When I was pregnant, I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. When I got to the point when Lydia could have been born and survive, I constantly looked up survival statistics to comfort myself, because I was convinced she would deliver early. When they heard a fetal arrhythmia, I googled and webmd-ed like mad, sure that she would be in the 2% that had resulting complications.
Now Lydia is here, and she is healthy as a horse, but I still can't kick the habit of developing these irrational fears. Our doctor always tells us that Lydia is healthy and wonderful, and I still manage to convince myself otherwise.
Recently, I have come to believe that Lydia will never get teeth. I have no reason for this. When I told her pediatrician this, prefacing it with my knowledge that the fear was irrational, she assured me that they give babies until 18 months to cut teeth and only then x-ray to make sure they are there.
I fear that Lydia will continue growing so fast that she will outgrow all diapers and we will have to buy her Depends. Dr. Bell reminded me that they make diapers for all sizes, and we will most likely not need Depends.
Finally, I am now obsessing about Lydia's head. She has a big head. Even after Dr. Bell said that there are many things that would need to happen before she would worry, I am now worried about Lydia's head, not for cosmetic reasons, but because big heads can indicate hydrocephalus. I know that nearly every one of my cousins had a big head. When I asked Marie (Robin's mom) about Robin, Dale (his dad) responded in the background, "Robin was a head." Lydia has been hitting her developmental milestones ahead of time and has no symptoms of hydrocephalus other than the big head. Of course, I am still obsessing.
I must kick the habit.
I can totally relate to this post. I'm also a worrier and have a habit of spending way too much time googling things... I was obsessed with the fact that Oliver wasn't interested in sitting up and was convinced that his body couldn't do it. He would always stiffen up when we put him in a sitting position. I googled "baby who won't sit up" and the first page that popped up was on cerebral palsy leading to a whole new set of things to worry about. I wish I had some sort of advice on how to stop with the irrational fears but, unfortunately, all I can offer you is the knowledge that you aren't the only one. :)
ReplyDeleteFear is horrible-- I completely empathize-- it's a serious battle. That said, your "fear" about the Depends totally cracked me up. Hadn't thought of that one.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and I both had hydrocephalus as little ones. We turned out pretty normal, but I do still have problems with headbands. :-)
ReplyDeleteI google things all of the time and might have to do away with the web if I should ever have children. I googled H1N1 last night since I'm convinced I'm going to get it at school this year.
And obviously, I'm stalling on the getting ready for work.
My husband took away What to Expect the First Year because I obsessed over the fact that Jack couldn't sit up, roll over, or many things a baby "should, could, or possibly even can" do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting my blog on your list and for reading me. I will do the same! :)
yes...STOP! Just enjoy all things baby because before you know it...she'll be cutting 2 year molars for an entire year and you'll be cursing the existance of teeth and then you'll look at her one day and say "Holy shit..you're a kid now!"
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