Today Drew had his one year well check up, and I couldn't help but reminisce over the last year. I was once again bummed out when they told me how much Drew weighed (18 lbs 4 oz and still the negative 5th percentile) but I have to look back and see how far he has come. If I think about this time last year, I certainly won't worry about his weight and how the little bugger won't eat what I want him to. One year ago, I had this little tiny, helpless baby boy who was 4lbs. Now I have a healthy (although small) 18 lbs boy who is clearly thriving. There is really no other comparable emotion to the one I felt (granted, there are many other much worse emotions, but nothing I don't think, that is similar) when I came home from the hospital without my Drew. One minute I am pregnant and can feel him kicking inside of me, the next minute I am home laying in my bed trying to fall asleep with my baby 20 miles away in the NICU on a breathing machine. That in and of itself is enough to make one feel depressed, but then add on the fact that I had to set my alarm for every 2 hours for the next month around the clock, to pump, ugg, get me some freaking Xanax. Oh wait, can't take that, I am breastfeeding!!! OK, not sure how this post became about me....I digressed once again. The bottom line is, I worry every single day about my little boy's weight and what he eats, and it's so hard to not be able to control every aspect of his little life. But that's what it's all about when you are a Mom I suppose. And I just need to focus on the the big picture. I have done something right (there I go again talkin about myself...sheesh!) because he looks healthy to me. I think I am going to start a movement to BAN percentile charts. What's the freaking point? As long as they are healthy, why do we really need to know about how they compare to every other child in America? OK, done ranting. KThanks. Goodbye. And one more picture to remind myself just how far he has come.
4 lbs 10 oz
17 inches
Drew at One Year"]:
18 lbs 4 oz (negative 5th percentile)
29 inches (25th percentile)
with a head circumference of 19 inches BABY!!! 90th percentile
3 comments:
Abby,
I know how you feel & have gone thru all of what you are going thru!!!
Clay came out 2 lbs 10.8 oz 15.5". Would it make you feel better to know that Drew @ a year weighed just as much as Clay did @ 1.5 years?!?
My guy, who is now 10 years old, is still in the 5% on the weight chart. His Pedi really didn't put much stock in the charts & neither do I.
Just as long as he's growing, happy & healthy. That's all I've ever looked for when Clay was a baby!
Your 2 boys btw are sooooo cute!!!
Thanks Leigh, that does make me feel better!!! My pediatrician does make me worry a bit and makes me come and weigh him every 6 weeks and told me I have to breastfeed or give formula until 18 months at least!! But I know in the long run he will be totally fine and all this worrying will be for nothing. But thanks for the encouraging words!!!
Oh Abby, how I can identify with you. Leaving your baby in the NICU, baby on breathing assistance, baby that's small for his age, baby that you have a hard time getting to eat enough....been there, done that. You're absolutely right to focus on how far he has come and not get hung up on the "percentile" crap. Both your boys are happy and healthy, and you are a wonderful mom that takes amazing care of them!
Post a Comment