4 months - White Coat Syndrome

Aubrey had her 4 month baby well visit last May. We absolutely adore her pediatrician. She is very kind, down to earth, and most importantly has a relaxing affect on us. This is important especially for me because when it comes to health matters I can be a bit of an alarmist. This of course is not all my fault after all I was diagnosed with a somewhat rare autoimmune disorder ITP just 1 month after Cameron and I became engaged. Currently, I've been enjoying 18 months of treatment free remission. In addition to my health battles my occupation also greatly contributes. I work in Oncology/Hematology in infusion therapy. The majority of my patients are living with some type of cancer diagnosis. Whether or not they are receiving palliative or curative treatment they are all in my mind survivors. Their courage and strength amaze me everyday. Some of their stories can be a bit disconcerting especially those whose diagnosis were delayed ultimately leading to a poorer prognoses. I have heard many, many, stories. I have learned that an unexplained symptom should never be ignored. For example, some of my patients were continuously referred to physical therapy for that "unexplained pain" only to discover a large and poorly differentiated tumor months later. So, having a pediatrician that has a calming affect on us is just what the doctor ordered.

Aubrey's 4 month stats:

Weight: 13.3 lbs - 40 percentile

Length: 24.5 inches- 60 percentile

Head Circ: 16.5 inches- 75 percentile

Aubrey must have had some flash backs from her previous appointments because the moment the medical assistant (the same one who has given her her shots) started measuring her she started to fuss. One minute later (we haven't even seen the MD yet) she is in a full blown meltdown. Nothing was going to stop her from crying at this point. Her pediatrician came in and performed her assessment calm, cool, collected as usual. It did not seem to phase her that Aubrey was screaming her head off. She was even able to listen to her lungs through her stethoscope without hesitation. It was then the MAs turn as she entered with her 4 month vaccinations. 40 minutes had elapsed by then and Aubrey was still screaming. She had never cried this long, this hard, and in a public setting for that matter. As I left the office I saw little scared faces in the waiting room as I try to sneak out a screaming baby. We made it into the car and the crying finally ceased. Poor little Aubrey. Looks like we have an extreme case of the "white coat syndrome."