"How has Chloe been since the last time I saw her?" Dr Smart asked while wrapping her stethoscope back around her neck like an errant winter scarf.
"She's been great although she did have her first cold about two weeks ago." I answer as I shift Chloe to my other arm. She is naked except for her diaper and she feels like a warm dough ball against my forearm.
"Any fevers with the cold?" Dr. Smart queried.
"Nope, she did fine. Just some red watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose. Not too bad." I reply. Chloe meanwhile is beaming at Dr. Smart and her little white hair bow bounces with every movement of her head.
Dr. Smart then went about her routine; checking Chloe's ears, feeling her skull and how it's forming, testing her miniature legs and observing her new found head control. At every stage of the examination, Chloe is giggling and smiling as happy as can be.
"She's looking great." Dr. Smart mused. "She's gained two pounds since the last time I saw her. She's now 13.2 lbs so she's still around the 50th percentile for weight. It looks like she had a growth spurt as well because she is now 25 1/2 inches which puts her in the 90th percentile for height. Everything else is looking good too. You're going to want to start working with her now to help her sit up. Just practice a little every day by helping her into a sitting position. Are you still breastfeeding her?" She pauses to ask me.
"Yes I am." I say but hesitate. Here's is the crux of what has been bothering me the last few weeks...
I breastfed Peyton until he was 6 months old (actually it was technically 5 1/2 months) and I had stopped only because he grew teeth and decided to bite me. With my pregnancy with Peyton and then with breastfeeding him after, he was leaching off all of my calcium and destroying my teeth.
I have soft enamel which leads to frequent cavities despite using an electric toothbrush and rinsing with mouthwash twice a day and flossing once a day. I actually had some teeth break while I was pregnant with Peyton- fortunately I haven't had that happen this go around with Chloe.
Now I'm back to worrying about my teeth; one tooth is broken and has been this way before my pregnancy with Chloe and now the gums around the ragged-jagged tooth are driving me crazy. I've been taking calcium supplements but that isn't enough when you aren't drinking milk or intaking enough dairy each day.
Before I could voice my worries about continuing, Dr. Smart exclaims, "Perfect! I'm telling all of my breastfeeding Moms to keep breastfeeding their babies to help boost their immune systems through this whole Swine Flu epidemic. That will really help her stay healthy. I would especially urge you to continue through the winter at the very least."
Oy Vey!
Looks like I'll be continuing on for now. What would you do in this same situation?
After Dr. Smart looked her over, it was time for the assistant to come in and give Chloe her immunizations. As the lady came in with a small tray containing one oral vaccine and two needles, my heart fluttered and Chloe began to wimper. She didn't even know what was going on but I guess she could feel the tension in my body and was reacting to it as well.
Two minutes later, I'm trying to grab Chloe's car seat and diaper bag while juggling her hysterical body in my arms (since she doesn't want to be buckled in yet) and I'm making my way up to the front counter to make another appointment while clutching at the examination sheet for our insurance company. Finally after getting an appointment card for December, we make our way home and she falls blissfully asleep from the lulling motions of the truck just three minutes from our house.
I am amazed at how fast this little girl is growing. It seems like only last month she was bundled up in a blanket and placed into my arms- her sweet cherub cheek resting against my shoulder and her mouth an open 'O' of contentment. Now she's rolling over, grabbing and batting at her toys, and cooing and conversing with us. I just need her to be my baby for a little longer...
Check out that hair and those sweet smiles!
4 comments:
I say quit now! Easier said then done--I am in the process of weening my girls and I felt so guilty about it for so long--I have had a horrible rash ever since they were born that I'm told won't go away until I stop. However, both my pediatrician and my OB have told me repeatedly to stop--since they were 2 weeks old. My doctors continually assure me that the girls will be fine--even with the flu season coming on.
I agree. Go ahead and stop, and don't feel guilty! My kids were total formula kids and they've each had two colds and no ear infections at all (and they're 3 and nearly 5 now). So formula babies can be just as healthy as breastfed! You need to take care of yourself to take care of your kids, so just do what's best for you.
Do whatever you feel is best. I come from the breastfeeding school of thought, but it's all your choice. I do know the dentist can seal your teeth, if that would help.
Ack, that is a dilemma! Could you get some paint-on fluoride for your teeth from your dentist? I would think that would help quite a bit, whether you continue breastfeeding or not (and get plenty of vitamin D with your calcium supplements...it makes a difference).
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