In the early days of my daughter’s life, I found myself fixated on the scale. Every three days, I would take her to the pediatrician, anxiously watching as the nurse weighed my squirming little one. I often closed my eyes and silently wished for even a slight gain, but the numbers rarely budged. Each visit ended in a mix of embarrassment and disappointment as I gathered her fragile, bare body and left the office, feeling defeated.
After calming down, we would devise a new feeding strategy: nurse every two hours, pump, and then supplement. I complied with this increasingly complicated routine, sacrificing my peace of mind in the process. Each day, I would return home, preparing for the next weigh-in, hoping for any sign of progress. Most often, I was met with more disappointment.
I had never imagined that having a small baby would be a struggle. While pregnant, I skipped buying newborn clothes, confident my baby would be bigger. My own experience as my mom’s first child — weighing 9 pounds — had set my expectations high.
Before my pregnancy, I had come to terms with the scale no longer reflecting my health journey. I focused instead on how I felt physically — my endurance, strength, and overall fitness. But my 7-pound daughter challenged this newfound perspective, stirring up feelings of inadequacy that I thought I had buried.
Each weigh-in took me back to my own past struggles with weight loss, where I’d try every fad diet and workout regimen, often losing sight of what truly mattered. I focused on altering numbers on the scale rather than enjoying life’s little moments. For my daughter, this meant endless nursing and pumping, while I skimmed the fat from my milk to add to her food for extra calories.
Despite my efforts, I still felt let down. “Is she meeting her milestones?” my lactation consultant asked one day. My daughter, in response, lifted her head and cooed, showing no signs of developmental delays despite her slow growth. “Plenty of wet diapers?” she probed. I nodded, realizing that I was allowing the scale to dictate my emotions.
A wise friend reminded me that someone has to be in the lower percentiles just as much as someone has to be at the top. This perspective shift helped me realize that bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s not worth obsessing over numbers. My daughter was happy and healthy, and so was I.
It took my daughter’s challenges to teach me to prioritize what truly matters over the scale — health, happiness, and connection.
If you’re looking for more insights into pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource on the IVF process or explore fertility supplements to boost your chances of conception.
Summary
This article reflects on the author’s journey of learning to let go of her obsession with the scale after experiencing her daughter’s struggle with weight gain. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on overall health and happiness rather than numbers, ultimately highlighting the uniqueness of each individual’s body and growth journey.