Don't Judge Me, I Won't Judge You

Apparently April is Cesarean Awareness Month. The people at the International Cesarean Awareness Network have created this catchy little icon to commemorate the month. I cannot tell you how much this angers me. According to their site "the burgundy color of the ribbons represents birth and the wearing of the ribbon upside down symbolizes the state of distress many pregnant women find themselves in when their birthing choices are limited. The loop of the inverted ribbon represents a pregnant belly and the tails are the arms of a woman outstretched in a cry for help." They note that "psychological outcomes such as negative feelings, fear, guilt, anger and postpartum depression are common consequences of both emergent and elective cesarean sections". OMG - the only reason some people feel these negative feelings are because of other people like those who support groups like ICAN putting those ideas out there. That you are not a "real woman" if you didn't have a natural childbirth.

Give me a break, people. Having a cesarean birth does not make you a victim. I do not feel like I missed out on anything. I have 3 healthy children. I had an emergency c-section with the first, and elected them with the other two. I did not make that choice lightly - I was not coerced or scared by doctors to making that choice. I read all the studies, reviewed my options and made my choice for myself. And for the ICAN to decided that "my choices were limited" disparages my choice.

Every woman should have the opportunity to make birthing choices for themselves (given medical realities of their specific situation). Don't belittle mine and I won't belittle yours.

Surgeons Suck

So, as previously reported, Big Man's ear tube surgery went great. Until he took a late afternoon nap. When he woke up there was blood all over and in his left ear. I kinda freaked out. I reread our post-surgery instructions - NOTHING about blood. The sheet says there can be some discharge -- but I thought that meant clear fluid or the like. Anyway, I call the dr's emergency line, and - to give him credit - he calls me right back. Now I have never been a big fan of this dr. The first time we met (it was only about a week ago!), he was very cold, examined my son for about 3 minutes, and declared he needed ear tubes. But, he was very highly recommended, so I was like, fine. Yesterday prior to the surgery he maybe spoke 15 words to me. "Any questions? It will be over in 10 minutes". After surgery I think there were less "you've already made your post-op appointment? Give him these ear drops 2x a day". So when he calls back and I explain the problem, there is a bit of silence, then a defense "I'm very surprised to hear that." -- I'm like, surprised in that you nicked his brain stem and he is slowing dying? or surprised because this sometime happens but you didn't expect it to? or surprised that I would call over such a little thing?. He goes on about how his ears were "bone dry" after the surgery and he is really surprised. I'm still freaking out about it and he finally says that worst case he may have to take the tube out and reinsert it if the tube is now stuck up with dried blood. The blood was not currently flowing, but had dried and after wiping it off the outside of the ear, it still looked gunky going into the ear. So, the Dr says to just call and make an appointment, and he would take a look - but, btw, he was in surgery the next 2 days, so it may have to wait until Friday. Now luckily, big man doesn't seem to be bothered at all. I am calling the Drs today to see if I can get the next available appointment - with either dr in the practice. I figure it should take 2 minutes for them to look and see if its a problem. Hopefully we don't have to do this all again.

Now, I watch ER and Grey's Anatomy - I get that surgeon's are assholes. This one fits the mold perfectly. It just really bugged me that he was more offended that something hadn't gone perfectly in his surgery then worried about the impact on my son.

UPDATE - just went in to see the Dr. The left tube is clogged with dried blood. We have new eardrops that we hope will dissolve it. We go back end of next week and see. If they have not fixed it, then the Dr will try and suction it out (something he said we would have to restrain Big Man for) or, at the extreme, he can take the tube out (also something done in the office, and I imagine involves restraints). Lets hope the drops work!

Is there a Doctor in the House?

So in the last 10 days, we have been to the doctor's office 5 times, and we have one more visit scheduled for tomorrow. For the last five months (knock wood), the kids have been remarkably healthy. We maybe were home for one day with them from Feb-June. But when it rains it pours.

First, two Saturdays ago we brought bigman in to check if he had an ear infection. The answer was no, but in the 1 1/2 hours we spent waiting, DD#2 caught strep. We were back with her on Monday. Rapid strep said no, overnight said yes, so she was on antibiotics on Tues. On Friday we brought bigman back cuz he was getting more sick, and wanted to make sure he didn't have strep. He was fine. On Sunday, DD#1 has a screaming crying fit for an hour before I take her to urgent care -- diagnosis: swimmers ear. She is on antibiotics starting on Monday. Then DD#2 had her 3-year checkup on Monday. Tomorrow bigman has his regular checkup with the pulminologist. Oh yeah, and we didn't go on vacation last week cuz we had too much work. nice.

I am praying this grants us another 5-month reprieve. We really need a friend who is a doctor -- preferably family practice, or a pediatrician. Apply within.