Are you a special kind of moron?
‘First-time mum?’ they say, with their head tilted and condescension in their eyes. The slight pursing of their lips and the furrow of their brows tell you everything you need to know. With just three words, that doctor or child health nurse will dismiss every concern a new parent might have.
You’re hysterical. You’re being dramatic. There’s nothing wrong but you know nothing about anything so here you are, wasting everyone’s time.
The baby brain lingers, it’s true, but you’re not an idiot, no matter what they say.
The doubt will creep in. You’ll stop taking your child to the doctor because you don’t want to be told, yet again, that your baby is fine.
What these doctors and nurses are doing is gaslighting you. They’re making you believe you are the problem, so you’re now questioning your own judgement and sanity.
No, you are not a doctor (unless of course, you are, in which case, well done!) but that doesn’t mean you don’t know when something is wrong with your child. You have every right to ask for attention if your gut is telling you your baby needs it.
So I’m telling you this: you are not a moron. You’re not hysterical. You’re not a hypochondriac. You know your child better than anyone and you have the right to ask for attention.
You deserve a second opinion. Even if it’s just so two people can tell you there’s nothing to worry about. No harm has ever been done by getting a second opinion, but a lot of harm can be done when one arrogant doctor dismisses a mother’s concerns and sends a sick child home.