Re: <---Frantic, Nuerotic, Overwelmed, Mom-To-Be, Needs Words Of Encouragemnt

[Guest guest]

Seema,

I know everyone else has said this, but I have to repeat it, you will

be okay, and so will the baby. Your baby is going to tbe treated by

the best clubfoot/orthopedic doctor in the world. Not only is he the

best, but he will be one of the kindest, gentlest men you will ever

meet. Your baby could not be in a better situation or hands.

In some ways, I envy your preparedness, but that is only because I

have been through this once before. Like said, you are at a

advantage with prepared care, but at a disadvantage with worry of the

unknown. I probably would have been as " neurotic " as you if I had

known prior to the birth but had never been through it before. I now

will always try to find out about my kids feet before they are born.

You will get through this. CLubfoot is TOTALLY correctable. Dr.

Ponseti will do his best to help your baby avoid surgery. All will

be fine. In a couple of months, this will all be a thing of the past

and you will marvel at your baby's beautiful feet. Our prayers will

be with you. Relax and prop your feet up. It will be fine.

By-the-way, do you know if it's a boy ar a girl?

In Him,

Suzanne, and Sam Holton

P.S. Having gone through both being induced and having a child born

with clubfoot, I personally would be more nervous about the

inducing. But then, unlike you, I don't enjoy childbirth. I kind-of

wish those stories about the stork dropping them off were true. )

>

>

> Dear Fellow Mommies and Daddies:

> well, my doctor has just informed me that he will Induce me on

> Thursday morning and I am OFFICIALLY petrified! not of Labor and

> delivery... I have two Beautiful kids Thank God...Labor and

delivery

> has always been okay with me. It's the dealing with the bilateral

> Clubfeet that is overwhelming me. I am so frightened by what the

> next several weeks will bring. We have our tickets for Iowa City

and

> RMH is expecting us some time in Early February. I hope I can

handle

> all the the office visits and castings. I keep reading and

rereading

> all the posts and I end every letter with " What If that happens to

> me? " What if my child needs a heel cord transfer after several

weeks

> of enduring the casts? What If my child needs major surgery

because

> nothing works. I know I should be thinking positively and saying

> things like " Thank God I came across this board with all you

> wonderful supportive parents and Dr. Ponseti and his highly

qualified

> staff etc etc etc but I still keep coming back to all those

> awful " What If's " Can you imagine, I got off the phone with my

OB's

> office and actually burst into tears. I should be so excited and

> happy instead I am so frightened. Well, I feel better just letting

> off some of this nervous energy. If any of you mommies or daddies

> who have been through the uncertainty of it all have any words of

> encouragement or support... by all means send the emails my way...

> I hope one day I will look back on all my nuerotic anxiety and

laugh

> about it. Until then I guess I'll just have to take long deep

> breaths.....

> Speak to you soon...

> Seema G.

[Guest guest]

Seema,

Oh, I wish I could convince you to 'lay down' your worries about your

babies feet....If you can manage to trust that you have done all the

preparing you can do, and trust...IT WILL BE OK.

Anticipation of the unknown is almost ALWAYS worse than the reality,

isn't it? And I agree, that once you get to Iowa and have that 1st

appointment, your minds will be much more at ease in regards to the

treatment your baby will be receiving.

Of COURSE you can handle it all! Most people simply fear things that

they are unfamiliar with, and for now you're not 'familiar' with how

the whole process will work. Your time really would be best spent in

anticipation of how you will be getting an AWESOME gift on THURSDAY!!!

As far as the " What IF's " ....I've been watching Oprah and there's a

guy on there named Dr. Phil McGraw...and he challenges EVERYONE who

asks the question " What If? " to answer the question.

For example: What if your baby needs a heel cord tenotomy?

A: Then he'd/she'd get a tenotomy. He/She may cry some.

You may cry some. You'll feel bad that your

baby is crying. You may even feel guilty.

Then What? Then he'd have a better chance at a flexable

foot afterwards.

Then What? He'd also have a scar about 1/4 " or less long.

Then What? It would bleed through the cast a little bit. You

may have to give him pain meds for a day or two.

Then What? You may not get good sleep for a couple of nights.

Then What? He'd have a cast on for 3 weeks. Then the casts

would come off.

Then What??????

The point being here....you'll work through all of the issues as they

come up. What's the point of anticipating and agonizing over

possible scenarios. You WILL be able to handle whatever comes your

way.

Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy your baby! (That is after you do

all that work in getting him/her here)

I'm sooooooooo excited for you!!! Good Luck with EVERYTHING!!!!

Lori and Annika