Never mind

Matthew's not going for a barium swallow on Friday. Or at all. Mummy called radiology back this morning and she was very, very polite, but despite three different people giving different answers, the best she could get was that Matthew would need to be starved for 6, no 4, no 6 again, hours before his appointment and 2pm is the earliest they have.

This is BECAUSE he is a baby - not in spite of it. If he was an adult he could have a morning appointment, but a paediatrician has to be there and they only do the afternoon shift. Apparently all children are made to wait hungry during the day while their adult counterparts are attended to after sleeping through their fasting period.

Presumably it's easier to leave the kids upset because they're too young to complain to the hospital staff and their parents are left to manage them.

Mummy feels awful and very selfish for cancelling the appointment, but Matthew is only 7 months old, has only recently started weaning and is still getting most of his intake from breastmilk. When she's around he wants fed every 2 hours. He feeds little and often, on demand, and we think he does this because it helps him to keep the feed down. Mummy can't let him cry for 6 hours. He was only getting this test because of the doctor messing up in the first place anyway. We know what's wrong with him and no amount of tests will change it.
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On the flip-side, his other bottom tooth has broken through gum now as well. Two for one!