Yes, she is small.
You know how one minute you can be all, "Hey, my kid's doing great!" and the next minute all, "OMG, is there something wrong with my kid?" We had a couple of moments like that during Portland Pride.
During the parade we stood next to some pediatrician dude from northern Maine who wouldn't stop commenting on Hester's weight. He was all, " How old is she, 3 months?" and, "She's really small for 5 months, " and, "She has the classic 4-month head wobble, " and, "Was she full-term?" and, "Hmm, she's really small for her age." Jeezy! Then down at the festival, another woman wouldn't let up on Hester's size either: "She's so small for 5 months! Does she drink breast milk? Do you use partially digested formula? Did she ever drink breast milk?" ARRGHH!
As y'all know, this is the health issue we're most concerned about for Hester. She doesn't like to eat and she is small for her age (weight-wise, not length-wise). Her pediatrician is keeping an eye on Hester's growth but she isn't concerned, so we're trying hard to follow her lead. Still, it's difficult: When you try all day to feed your baby and she doesn't want to eat, it's a pretty stressful situation. The last thing you want is people making a big deal out of the very issue you're trying to minimize.
During the parade we stood next to some pediatrician dude from northern Maine who wouldn't stop commenting on Hester's weight. He was all, " How old is she, 3 months?" and, "She's really small for 5 months, " and, "She has the classic 4-month head wobble, " and, "Was she full-term?" and, "Hmm, she's really small for her age." Jeezy! Then down at the festival, another woman wouldn't let up on Hester's size either: "She's so small for 5 months! Does she drink breast milk? Do you use partially digested formula? Did she ever drink breast milk?" ARRGHH!
As y'all know, this is the health issue we're most concerned about for Hester. She doesn't like to eat and she is small for her age (weight-wise, not length-wise). Her pediatrician is keeping an eye on Hester's growth but she isn't concerned, so we're trying hard to follow her lead. Still, it's difficult: When you try all day to feed your baby and she doesn't want to eat, it's a pretty stressful situation. The last thing you want is people making a big deal out of the very issue you're trying to minimize.
Labels: Hester Willa, Mamaville
posted by Clementine at 2:20 PM
7 Comments:
people: they just cain't shut up!
people at various festivals this weekend asked if MY 19 pound child was 4 months old. I wonder if they just have no idea and are guessing randomly.
And the ones who don't do that say how BIG he is! What are you feeding him!
we feed him buttered bacon, duh
I'm going to start telling people that Hester was getting too chubby so we put her on a diet. Maybe that'll shut them up.
It IS hard to get those comments, esp. from a pediatrician, and it doesn't get easier because it's an issue you're sensitive about. I got lots of them and the only thing that helped my psyche (and not all the time) was that Amelia was gaining. Sure, her overall weight was low, but she was making progress. At her 18 mo. check-up she finally registered squarely on the chart (15%!! after being 3-5% her entire life) and two months later my mother - noticing during a visit how often and how much Amelia eats - says, "Now don't let her get fat!" Oh, puleez.
There was a decent article in the recent BabyTalk magazine that I saw at my OB/GYN's office written by a mother who also faced this issue and how it really can just cloud everything. I considered photocopying it for my mother, but she wouldn't "get it" so I decided not to bother.
Good luck, Clementine. Do your best to deflect those comments and know that you're not alone.
Dear everyone:
Leave Hester Willa alone. She is keeping her girlish figure.
Ha ha.
No thanks for all the ass-vice random strangers!
Geez- those comments must be hard to take, especially since you three obviously have it in mind and know things are fine. Everyone's gotta be an expert. Then, to have a pediatrician say that tooo...ulch.
It sounds like you are doing well to just stick with what you know and where you are headed. You know best.
Hey - I found the article on-line! It may not speak to you like it did me but, just in case, you can find it at: http://www.parenting.com/parenting/article/0,19840,1612181,00.html.
Thanks, y'all. And thanks for looking up that article, Amelia's Mom! I really appreciate it.
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