Les Jones: Katie Day 7 - Antibiotic Antics

September 29, 2004

Home Life > Katie Day 7 - Antibiotic Antics

Katie's motor skills keep improving. Her face is more expressive. She stretches more in the crib. She hasn't started sucking on her thumb, but she can move her hands to her face and put her fingers in her mouth. I caught a little of that on videotape last night.

Katie had a pediatrics appointment today, and everything looked good. She's gained a couple of ounces since she was born, which is unusual - most babies lose a little bit of weight the first week.

Melissa has a mild case of thrush, probably brought on by the antibiotics she got in the hospital. Her grandmother says the cure is to have the seventh member of your family blow in your mouth. Melissa asked how you can tell which family member is seventh, but granny wasn't sure, so we're going to stick with the boring old antibiotics the doctor prescribed.

We got a a little more sleep last night. Hopefully tonight will be even better.

Don't listen to that natural child birth, have-your-baby-in-a-pile-of-leaves-nonsense

So when the doctor started the C-section she found out why Katie didn't deliver through the birth canal. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck twice. If we had been delivering in a cabin in the woods instead of a hospital she and Melissa wouldn't have made it. Always go to the hospital if you have a choice.

Watch those meds

Melissa was given erythromycin one time and had an allergic reaction. Ever since then she's been careful to tell doctors about it when they ask if she has any allergies. She told the doctors when she went to the hospital to deliver, but they gave her a tube of erythromycin cream anyway. I don't know if it would have caused a reaction if it was used topically, but I'm glad I spotted it.

Posted by lesjones

Comments

made it. Always go to the hospital if you have a choice.
they gave her a tube of erythromycin cream anyway.

Ah, sweet logic.

Posted by: Steve K. at September 30, 2004

Yeah, if we'd gone to Master Yogi's Baby Teepee they would have used something safer, like a mud poultice. :-)

Posted by: Les Jones at September 30, 2004

On a more serious note...

Assuming that the topical cream had caused a problem, the hospital was in a position to deal with it.

Someone giving birth at home can suddenly find themselves way over their heads and in desparate need of a hospital's services.

Posted by: Les Jones at September 30, 2004

Well, as my physisican brother says -- the last place you want to be when you're sick is the hospital.

Anyway -- Jeez Les. The antibiotic mixup was pure gold. Lawsuit city. And you let it slip. Hospital births are the single most excellent way to cash in in our society. Just ask my cousin -- the last obstetrician in Mississpi, as my bother puts it -- he pays (no joke) almost $100,000/year in malpractice premiums.

Sarcasm hat off, Edwards having a greased path to the presidency was enough to at least make me think twice about staying home this Nov 2. It certainly convinced the rest of my family to vote for GWB, despite their disgust with his inept war.

Posted by: Steve K. at September 30, 2004