You know yourself and your baby better than anyone, and you may find that what you think is the right thing to do is not always what the doctor tells you to do.
If you live in a big city, you may have to wait 45 minutes to an hour (or longer) for a Well Baby Check-up. This happened to us in Atlanta and by the time the doctor saw us our baby, long overdue for a nap, had screamed herself hoarse. The doctor looked in her ears and said she had an ear infection, and prescribed antibiotics and "something for the pain."
She didn't have an ear infection. She didn't need anything for the pain. She was tired. She needed to not be at the doctor's!
We filled the prescription and hightailed back to the crib. And found Robert S. Mendolsohn's masterful, readable, smart book called How to Raise a Healthy Child ... in spite of your doctor.
Mendolsohn points out that babies are often misdiagnosed as having ear infections from crying.
He also says that in Europe ear infections aren't usually treated.
We disposed of the unnecessary antibiotics and pain meds and that was the last Well Baby Check-up we ever took our baby to.
It can be really difficult to sort through to the bottom of medical issues; when I'm ill I want someone I can trust who knows everything. Unfortunately, doctors are not trained to know absolutely everything - it's important to do your own research! And find a doctor who will listen..
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