Dear Lactnet,
    I read with great interest Denny's post regarding "trusting" the mother
and her instincts.  Her daughter's heart situation being a case in point.
    For three years I was labeled "neurotic" about my daughter's weight and
frequent, greasy stools.  I made the rounds to GI specialists etc, knowing in
my heart of hearts she was "not right"......even my family thought I was an
anxious first-time older mother.
    Those of you that know me are aware of the saga of her cystic fibrosis
diagnosis at age 3.  I had been thinking and voicing CF since she was 7
months.
    My favorite adage is "listen to the mother"....it is best to rule out or
explore what is underlying a behavior, feeding or anatomical problem.
    As I do phone tirage now, I always listen to often vague clues from the
mom.  If she says "I just feel something is not right", she goes to the ped
or to our office depending on the situation.  Most of the time there is
something going on.  Maybe not life threatening, but just the same.  I always
applaud them for trusting their inner voice (intuition or instincts).
    It is too easy to gloss over, especially as we see so many normal things
that get overreactions.  But having walked in those shoes, as Denny has, I
think it cannot be reiterated enough.  Particularly because we are sometimes
the only health professional she may be sharing those concerns with.

Jan Ellen Brown RDH IBCLC
Charlotte, NC USA

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