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Last night Jered, my mom (she is in town visiting from Michigan) and I attended a Newborn Care Class at the North Florida Regional Hospital (where I will deliver). This was our first class that we have signed up for and I was pretty excited. The instructor was very knowledgeable and sweet and there were about 7 other couples at the class. All was going really well until the instructor showed a slide of a newborn getting his heel pricked. In the picture it appeared as though the baby only had four toes, b/c the pinky toe kind of curled up under the 4th toe. I noticed it immediately, but knew that there were actually five toes on the baby. Well, one of the Dad's shouts out something like, "Whoa it looks like that baby only has four toes!" or something dumb like that. Everyone starts laughing, "Ha ha...." The instructor made some ignorant comment too, like "oh no, you don't want a baby with four toes" and everyone just kept laughing. I sat there with a smile and looked at my amazing husband who whispered to me that only special babies, like ours, have four toes.
Really I felt embarrassed for everyone else in that class. If they only knew what some families, like ours, experience I wonder if they would have made such idiotic comments? I am trying to not let this upset me, but I am having a hard time shaking the sound of the laughter. We don't know if Eli only has four toes on his right foot, but he might and a lot of babies with FH don't have five full toes. It just makes me sick to think that someone could look at my precious baby and laugh like that...
This is just the beginning unfortunitly. People are ignorant, and as time goes on, you will be able to shout "No some babies rae born with 4 toes or 0 toes!" the words will come with time. Kristina, you will be such a great advocate for Eli. And kisses to jared for being such a strong, stand up guy! I think we are all blessed with wonderful husbands.
ReplyDeleteLet it roll of, those people just dont understand
Oh Kristina, there is always idiots in this world and it is such a shame you came across some on you first anti-natal class! Your Eli is going to be amazing because I think you and Jared are! Hang in there, Jenna is right we are blessed with fantastic husbands, and between the two of you and the support of you family and friends (whose opinion counts) you will get through this! Let me tell you the six months before Paddy's surgery and the time we had to make the decision I was a wreck, teary, emotional, I think I wrote the bleakest emails to Niki (luckily for me she was a huge support) I was so down in the dumps, but look at Paddy now, I can't get over it! We are thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that is so lame! I would complain to the instructor. Because as you said, no one knows what is going to happen with their unborn baby.
ReplyDeleteI know that right now it seems like it is a big deal to have a four toed baby but when he is here you will realize that his toes, foot or FH is only a very very small part of him. I agree to not let it bother you too much but I also would complain!
Hey, I'm from Michigan! Where does your mom live?
I didn't know you were a Michigander Niki! I am from the suburbs of Detroit - my mom lives in Troy. Jered is from Kalamazoo and has family in Grand Rapids. We met at Michigan and lived in Ann Arbor for 6 years. What about you?
ReplyDeleteAahhh, Michigan. I am from the outside suburbs of Grand Rapids. My mom and my family still live there. My dad lives in Ann Arbor. I went to WMU in Kalamazoo for a year. How funny!
ReplyDeleteWhat I meant to say in my comment was that you should talk to the instructor about what she said because she should know better.