We talk to our listener Andrea who is a family doctor in Canada about the surprises she encountered as a new mom. Even as a Doc, she was surprised about some common ailments we all go through with our kids. Listen and learn
What surprises a new mom who is a Doctor [22:39m]:
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on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 9:41 am and is filed under All in the Family, Healthy Baby, Happy Mom, Podcasts/Shows.
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June 4th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Hi ladies,
I loved listening to this podcast. I have written before but not in a while. I am an adult pulmonogist and intensive care specialist and this podcast with Andrea’s interview really hit home. I mean, wow. I remember talking with other fellow mom’s that are physicians (old and new) about certain things that just shocked me once I became a parent myself.
My daughter is almost 18 months old now and some things are just coming up for me but there are no extra points gained by being a doctor when it comes to being a first-time mom.
I totally agree with Andrea’s top 3 surprises of motherhood (breastfeeding, rashes, illnesses-esp colds). Some additional “hardest ones” I would add to Andrea’s list:
1) Sleeping trouble.
I VOWED to be one of the parents that would do the sleeping techniques by the book. I nursed exclusively and blamed that for the reason my daughter still had not slept through even 1 night by the time she was nine months old. I did the doctor thing and read every sleep book and talked to my pediatrician. Most said… let her cry it out… she’ll learn. That just didn’t sit well with me. Nobody was getting sleep in our house then and my husband and I were tearing our hair out. We committed the “cardinal sin” and had our daughter sleep with us… it just made nursing at night that much easier… 9, 10, 11, 12 months… still… I finally had to wait until an on call weekend for me and just let her cry it out. Just like the pedicatrician/books said… about 3 nights…then voila! It didn’t make it any easier to hear her screaming.
2) Dealing with a surgery.
not to mention her parents.
My daughter unfortunately needed a major surgery around 9 months of age (born with a benign lesion but went through her skull bone). Tests, doctors/specialists, anesthesia, surgery… all seems easier discussed than for the parents. It really is true that going through things like that put it in perspective for me better now even with my adult patients.
Having a child without food/milk/water 8 hours before a surgery when they are 9 months and on breast milk… definitely made me appreciate preop directions. And then to boot the surgery ended up being delayed another 2 hours. Can you say - annoyed little girl.
3) Developmental milestones.
As a physician and learning through charts, dealing with the “milestones” as outlined in the books/pediatrician visits is VERY FRUSTRATING. I became so frustrated when my daughter was not rolling over at 4 months, crawling by 8-9 months, walking by 12 months. As a physician, I’m thinking WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CHILD. When I finally listened to my own pediatrician and talked with other moms that told me to relax and throw the books out, I got my sanity back. All kids do things in their own time. As long as they are growing and eating/developing, the milestones will come.
That’s it for another three. Motherhood is way harder and better than I expected. It’s not all good all the time but definitely worth it.
Thank you ladies for doing what you do and taking the time to put together a great podcast. I listen to EVERY SHOW even if it is not right away. I listened through pumping at work for over a year! Good job ladies! Enjoy your summer!
-Michelle Zetoony (D.O.) - Novi, Michigan