Visiting the Pediatrician

So now that my little one has had to make several trips to her pediatrician's office I am catching on a bit to how these things go. Some good, some bad. I've learned that calling to speak to a nurse about an issue seems to land us in the office approximately 80% of the time. We have to schedule well visits months in advance but this allows us, and other sick babies, to be able to be seen when there is a problem.





This past weekend Brianna was extremely fussy. EXTREMELY fussy. I have a fussy baby but this was EXTREME. Have I made my point? :) So I waited until Sunday morning... after 6 straight hours of screaming through what should have been her morning nap. I knew something had to be wrong so I call the on-call nurse who tells me if the ibuprofen and tylenol are not helping than she should probably be seen. When I got off the phone with her Michael started looking up where the nearest Urgent Care is to our house.





I take her in... sitting in a germy chair (more on that later)... and wait for the nurse to take us back to another germy room. Once the doctor enters Brianna's room she turns into a happy smiley baby- no more screaming , no more fussy baby. The doctor determines she has two ear infections so we leave the germy office with a prescription in hand.

The next day Brianna is having side effects from the new medication so I put a call into her regular pediatrician. They won't just call in another medicine so I have to take her AGAIN to the doctor's office.

This is where my observations really kicked in. You approach the door while holding a baby. How do I open this germy door? I guess I will just grab the bottom where most people don't touch. I approach the counter. Oh no!!! I have to touch the germy pen!!!! I sign in and turn around to find a seat. Oh the segregation!!!!! Do we sit on the well side because she has been on antibiotics already and isn't contagious or can I sit on the well side. Man... we are here for a sick visit so I guess I should go over there. Okay... there are chairs in two areas. Which area do fewer sick kids sit in and then which chairs would be least sat in? UGH... I'll pick this one. Brianna don't touch anything. NO! Definitely don't throw your toy on the floor. No you can't get down to jump. GERMS GERMS GERMS!!!!!

Then there is the whole situation with the mothers or fathers there with their sick children. You look at each other with compassion and understanding but at the same time think, "Keep your sick kid away from mine."

We finally get called back to see the doctor. I lay my own blanket on the paper covered exam table. Bri wants to roll over and play with the instruments hanging on the wall. No!!!! Let mommy hold you so you can look at the doggies on the wall. Come on doctor!!!

Whew... the visits are done for now. Her ears have been cleaned out and we are waiting to see how things go until her 6 month check up on Thursday.

Please be thinking happy Germ-Free thoughts for both Bri Bri and I on Thursday!