Brush Your Shoulders Off

One of the more annoying aspects of being in the NICU is having nurses-often much younger than you and childless themselves-talk to you about your baby as if you're clueless about her care. Why am I on this topic today? Well, because a young nurse who I generally like has annoyed me in just that way this morning. Yet, even as I write about it, I am letting it go and seeing little point to describing the incident. It's just easy to become very sensitive-sometimes overly so-about your position as the mother when other people are taking care of your baby around the clock. And after months of being here with your baby, even if not constantly, you do get to know your baby pretty well. As your baby's condition progresses to the point where you can take care of most of her needs, you progress to the point where you don't want anybody trying to direct you. You're just not having it. 

Oh, I can't help myself. Today, I told the the nurse that I am going to ask the doctor for an order to weigh Brave Baby before and after breastfeeding in order to see how much she's getting. She replied that there's no point in weighing her because, if she's not latching on, she's not getting any milk. Well, duh. 'Cause you know what? I have done an ample amount of breastfeeding, thanks to my first child, who we nicknamed Sir Nurse-a-Lot. I have some idea how it works. Before you deliver your pithy kernels of wisdom, you should check who you're talking to. And perhaps seek a little more information. Ask, for example, whether she's latching, rather than assuming that she is not. Never assume. You know what an ass that makes of you (but not me). 

I kept it pleasant though. Always do. Nobody says the right thing 100% of the time. These nurses have a tough job to do, and they usually do it well. But there are those moments when you just have to brush your shoulders off and keep rolling.