories, that is. Lisa, you'll want to stop reading here because this is only a continuation of the rant I started outside :)
Wyatt had his 6-month well-baby today and had to see Dr. Sucks-A-Lot (yes, he's been upgraded on the suck scale) because our favorite doctor had to go on emergency leave. I'm sure you know how happy this made me. I thought it would be no big deal; my boy's happy, healthy, normal, fun, etc. I WAS SO FREAKING WRONG!!!!!! Long story short: Dr. Sucks-A-Lot has labeled Wyatt as "failure to thrive" and uttered the following not-so-reassuring things during his brief exam of my kid: (this is where I make the short story long)
Dr. Sucks-A-Lot: When they lose weight, it worries us.
Me: He lost weight?!
Dr. S-A-L: Well, no, but he's dropping off the growth curve, so that's the same thing. So do you have any questions?
Me: Yes. He doesn't like cereal and I understand that is important for his iron intake. Do you think I need to be supplementing him since he's not eating cereal?
Dr. S-A-L: Well you're breastfeeding right? (doesn't wait for answer) I mean, you make more than enough iron for both of you.
Me: Really? Because the AAP suggests that exclusively breastfed babies start getting an iron supplement at 6 months unless they're eating cereal. Since the breastmilk doesn't contain enough iron anymore to provide everything the baby needs. And he's not getting formula and he won't eat cereal, so....
Dr. S-A-L: No, no, nah, no big deal. I mean, if we think it's a problem down the road we can look at giving him half a Flintstone vitamin in his food. We screen all babies for anemia at one year, so we'll just let it go.
Me: Really? We should just let it go that long? I mean, even if he keeps rejecting cereal?
Dr. S-A-L: Well, you do have a little guy, so if you want to give him half a Flintstone now, you can. Just mix it into his food.
Me: Oh, the food he's not eating? (polite laugh but really thinking you a**, are you listenting to a word I say?!)
Dr. S-A-L: Ha! Yeah, you can get him to take it. And you know they have linked anemia with lowered IQs, so it might be important.
EXCUSE ME?!?!?!!! Do you ever think before you speak? Or do you just really love the way you sound so much that you blather on like an idiot all the time? Do you realize you just did a 180 on this topic in approximately 30 seconds?
Dr. S-A-L: I want to see him again in a month, to make sure he's gaining weight.
Me: Okay. Thinking - hell no! You're not seeing my baby again, ever, if I have anything to do with it. I dislike you so much that I will go out of my way to take him to another clinic on another base if that's what it comes to!
Dr. S-A-L: So you need to spend the next month on project fatten up your baby. He might not be getting enough breastmilk; he might just be hungry all the time.
Me: Okay. Thinking - any suggestions, smart guy? I'm feeding him when he's hungry (including during the night), I'm offering formula at least twice a day that he won't take 90% of the time and he's still rejecting solids. Should I improvise some sort of feeding tube while he sleeps? Seriously. You're about as helpful as an anuerysm right now.
Dr. S-A-L: I hate to do this, but I'm labeling him as failure to thrive. I do that because it gets people's attention.
Me: Speechless. What on Earth can I possibly say to that?! What I want to say is "Hey, jacka**! In case you haven't noticed, I'm an informed, involved, caring parent. So if you think you need to do that on my account, don't bother. If you're doing it for your account, well, shouldn't you see his growth chart each time I come in and automatically know that's something to watch? Oh, that's right, I'm NEVER BRINGING MY CHILD TO YOU AGAIN! THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD THROW AROUND SO LIGHTLY! If it's a serious topic, how about if you act serious? If it's not, how about if you don't "label" my child as anything?!"
The rational me knows this is neither here nor there - Wyatt shows no signs of being malnourished or of being behind the curve physically or mentally. He has a belly, he has chub on his thighs and for God's sake, he's been standing for 2 months now and can give kisses and high fives on command! He's never still, unless he's sleeping, and his father has the fastest metabolism this side of the Mississippi. Of course he's not a big ol' baby!
The irrational/worried mom in me thinks help! help! help!!! How do I make him fatten up? How can I force more calories down him? What do I do? How am I already failing my child? This sucks!! And why do things like this always happen when my husband is out of town?
Ahhh...feeling....better? Not really. Just feeling like now at least I've shared our predicament. Wish us luck on "project fatten up your baby".
I'd like to note that I spared you my rant about the service - or lack thereof - in the Peds clinic today. You know, the part where we were called back 30 minutes AFTER our appointment time despite me seeing & hearing Dr. Sucks-A-Lot and his staff screw around in the hallway, discuss their lunch options and stand in a group around a takeout menu. For serious. This guy SUCKS and I'm just trying to figure out where to file my official complaint so maybe it won't happen again.
And also? It would have been nice if Dr. Sucks-A-Lot would've done any of the other "screening" things expected at a 6-month appt. You know, like maybe asking if he babbles or can sit up on his own, checking to see if he can pass things back and forth in his hands. Whatever. Why bother?
2 comments:
What a frustrating experience...just so you know, Katelyn is also off her growth chart at 6 months, she went down in weight and they just said they'd look at it at the 9 mo visit. I think Dr. S-A-L has just lost your business!!
I'm so sorry you had to deal with Dr. S-A-L. I'd agree that he has no clue what he's babbling about. If it makes you feel better, Michael is now 5 1/2 months, still fat, and he can't sit, can't roll at will, and I think we have a long way to go before we even think of high-fives or kisses. Wyatt is definately rocking the developmental milestones department!
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