Dare I Trust My Intuition?

By Mary Carmichael | NEWSWEEK
Published Jan 31, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Feb 9, 2009

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  • Posted By: Irish Dane @ 03/06/2009 9:58:54 PM

    I enjoyed this article. I am a firm believer of following your intuition . When my second child was three weeks old I noticed that she had a strange cry. I was alarmed but she did not have any other symptoms but a strange cry now and then. My family, husband ,sister and mother felt I was being overly anxious of the newborn. I felt there was something wrong. I took her temperature and it was slightly elevated not quite 100 derees but my instinct told me she was sick. I called the Dr and insisted she should be seen. It turned out that my child had viral meningitis. From her cry, I knew something was definately wrong. She was hospitalized and placed on antibiotics. Today she is a beautiful 23 yr old. I have always trusted my instinct since that experience. Good Luck and blessings with your child.

  • Posted By: Dr. Polly @ 02/17/2009 11:21:21 AM

    If you choose to breastfeed, Mary, will it be because it's so cozy and fun or because of the mountain of evidence showing its many benefits?

  • Posted By: Dr. Polly @ 02/17/2009 11:18:53 AM

    If you choose to breastfeed, Mary, will it be because it's so much fun or because of the mountains of evidence showing it's benefits?

  • Posted By: desertlawyer @ 02/06/2009 2:49:43 PM

    In the 90's they convinced us that our boys were ADHD and then proscribed dagnerous drugs. PBS released a documentary last year on mediating kids. It concludes that these medidations wereall along experimental and have serious side effects. Tust your instincts.

  • Posted By: chponygirl @ 02/06/2009 2:24:16 PM

    Congratulations on your upcoming baby, and thanks so much for writing this article. There is no right way of raising children. I am a first time mom as well. I have a 2 year old son. Being an environmental analyst by trade, I too look for fact evidence when faced with making a decision. Thus far from my experience as a new mom I have found that you need to research everything take into account what you have found and apply your common sense, mother's intuition what ever you want to call it when making your decisions. I do not agree with relying 100 per cent on your intuition, nor do I believe in soley trusting your doctor to have all the answers. My pediatrician said I was an over reacting first time mother when I expressed to him, on multiple occasions, my concerns about my sons breathing - he was having long pauses - he dismissed it as being normal and that I was overly concerned. The next day my baby stopped breathing on me and turned blue in the lips. I found a pediatric pulmonary specialist that saw me that morning and later that week my son was tested for sleep apnea and he was off the charts for episodes. He underwent surgery the following week to try to identify the cause of his apnea. Findings were that his airway was blocked by his tongue when placed to sleep on his back. In other words his tongue was a bit big for his lower jaw and it was falling back obstructing his airway when put to sleep on his back. From then on he wore a breathing/heart monitor until he was a year old and we placed him on his tummy to sleep. Trust your instincts and look for a pediatrician that is willing to listen to you. They only spend a few mins observing your child, you spend countless hours. Also, I can't recommend enough to you and every new mon to be watch the happiest baby on the block dvd. It was a lifesaver for my husband and I. It works and is full of great information. Also Sleepsense is another great resource in helping you learn to put your new baby to sleep. Best of Luck

  • Posted By: readerq @ 02/06/2009 12:58:41 PM

    Deciding what is best for your child should based your judgement of doctors, friends, relatives, your own research, and ultimately you gut feel. If you want to have medical buy in on everything, you may never have the answers you need. Not to belittle doctors, it's just that you spend a heck of a lot more time observing your child, than a doctor, and sometimes you find the answer to your problem without medical buy in. That's call being a mom.

  • Posted By: Brian in NH @ 02/06/2009 12:16:04 PM

    Why don't we consult with a child expert. Just ask Nadya Suleman...........she must know everything about kids and she always makes such good decisions.

  • Posted By: jakeandelwood @ 02/06/2009 11:55:52 AM

    I agree with boscobear. Stop trying to itellectualize nature. It will just happen!! As a physician who takes care of kids daily I see way too many parents, Mothers and Fathers, looking for a Bible on how to raise kids. I really belive it's because they do NOT want the responsibilty of making a mistake!! Forget that!! Be a human and make a decision without "expert" consulatation or advice. Trust your instincts, it has worked for generations... there's your expert consultaion, generations before you can't be wrong!

  • Posted By: SeattleKat @ 02/06/2009 11:30:23 AM

    Mary: I trust my gut on so many things but with my sons, my instinct has failed me in matters health more than once. Try having a son who was incredibly challeneged visually who, for years, I made excuses for when he would fail eye exams. "He's too shy. He doesn't like being tested." Yadda yadda. Or the fact that he walks on tiptoes-- "it's just a quirk". Nope again. Tight heel cord syndrome. After two major surgeries intended to "correct" both matters, I'm now a mom dedicated to not just listening to my instincts but watching with a close , even suspicious eye. Kids need us to be their health advocates. No pressure ;)

  • Posted By: boscobear @ 02/04/2009 2:25:48 PM

    When you had your baby were you at the same time reading a book of instructions on how to do it. Quit contemplating your belly button fuzz and get on with raising your little rug rat.

  • Posted By: Rational Mom @ 02/04/2009 1:55:47 PM

    No ???best practices??? on parenting? I think you???re creating a false dichotomy. First of all, on numerous issues, including feeding and sleeping, there is a consensus among people who study the particular phenomenon and publish their findings in peer-reviewed publications. That is what I would call ???best practices.??? Secondly, if by no ???best practices??? you mean that there???s no consensus among the faculty of Google University, then you???re looking in the wrong places. Thirdly, gathering information from reliable sources and making a judgment call on the basis of that research, though and discussion is not following one???s gut. And, last but not least, Jonah Lehrer may well tell us accurately ???how we decide,??? but is that the same as how we should decide?

  • Posted By: Rational Mom @ 02/04/2009 1:55:17 PM

    No ???best practices??? on parenting? I think you???re creating a false dichotomy. First of all, on numerous issues, including feeding and sleeping, there is a consensus among people who study the particular phenomenon and publish their findings in peer-reviewed publications. That is what I would call ???best practices.??? Secondly, if by no ???best practices??? you mean that there???s no consensus among the faculty of Google University, then you???re looking in the wrong places. Thirdly, gathering information from reliable sources and making a judgment call on the basis of that research, though and discussion is not following one???s gut. And, last but not least, Jonah Lehrer may well tell us accurately ???how we decide,??? but is that the same as how we should decide?

  • Posted By: Vigilance @ 02/03/2009 3:30:59 PM

    Oprah has some badly egregious horse**** on her show sometimes...

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