I have a pit that lies deep down at the bottom of my stomach. I am convinced it’s there. It remains dormant until I get that “feeling.” I also know that you Theta Moms have the same pit in your stomach…somewhere.
This “pit” is sometimes referred to as a ‘motherly instinct.’ I am positive that it’s really just innate intuition. We are all born with this, but when you give birth to a child, that pit begins to grow and it never goes away. In fact, the older your child gets, the larger your pit becomes.
It’s the feeling you get when something just isn’t right. It’s when you know there may be danger or that there has got to be something more, for which I feel compelled to write today.
Fellow blogger, Karie from The Five Fish, recently shared a website on her blog. The site is written by leading pediatricians in the country from CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). Her post struck a chord with me because my son was a very sick baby. Beginning at nine-months old, we saw every specialist over the course of a year and not one doctor could tell us what was wrong with our child. At one point, after test upon test, I was supposed to just sit back and wait…because they couldn’t give us a definitive answer.
Wait? For what? For my baby to be in the hospital fighting for his life, or wait for a disease to go undiagnosed and find out that it’s too late? This is when my pit began to grow to the size of a cantaloupe…no, make that a watermelon.
When each doctor assessed my child and provided me with information, I felt like something was missing. I knew there had to be something more, and even if there wasn’t, I needed to hear it from the leading doctors in the country. I wanted to be sure that we didn’t leave any stone unturned, that we exhausted every possible resource available. If I wasn’t an advocate for my child, then who would be?
The bottom line is that we need to ask the right questions. We need to get the proper information and we need to seek out the help we are requesting and fight for our children until we are satisfied because if we don’t, nobody else will. You deserve it, your family deserves it, and your child sure as hell deserves it.
After many sleepless nights and countless phone calls, we finally made our trip to CHOP, and after a complete evaluation and diagnosis, my son is now a healthy, thriving three year old boy…due in part to following my intuition.
This is a photo taken right around the time he was becoming ill. This was such a difficult time in my life, especially since my husband and I were first-time parents. My pit, though, is still there and remains at the bottom of my stomach. It’s dormant for now but not for long. Because I am a mother, and always will be.
Mrs. Fish aka Two Fish says
Love the post sister! You are so right about instinct, we have it as a woman and a mother. So happy your boy is healthy and happy and so glad I posted the site for you! I had no idea how powerful a post that would become! Each day is a new day, a new experience, and a new moment to cherish, don't let your "pit" rule you too much, boys will be boys, and as a mom we know when to react and what to do, no one can take that away or change it.
Karie
Michelle says
I totally understand what you mean. As a mom, we all have that "pit" that surfaces from time to time. Thank God for mommy instinct and Praise God your little guy is okay
Night Owl Mama says
how wonderful glad to hear that he's healthy and that mother instinct is so reliable. Hugs
where's your blog hop linky post??
Alexandra says
Mom instinct is a very powerful thing… always trust it. CHOP is an amazing place… you always hear such wonderful stories coming out of it. I have many friends/colleagues who have had children go through CHOP and all have only the best things to say about the hospital.
rockinellagrace says
So true, i always trust my motherly instinct! I'm glad your son is now doing well.
Resident Mommy says
I think most docs have come to respect the maternal instinct. When sick children have come in and the mother says "I think it's something more serious" that really gives them pause.
Clueless_Mama says
I understand completely about what you are saying. I am glad you followed your instinct, because at that age, unfortunately they can't tell us what's wrong. It is hard to find Dr.s that believe us sometimes too! Good Job MOM
Genny says
Good for you for listening to your instincts. You sound like a great mom!
Annette Piper says
Good old intuition – we've got it for a reason!
Margaret says
I have been there! But pushing yourself to do something for yourself makes it better for everyone!
(I am following you back from MBC -thanks for the follow!)