The Not-So-Skinny Skinny Baby
This kid went to the GI specialist again yesterday. Pretty much, she said the same thing that everyone else, including the nurse practitioner at my own pediatrician's office said.
This is not what one expects to see when the chart says "Failure to Thrive."
My NP actually did a physical double take, like a character on a bad sitcom when she walked into the room for her well check visit two weeks ago. "Not what I was expecting!" was what she chirped. The GI specialist said that what her eyes were seeing in front of her and the numbers on her chart just didn't add up, to the point where they actually made them go take her measurements again.
The fact of the matter is that no one knows why my child is "underweight." She looks healthy (small, but still healthy) and is hitting all her developmental milestones either slightly early (did you see yesterday's post?) or right on time. She's not allergic to anything in my diet, as evidenced when I went on that stupid Total Elimination Diet. She's not having any stomach issues that we can tell. She sleeps well (okay, maybe not this week because we think she's teething, ugh) and she's generally in good spirits.
EVERYONE IS STUMPED.
A lot of people have told me, well, screw the doctors. If she seems fine and has no signs of anything wrong then just ignore them. I mean, it's not cheap, even with insurance. It's a pain in the butt to have to haul her to all these visits and it's so stressful for people to act like you're not trying your best to get your kid to eat! It's not like I'm trying to keep her from gaining weight!
The problem is that she is eating, but not eating enough. We finally got her over the 24 oz a day minimum that they've been harassing us about only to find that because she's grown, the minimum is now 28 oz a day. She's usually at 25 and you would think three ounces isn't that much, but it is.
She's gaining weight, but not gaining it fast enough. She dropped from an average of 8 point something grams a day to six point something grams a day in spite of eating more these days. The doctor said it's probably because she's more active now that she's discovered her own mobility.
The recommendation I left with after an hour of poking, prodding, questioning, and a $45 copay?
Put butter in her cereal. UGH. Maddening! Skinny baby needs to just eat already!!!
Labels: finn
Miss M told you so @ 3:44 AM
7 Comments:
Wishing you the best ! We had both our boys have a similar thing happen to them... It wasn't til they were 3 that that got back on the charts ... Good luck...she looks very happy. Mine were very content with breast feeding and weren't interest in eating solids for ages...closer to 9months. Then they could feed themselves more and a bit more interested in eating but like little birds. I remember the stress. Hugs.
I know that everyone's kids and experiences are totally different so don't pay any attention if this doesn't apply. But as you know we went through the whole Failure to Thrive here as well, and even went as far as getting 5 thingies of blood drawn from a barely 2 year old. For us the problem was that for about 4+ months Addison just stopped gaining any weight at all. We saw a Birth to 3 specialist, drew blood, and started her on Pediasure and the thing is that although she did start gaining weight again, she's still in the 3-5th percentile, a tiny baby. but she's hitting (and ahead) on most of the milestones and all the blood work came back normal. So you know what? She's just a small kid. That's just the way it is.
We have the same problem with my 21 month old. He eats fine, but doesn't seem to be gaining weight at the rate that they think he should.
All of my kids have been small for their age. My 9 year old didn't hit the 5th percentile until he was 8.
I think my son's problem is that he NEVER sits still. He is on the go from sun up to sun down. He looks fine, meets all the milestones and other than being a little small, it perfectly fine.
Just wanted to let you know that there are other moms out there fighting the same battle!
We have a very small grandson. Skinny as a rail and doesn't eat a whole lot. I say somebody has to be in the lower percentiles. I wouldn't worry as long as she's healthy!
All of my kids have done this as well. They are all turning out fine. some kids esp breastfed ones grow slower. Good Luck!
Miri was similar - not sure if you remember it all. She was never officially labeled failure to thrive, though. Hers ultimately was GI issues, and clearly she's fine now! Good luck with everything. Follow your gut instincts. With me, it was the opposite and the doctor's tried to tell us she was just small, when I knew in my heart there was something wrong!
My Daughter had a very similar problem and I finally figured out what it was (Not the Doc) My Daughter doesn't like (how do I put this) foods that have a strong taste. I also had her eat at regular intervals. She loved light flavor foods Banannas, oatmeal, carrots, creamy wheat, pasta (plain or with a tiny bit of butter or alfredo) raw broccoli, raw cauliflower, just foods that don't have a massive taste. She is 26 now and can eat anything (literally) Hope this helps. Aly :)
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