A few weeks ago I finally took myself to the doctor. I knew that I was extremely exhausted from dealing with a colicky 6-week-old and taking care of a sick toddler who had Strep, an ear infection, and Hand, Foot & Mouth all at the same time {that deserves a whole other post}. But I kept putting myself off thinking my little cold would clear up if I could just get a little sleep. When sleep wasn’t helping and I was getting worse, I called the doctor one Friday morning, and they said they were extremely busy but could see me if I came in right then.
I had childcare for my sick toddler, but not for my 6-week-old since we were having to keep them apart. I didn’t think too much of it and packed up my baby along with everything to keep him happy. I had a plan: keep him covered and in his infant seat, stay away from people, and even wait outside or in the car if the waiting room was too packed of sick people. I knew the situation wasn’t ideal of having a young one in a doctor’s office this time of year, but I just needed to be seen.
When I arrived, the nurse said they would get me in and out as quickly as possible, and there was hardly anyone in the waiting room. Then a couple came in who did not think it was cool that I brought a baby to a doctor’s office. They talked amongest themselves about my poor parenting decisions, but not very softly as I could hear everything they said. I’m normally a more vocal and strong person, but I started rethinking my decision to come in and got upset. I was called in by the nurse at that exact moment, and she also made a few comments about being careful bringing my tiny one around. And yet again, more comments by the PA that I saw that day. By the time I left, I felt good about the prescription I got so I could be on the path to health, but terrible about all the judgement I received. Don’t worry – I stood up for myself and my decisions, but inside I felt defeated.
There was a man as I was walking out who just stared at my infant seat and me so much so that I had to ask him to move since he was blocking the door, yet he wouldn’t even help me open the door for the stroller. Just stares.
And thus…three lessons from the doctor’s waiting room.
- My biggest lesson from the waiting room that day was to not judge other moms – you have no idea what the whole story is. I myself probably would have judged me for bringing a small baby around a germ-infested office, not knowing that her home was just as germ-infested with a sick toddler and not knowing that mom had been suffering for days and just wasn’t getting better.
- My second lesson is to be encouraging to those moms rather than judge them. You have no idea what a smile or a “hang in there, you got this” will do for their day. I just wanted someone to tell me it was going to be okay. I even asked the doctor to tell me that after she gave me a lecture on what not to take while I was nursing just for the fun of it – Got it, Doc. That’s why I’m here…because I haven’t taken any meds whatsoever.
- My final lesson is that I may need to find a new doctor – ha!
But seriously, if you are a mom dealing with multiple sick kiddos at home and you are sick yourself, please go get the help you need and do not feel bad about it. And don’t be like me and think that if you are nursing that there is nothing that can be done. A lot can be done while nursing and you can keep your supply up too!
I had a teacher at my older daughter’s school comment quite loudly but in a different language (that I obviously speak since the school is dual language) on how could I take my month old baby out while it was raining. Maybe I should’ve left her alone at home instead or left my older at school for the night. Sorry princesses, daddy’s working, we must make do