Tummy Time

Tummy time was difficult from the very beginning even before we knew about the stroke. But so many friends explained that their children disliked it as well that we just kept trying. Of course, I had my fears that Anna probably hated it more than these children, but I had no proof. So I fought between thinking I was overreacting and thinking I was onto something - but what?

She cried a lot but we persevered. We got down on our stomachs so she had someone to model. We repeatedly opened her right hand trying to show her it was easier with two open hands. We placed toys out of reach, rolled up towels to prop under her chest. We used the Boppy to do the same and bought the 'farm' - a tummy time toy to distract her. Still, very little came of it.

She started to roll on her side at about 4 months and could hold her head up at around 3 months so she was still reaching other milestones. But she continued to be a stubborn little thing when it came to the floor!

And then there was the spitting. So not only did she hate being on her tummy, but she spit up almost as soon as we turned her over. So that was one theory - the poor little person gets gas pains as soon as we put her on her stomach - no wonder she hates it so much. And once she started eating food, well, it just made the spit up more colorful!

So that added timing into the mix - not only did we dread our sessions throughout the day, but we also had to time it so she had virtually an empty stomach otherwise her 'lunch' would wind up on the floor. I feel bad for all of our friends who gave us such cute clothes because they were practically covered for the first six months of her life with bibs and burp cloths!

Of course, I always had a nagging feeling about Anna's tummy time hatred. If only the doctors and friends could see just how much she hated it, then they might not compare her to the other children who reportedly 'hated' tummy time. But I felt too sheepish to continue to call the doctor, and I didn't want to sound like a broken record to my friends. Although, it wasn't that the nagging feeling was about anything specific - I mean, I never imagined anything like a cerebral vascular accident. I just wanted the screaming to stop!

But looking back it seems so obvious. She fisted her right hand, pushed up mainly with her left hand so she was lopsided and collapsed very easily. When I see other babies push up so easily, I can't help but think how I didn't diagnose her on the spot.

My brain wrestled with that thought a lot when Anna was first diagnosed. I appeased myself by telling myself that regardless of not knowing, we still did the right thing and placed her on her stomach. But I guess I felt that I would have been even more diligent knowing the cause. As you can imagine, my brain went back and forth all day with these two opposing thoughts until it was finally bedtime and my mind could rest.