So many times I have heard people, moms say "go with your gut."
It is the best advice.
Elizabeth did everything early. She sat up early, crawled early, cruised early,talked early. She was a little late taking her first steps on her own but that is more her personality than anything.
When Madeline was born we were not going to compare. Each baby/child is different and will hit milestones at their own pace.
Throughout the last year, there have been a little red flags here and there that something might not be right. Madeline would cry when we tried to sit her down and would stand with her knees locked.
We were dealing with a new pediatrician in the suburbs and she dismissed all of my concerns. After each well visit I left the office feeling a tad better but still having a feeling in my gut that something wasn't right.
By 7 months, Madeline was sitting unassisted. But then crawling never came. Instead Madeline began her scooting. We found her scooting to be cute and inventive but still wondered when the crawling was going to happen.
We left Maddie's 9 month appointment with a script to get her hips x-rayed. The results were that her hips were even and not the problem.
After a few mix ups with allergy testing, I went with my gut and decided to switch pediatricians. I have no idea if it is 'kosher' to switch within a practice but I did and we haven't looked back.
I brought Madeline to her one year check up and left with coupons for Pediasure and forms for Madeline to be evaluated by an early intervention team. Her fine motor skills and cognitive development are far ahead of where she should be but the gross motor skills were lacking.
Of course once we scheduled the appointment Madeline began making huge progress. Within the two weeks from our visit to the pediatrician to the day of the evaluation, Madeline began pulling up to stand everywhere and even was standing in her crib for the first time after her nap today, five minutes before the evaluation began.
I thought about cancelling the appointment but I didn't. And I'm glad. While the physical and occupational therapists were thrilled with her fine motor skills and language development, they definitely saw an issue with her gross motor development. Specifically her right leg.
While the therapists who came today do not do diagnosing, there are recommending therapy and a visit to a neurologist. Scary stuff. Both therapists were very encouraged with that fact that Madeline has made so much progress over the last few weeks.
I am so glad I decided to go with my gut.
If we had not switched pediatricians, I probably would have been told that it is fine for Madeline to have dropped to the tenth percentile for weight and that a baby is not technically delayed until they aren't doing these things at 13, 14 or 15 months.
But I went with my gut and now Madeline will get services to get her caught up. Even in the two hour session we had today she made progress.
Always go with your gut, it is the best advice.
Has there been a time you 'went with your gut?" What was the outcome?
wow. Kristin. Glad you went with your gut! Thank you for sharing your story and please keep us updated on Madeline's progress!! Your a good mommy!
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. After trying to have several pre-birth consultations with our recommended pediatrician but never actually meeting her, and never having her come by post birth to examine GG (she sent another physician), and the final straw...after not even seeing her on our 2 week post birth check up and having a nurse dismiss our concerns for GG's weight loss, we switched pediatrician's and never looked back. Now we have an awesome doctor that is great for GG. Sometimes, you just know and have to listen to what your "gut" tells you! Even though our first pediatrician came highly recommended, she was not right for us!
ReplyDeleteGlad Madeline is getting exactly what she needs.
Oh and I can't imagine how difficult it will be to not be tempted to compare the progress of one child to another...
Have a great weekend!
I've had nearly the same experience Kristin. My doctor telling me she was fine and knowing she wasn't. I didn't change doctors but I demanded we be referred to a pediatrician. I researched which one was the best choice for us. She is wonderful and helping us figure out what the problem is. You are exactly tight, the parents know better than the doctors and we must be advocates for our children's health.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally a "go with your gut" kinda mom. Glad you stuck with it and got a new dr!
ReplyDeleteIt's so crazy that we are both going through this type of things with our Maddies! I have to say, I have both a good friend who is a speech path (back in Chicago) and another (the one who I wrote the BFF post about) who is a PT. Both of them do EI, too.
ReplyDeleteMy Maddie took longer to sit and crawl (she was 9.5 months before she crawled), and when she did crawl, it was upright and more like a frog with 1 broken leg would move. I talked to Kat about it, and she was saying that kids do adapt though she would not be developing muscles in the way she needed to by crawling in a funky way.
If your Maddie has a problem with one leg, she probably had grown to adapt to that over time.
And, like with my Maddie, too, the earlier you get help, the better.
Good luck! And keep me posted!
I think mothers definitely know best. I'm so glad you made the switch and are closer to getting the answers you need!
ReplyDeleteGood for you. It's always good to go with your gut. Mother's Intuition is so powerful. I'm so glad your daughter will now be getting therapy. I'm sure in no time she will be catching up. Good job Mama!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important message. It's scary how much faith we mothers give to doctors.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you went with your gut and followed your mother's intuition. I'm sure your daughter will catch up quickly, much more quickly than if you had listened to the other doctors and delayed seeking help.