I blame this post on the latte. Some of us can't hold our coffee.
Don’t ever hesitate to call your doctor if you have a question. Ever. I’m feeling really very bossy about this right now, so if you’re not in the mood you might want to come back later or block me with security settings or something because it feels sort of like when I was twelve, you were six and I knew everything. (I think I should have made that latte I ordered this morning a “tall” instead of a grande.)
Okay, where was I?
Right. Calling your doctor. If you have an absolutely fabulous doctor then she has already assured you that you can call any time you have a concern or question. Do it! Don’t ever talk yourself out of a phone call because:
- ”It’s a silly question.”
- “I should know this.”
- “I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
- “There’s no way I’m going to say that word out loud.”
- “She’ll think I’m a complete idiot for asking that question.”
I’m going to ditch these objections for you.
1. It’s a silly question. Really? Why? Because you think you should already know it? Because you think everyone else probably knows this and has never called your doctor to ask it? Not likely. In fact, I would wager Grandmommy’s cake stand that someone has asked it before. In fact, I challenge you to come up with a sincere, pregnancy-related question that your doctor has never heard! Now, for the sake of argument I’ll admit that silly questions are possible. If you called your doctor to ask, “What’s the likelihood that I’ll deliver a six-toed cat with black ears and a purple tail?” even I would call that silly.
2. I should know this. Why? You’ve never had a baby before! Don’t trip yourself up with this one; it’s silly ill-advised.
3. I should be able to figure this out. Well, if you let yourself go down that road, you just might convince yourself that you and the Hubs can ditch the doctor and deliver the baby yourself! Seriously, I know you’ve got a lot of great resources (ahem!) to consult when you want some information and I’m not suggesting that you ignore these, but just keep in mind that your doctor is the medical expert here. She’s the ultimate resource.
4. I can’t say that word out loud. Okay, I get this one, I really do. Fortunately, if it’s a problem, you have a great vocabulary and can probably get the idea across without saying the actual, precise, completely mortifying, anatomically correct word. If not, drive to your doctor’s office and write it on paper or draw a picture.
5. She’ll think I’m an idiot. I’ll make this brief: (a) No she won’t. (b) If she does she’s too professional to show it. (c) If not “a” or “b”, then get a new doctor! (On this point, please refer back to number one.)
The thing to keep in mind is that the doctor knows you are totally new at this. Guiding a first-time mom through all the little details is part of her job.
I’m so glad I got this out of my system!
Love,
K
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