Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
    I have only sympathy to offer. It must have been a really scary
    experience.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Rochelle

    Hello --
    
    	I know, from my limited experience at motherhood, (Alexa is
    8 months old) that seeing your little one hooked up to monitors
    and I.V.'s is one of the the most heart-wrenching experiences. 
    
    	My thoughts and prayers and with you and little Stuart!
    
    Sheryl                                                        

    From the little I've read, he could well be fearful of having to go
    back to the hospital, or just responding to the ordeal he's been
    through.
    
    best of luck,
    

    I've had LOTS of experience with a sick child and I'd say that his
    reaction (reverting) is normal...I'm surprised the doctor didn't
    mention this.  Even though he's only 9 months old, being in the
    hospital and around strange people who are picking and poking at him is
    a traumatic experience.  He should forget it soon but until he does I'd
    say, just give him some special attention.  Once he's feeling a bit
    more secure again I'm sure he'll be fine.
    Best wishes!
    
    Marie
    

    	I have had lots of surgeries and stays in the hospital and it is
    difficult for an adult to cope, I can only imagine what it would be like
    for an infant! Just think of what he has had to go through, he was in
    great pain, he was taken to a strange place, poked, probed, stuck, and
    hurt in various other ways by strangers, he was in a strange bed, the
    list goes on and on.

    	Basically his world has been disrupted and he may have lost some
    trust that his world will take care of him. Reverting sounds like very
    normal behavior, he is in fact, making *sure* that you take care of
    him. He is trying to test you to make sure that things will once be as
    they were. Be patient, give him lots of cuddles and reassurance that
    you will be there and will take care of him. Don't belittle his fears,
    they are very justified, let him know that you understand he is afraid
    and work with him to re-establish trust in his environment.

    	The nightmares, the behavior, should all cease as he realizes that
    he is once again safe.

    	Wendy who still has occasional nightmares about surgeries

    I understand what your saying about the trauma involved for a young
    child in the hospital.  Don't loose sight of the concept that
    'ignorance is bliss'.  By this I mean an uninformed young child would
    have more trouble anticipating some of the unpleasant medical procedures
    which can happen to a person than an older person who KNOWS what may lie
    in wait in the hospital.. such as invasive tests, chemotherapy and
    other medical procedures which cause mental and physical suffering as
    inadvertent by products. 

    I know from my own experience that the first time I had X procedure it
    wasn't so bad, after that it got WORSE because I was no longer ignorant
    of what I was going to to through.

    So.... while I am sure its difficult for an infant, don't underrate
    what older children and adults go through too.

    Jeff

    
    
    I am in agreement with .4.  My son, Doug, was ill at 14 1/2 months.  He
    was just of the bottle a short time.  Although his illness did not in-
    volve an operation, he did have some type of virus which had him going
    at both ends.  He reverted to wanting to be breast or bottle
    feed--would not take from the cup.  The breast feeding was out although
    I tried and I had to run out to the store early in the morning to get a
    bottle (I was staying with my folks at the time.)  Doug did accept the
    cup after a couple of days. 
    
    So this is another example of regression when a child is ill.  Bear
    with it and get back to normal when he is ready.
    
    				
    					Darlene

    
    My son Kevin was in the hospital when he was just barely 2 months old
    with a Respitory virus (in our language a cold).  My husband had taken
    him to the doctors because he wasn't drinking his bottle very much and
    when he did he was spitting up.  They sent them too the hospital for
    blood tests and chest x-rays.  They thought he might have bronchitis
    but, didn't.  They ended up admitting him.  I got outta work and went
    straight for the hospital.  I got there and they had him hooked up too
    an IV.  He was as white as a ghost.  We didn't stay during the night
    because he was sleeping through.  The next morning my husband and I
    went to the hospital and he was hooked onto another monitor which
    checked his heartbeat and his lung rate.  He was also in oxygen to
    clear him up.  He ended up staying there for 7 days.  We would talk to
    the nurses when we got there.  One of them said she spent quite a bit
    of time in holding Kevin even though he would fall asleep on her so,
    I know that he was being spoiled rotten.  This was our first time ever
    having one of our (3) kids admitted so it made me a little bit nervous.
    
    The nurses at the hospital got used to me calling at lunch and had
    information for me and told me if the doctor had already been in to
    check him.  Even though he was sick he didn't lose any weight and his
    appetite hadn't changed once he got it back.
    							carol