A Mother’s Instinct

Last week my little Charlie girl wasn’t herself.  She wanted to sleep a lot (HA) and was so cranky and fussy and none of us could pinpoint what was going on.  I thought it was just her molars, and one of them has fully come through the gum (thank the LAWD), but she just seemed off to me.  Monday morning I noticed what looked like a small pimple on her stomach right under her belly button but I thought nothing of it.  Monday night after her bath that pimple turned into a red hot welt.  I called the pediatrician in a panic and he had us come into the office to examine her.  It turns out she had some sort of infection (staph, cellulitis, who knows) for sure.  We’re not 100% sure what it was because he wasn’t able to get anything out of the pimple to do a proper culture.  He tried, and if we can get any results I should have them by tomorrow, but he started her on antibiotics and an antibiotic cream that same night.  I felt like the worst mother in the world, because I knew something was wrong but didn’t know what.  And then instead of her going to sleep at 7, she had to have her stomach squeezed painfully as he tried to get anything out for a culture.  It was a traumatic Monday evening for all involved.

Now, I don’t know how quickly antibiotics take effect, but Charlie was a different baby Tuesday morning and has been great since.  She’s napping better, eating tons of food, and is finally happy and playful again.  The angry red welt is getting smaller and she doesn’t fight me on the medicine she needs twice a day for 10 days.  If there’s anything to take away from this experience it’s that as a mother, you know when something is not right with your baby.  It always seemed like I’d never know what was bothering her before I had her, but it’s just a feeling you get in the pit of your stomach that you can’t ignore.  A mother’s instinct is such a true feeling.  I wish I had been able to bring her to the doctor beforehand, but in truth they wouldn’t have been able to see anything until that red spot showed up on her belly.  From now on I’m always going to trust my gut with her.  She grew inside of me for 9 months.  She’s basically a part of my very own body.  I think I know her better than I know myself.  And I thank God she’s back to her happy self.