"Something's not right," I told the pediatrician at around 2 a.m. on the phone, through tears.
I'd been a mom for two whole weeks and had a desperate, gnawing feeling that my son's incessant crying was more than just newborn antics.
"Could he have acid reflux maybe?" I asked to which I heard an audible sigh.
"No," the doctor told me. "He doesn't really have stomach acid. You probably just have a colicky baby. Try gas drops. You got this."
Click.
I looked down at my wailing infant and shook my head. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe he is just fussy?
But as time went on, and everything under the sun didn't help, I booked an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist.
I described my baby's symptoms, his habits, and she almost immediately diagnosed him with acid reflux.
I began crying in her office, saying I knew it was something like that, but no one believed me. I felt so guilty that my kid had been suffering so much and was so unhappy when I knew in my bones there was a fix.
The specialist looked me dead in the eye and said, "Always trust your gut. The worst thing that happens? You're wrong, and really that's not so bad, is it?"
I realized then that my intuition was the strongest tool I have in my motherhood tool kit, and I vowed to never disregard it again. And to any new moms out there who feel like they are being made to feel like they are crazy, I urge you to press on. Because there's a large chance you're not.
Your mom intuition is your superpower. Use it.
Since then, I've successfully pre-diagnosed my kid with everything from ear infections to asthma.
As a mom, it's your job to be dogged in the pursuit of your kid's well-being. You and your partner are with your baby more than anyone else is, and if you feel like something is off, chances are you're probably right.
This isn't to say you'll never be wrong as a mom. You will be.
I know I have been plenty of times. I'd rather risk being wrong though, than taking the chance of being right and my kid suffering for it. Your mom intuition is a real thing. Have confidence in it and use it judiciously.
That old pediatrician was right about one thing: I do got this. Because I got my mama's intuition and you have yours.
