Nine Month Well Baby

Ev was great with the nurse, happy and cooperative. She's 17lbs, 9oz and 27 1/2 inches long. And then the Doctor comes in. Ev was still happy and cooperative, however, I was not.

We're talking about Ev's diet, breast milk and table food. The Doctor is concerned about iron, since she's not on formula and doesn't eat baby cereal. He says if she doesn't have enough iron, it can lead to development delays, both physical and mental. I chuckled a little at that, as he had just finished telling me that she was advanced for her age. I tell him that I'm not opposed to iron supplements if she needs them. They prick her finger and check her iron. This is what the man says to me, word for word.

"Her iron is low. I'm not convinced that she will be mentally retarded or anything, but you've definitely shaved at least two points off of her IQ."

Wow, that's a really bad joke. He better not quit his day job. I'm staring at him with my mouth hanging open, waiting for the rest, there has to be a punchline or something. He's staring back at me. This guy is serious. He just looked me in the eye and told me that I made my child stupid. I didn't know you could determine something like that with a finger prick. Who says something like that to a mother?

I feel like I lost two IQ points just sitting in a room with that guy.

Along with low iron, Ev also has a slight ear infection in both ears. It's funny that the Doctor never mentioned that recent ear infections can cause mild anemia (because infections decrease the production of red blood cells). I'll give Ev her antibiotics for the ear infection and I'll even supplement her with iron twice a day, however, I will NOT go back to that moron with a clipboard. It's obvious that he had really low iron as a child.