Looking Out for Number Two Quotes

“As you’ll read in Chapter 11, when colic was first described in the 1950s it was the hot new thing. And throughout the latter twentieth century whenever a baby cried, she was diagnosed with colic. It was a constellation of symptoms positioned as a diagnosis that had no clear treatment. For better or worse, colic was the label that kept pediatricians free and clear from fixing the problem. There was no fix. Fast-forward to the early twenty-first century. Reflux is the new colic. Unfortunately, some of my colleagues have fallen into the habit of labeling every inexplicably fussy baby with reflux. What’s worse, some act on the impulse and prescribe medications when they’re not indicated. Some of this is a function of a new label. Part of this may be a consequence of doctors seeing more and more babies in the same eight-hour clinic day. A label and the promise of a pill have a certain appeal when facing a desperate, tired mom in a six-minute follow-up visit. So proceed with caution if your doctor hears crying, sees a dirty burp cloth, and immediately wants to start medication. Remember that you are your baby’s lead advocate. Take the time to consider all that we’ve talked about over the past few pages before assuming medication is the only and best solution.”
― Bryan Vartabedian, Looking Out for Number Two: A Slightly Irreverent Guide to Poo, Gas, and Other Things That Come Out of Your Baby – A Top Gastroenterologist's Manual on Newborn Wellness