In need of some support

prayin4ablssn

My twins were born at 31 weeks, they are now a little over 4 mos old. They both have reflux, DS has it slightly, not enough that it has affected his weight. He only occasionally spits up, just a little dribble. DD on the other hand has it bad. She's only 4 mos and weighs 10 lbs 4 oz. Is that unheard of? We are seeing the GI specialist Friday to hopefully get this figured out. Just tonight, while torturing myself by watching the Duggar show, the thought popped into my head that they will want DD to have a feeding tube. I don't know why I have this in my head. I'm just paranoid because she's so tiny that the GI doctor is going to immediately want to stick her in the hospital with a feeding tube. I'm also afraid they will have to do surgery. I know the dr will know best and I trust his judgement. I just want to enjoy my babies and not worry myself sick anymore. What were your experiences when you went to the GI specialist?

beachykeen1723

Our babies are close in actual and adjusted age, and Cooper is around 10 lbs as well, and his doctor is happy with that.

Relax! Is DD on any medication for reflux? What have they tried so far to help her?

mcdev

Your doctors will undoubtedly try many options before recommending a feeding tube.  Have you tried any medications?  Sometimes it takes lots of trial and error to get the right dosage/medication to straighten things out.  There are many moms on here with children suffering from reflux and I'll bet they will be chiming in soon with advice.  As for 10 lbs at 4 months.....my DD wasn't 10lbs until 6 months and even now at 21 months old she's only 19 lbs.  As long as a baby is continuing along their own curve and is hitting milestones, developing appropriately, etc. most doctors don't get too concerned.  

SkypekWithoutAC

*hugs* Ditto the pp's, if your babies aren't on reflux meds at this point, I would start pushing for them. We tried Zantac first and had no luck, Prevacid has been a miracle drug for us. She went from crying 24/7 to STTN within a matter of days. As for the weight, we just had a weigh-in today and DD is at 10lb 5oz and she was born at almost 34 weeks and is older than your DD, so it's not THAT bad. She had been gaining weight appropriately for the first 6 weeks, then started to fall behind. We've had to start heavily supplementing her with formula (she had been BF). We're also going in for a full blood test as well as a cystic fibrosis test, just to be sure nothing is wrong.

The measurement they are most concerned with is head circumference. As long as that is still tracking correctly and her weight isn't completely stopped or losing, she'll be ok. Just make sure you get her on the right reflux meds, and keep pushing the issue until she is doing better. I had to go to the pedi's office several times a week until we got her reflux worked out. This too shall pass.

lhuttlinger

oh man! good luck! That's a lot of pressure to be under.

prayin4ablssn

Thank you all for calming my nerves. I don't know what I'd do without coming on here and venting my anxieties! Right now she is on Axid and Bethanachol. For awhile we thought it was working but now it's not and they have increased the dosage. I guess the biggest thing I feel is like they have already had to fight being born early and I don't want them to have any more pain. I want their lives to be easy cheese! I read some of the reflux meeting posts and I realize that it could be a lot worse. The dr did let us start some solids, she enjoys oatmeal made with pear juice and that helps the bottle stay down. I've tried squash too but she fights eating with a spoon in the evening, I guess when her reflux is really bothering her. Her brother is a chunky monkey so it's hard for me to keep from comparing the two.

SkypekWithoutAC

Definitely keep on them about the meds, if upping the dosage doesn't seem to work, I'd ask about switching it. Have you given Prevacid a try? I know a lot of girls on here have had success with it. We tried Zantac first and that was crap.

jkipp82

I just looked back at my blog where I track Carter's stats, and he was exactly 10lbs 4oz at 4 months 5 days.  He doesn't have any diagnosed reflux issues and the doctor was perfectly happy with his weight (born at 33wks 3lbs 10oz)...in fact, the NP commented "Wow, he's doing great, what do you feed him?!" 

Now I'm just waiting to hear what his new doctor says Thursday...I weighed him at home and he's 13.5 lbs at 7 months...

TriciaJoy

There are a LOT more options before you get to a tube. We have a G tube, but seriously, Robbie was 8 months old before he hit 10 pounds and we still were limping along trying other things.

Definitely don't freak out. There are so many more meds and options you can try.. talk to the GI.. they'll help!

Rachel&Joe

My DD is 8.5 months old (6 adjusted) & only weighs around 13 pounds.  she is tiny & while her mariad of doctors would prefer she gained weight a bit faster, there has never been a discussion of a feeding tube of any kind.  hang in there.  it's hard & many of us have big eating problems with our LOs but feeding tubes are more of a last resort thing.  maybe her formula/BM needs to be prepared at a higher calorie concentration?  DD is on 24 cal formula--it's the only way that she gains weight since she eats such a small volume.  good luck.

lemen99

(hugs) I know how stressful that is!  We go to a GI specialist and it's very helpful! 

The GI doctor has a "less is more attitude" and takes conservative approaches.  Certainly they would never just stick in a feeding tube without just cause.

shanrob

Our GI doctor was pretty happy with DD's weight gain, and she wasn't even quite 10 lbs at 6 months.  At four months, I think she was around 7 or so.  As long as she was gaining a little, he accepted it.  There was no talk of feeding tubes or the like.  I think they will try every other possible option before resorting to that, if it's at all possible.  Good luck!

borc0080

DD was only 10lbs 10oz at 4 months and her doctor was quite pleased with that - no mention of a tube or doing anything differently.  Good luck!