Sweet Big Sister
June 27, 2010 Filed in: Dr. Patton's Maternity Blog
Mostly I've written about Aly's response to her new baby brother's arrival and the changes in her world, but Andrew has had some changes in his world, too, over the last several weeks. As he is growing up he is becoming more aware of his surroundings and can interact with us more.
It has become apparent that the person whose voice he recognizes and adores the most is his big sister's. Not the mother who bore him and feeds him nor the father who loves him and plays with him, but the big sister who entertains him.
He tracked her movements long before any toy we held in front of him and when she speaks from across the room he turns his head to look for her. I'm sure she'll also be on the receiving end of his first social smile. It's hard not to be a little jealous, but mostly it's just really sweet to see his eyes light up when she's around. It shouldn't be surprising. She always got close to my belly when I was pregnant to read or sing or talk to him.
Obviously he would continue to recognize her voice after he was born. His love and adoration for his sister began long before he met her and I hope it will only get deeper with time.
It has become apparent that the person whose voice he recognizes and adores the most is his big sister's. Not the mother who bore him and feeds him nor the father who loves him and plays with him, but the big sister who entertains him.
He tracked her movements long before any toy we held in front of him and when she speaks from across the room he turns his head to look for her. I'm sure she'll also be on the receiving end of his first social smile. It's hard not to be a little jealous, but mostly it's just really sweet to see his eyes light up when she's around. It shouldn't be surprising. She always got close to my belly when I was pregnant to read or sing or talk to him.
Obviously he would continue to recognize her voice after he was born. His love and adoration for his sister began long before he met her and I hope it will only get deeper with time.
Sick Visit to the Pediatrician
June 22, 2010 Filed in: Dr. Patton's Maternity Blog
We took Drew to his first "sick visit" at the pediatrician the other day. His eye was all goopy and swollen. It ended up being just a clogged tear duct that has since resolved, but I'm always amazed when I go to there at how much I learn. And my pediatrician is unbelievable. We went for his eye and she did a full exam ending with the eye issue and discussing several other things along the way.
What I learned at that visit was that Andrew now weighs 9# 13oz! And that's all breastmilk. I also learned that b/c he favors lying down and looking to his left that his head is flattening a little on that side. So we are encouraging him to look the other way when sleeping and playing. Plus he needs more tummy time while awake to stay off of the back of his head. And I learned that blocked tear ducts can last months! Of course, Andrew's resolved practically the day we went to the doctor.
His pediatrician and I also talk shop a lot since our fields overlap. The newest thing in her field is offering Gardasil or the HPV vaccine to boys for whom it has newly been approved. She's having few parents accept it but she will have no argument here. Both of my children will be vaccinated as soon as they are old enough.
The other issue she deals with is the argument that vaccines cause autism. The scientific evidence is clear that they do not. The one study that started this controversy has seen its author recently found to be a fraud. He lost his medical license over the issue.
Unfortunately, folklore oftentimes wins out over science and she spends a lot of her days discussing this issue with parents. Too bad the supposed link between vaccines and autism was a bigger media sensation than the recent news that the study was seriously flawed. Seems to always be that way, though. My advice to parents and all patients is to take what you see on TV and read on the Internet with a grain of salt and always discuss things with your doctors before drawing any conclusions.
What I learned at that visit was that Andrew now weighs 9# 13oz! And that's all breastmilk. I also learned that b/c he favors lying down and looking to his left that his head is flattening a little on that side. So we are encouraging him to look the other way when sleeping and playing. Plus he needs more tummy time while awake to stay off of the back of his head. And I learned that blocked tear ducts can last months! Of course, Andrew's resolved practically the day we went to the doctor.
His pediatrician and I also talk shop a lot since our fields overlap. The newest thing in her field is offering Gardasil or the HPV vaccine to boys for whom it has newly been approved. She's having few parents accept it but she will have no argument here. Both of my children will be vaccinated as soon as they are old enough.
The other issue she deals with is the argument that vaccines cause autism. The scientific evidence is clear that they do not. The one study that started this controversy has seen its author recently found to be a fraud. He lost his medical license over the issue.
Unfortunately, folklore oftentimes wins out over science and she spends a lot of her days discussing this issue with parents. Too bad the supposed link between vaccines and autism was a bigger media sensation than the recent news that the study was seriously flawed. Seems to always be that way, though. My advice to parents and all patients is to take what you see on TV and read on the Internet with a grain of salt and always discuss things with your doctors before drawing any conclusions.
Boys and Girls
June 17, 2010 Filed in: Dr. Patton's Maternity Blog
On May 9, Dr. Patton had her second child, Andrew, at Methodist Hospital. Dr. Patton is blogging about childbirth while on maternity leave.
I often wonder how much of gender stereotypes is taught to our children and how much is born into them. My daughter is very much a girl and has been stuck in a princess stage for well over a year now. I know I didn't teach her this. According to my mom I never had a princess stage and I've never been a girly girl. I played hotbox with the boys at recess, loved sports all my life, and was happier playing volleyball than being a cheerleader. My mom tried to make me more girly by buying me barbies and even the Barbie Dream House, but they all collected dust while I played with matchbox cars.
My daughter is quite the opposite which makes my friends and family giggle when they see me help her play princess dress up. Makes me wonder what "boy" things Andrew will gravitate towards. Will I have to fight with him to keep him from playing football (the concussion evidence is too much for this mom to bear) or will he not have any interest in sports at all?
We were at Aly's gymnastics the other day and someone called Andrew a girl. He had on a neutral yellow outfit - remember we didn't know his gender before birth - so my husband and I couldn't blame her for not knowing. When we corrected her she was mortified at her mistake like her having called him a girl was somehow going to scar him forever! We just laughed her off knowing a lot of who he's going to be is already programmed. We just have to wait and see it unfold and nurture it along the way.
I often wonder how much of gender stereotypes is taught to our children and how much is born into them. My daughter is very much a girl and has been stuck in a princess stage for well over a year now. I know I didn't teach her this. According to my mom I never had a princess stage and I've never been a girly girl. I played hotbox with the boys at recess, loved sports all my life, and was happier playing volleyball than being a cheerleader. My mom tried to make me more girly by buying me barbies and even the Barbie Dream House, but they all collected dust while I played with matchbox cars.
My daughter is quite the opposite which makes my friends and family giggle when they see me help her play princess dress up. Makes me wonder what "boy" things Andrew will gravitate towards. Will I have to fight with him to keep him from playing football (the concussion evidence is too much for this mom to bear) or will he not have any interest in sports at all?
We were at Aly's gymnastics the other day and someone called Andrew a girl. He had on a neutral yellow outfit - remember we didn't know his gender before birth - so my husband and I couldn't blame her for not knowing. When we corrected her she was mortified at her mistake like her having called him a girl was somehow going to scar him forever! We just laughed her off knowing a lot of who he's going to be is already programmed. We just have to wait and see it unfold and nurture it along the way.
