- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Preemies
Grrr.. frustrated with nutritionist.
So you all know that Robbie doens't eat. He's 99% tube fed. Takes a few spoons of purees here or there, but that's about it. He did managed to eat a puff yesterday and two today (I nearly did cartwheels in my living room) but by and large, he refuses food.. if he put anything with any texture in his mouth, he gags until he pukes.
So I asked to see a nutritionist through EI. Basically, I know he's not getting what he needs because he won't eat, so I need advice on working around it.
Wanna know what her big advice was today? "He really needs to eat some solid food. He needs more fiber."
YA THINK?
Jeebus H.
Gee, why didn't I think of that. I guess I should just start feeding him and all would be well, huh? Why didn't I think of that?
Oh.. and I also got a big lecture about him gaining 4lb in July and how that's too much and he probably won't eat because I keep him too full.
Nevermind that he's just made it onto a growth chart for the first time in his life and was grossly malnourished for months.. AND that I explained that I haven't been feeding him any more at all, but all of a sudden he's just requiring fewer calories.
I swear.. I must have stupid written on my forehead.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Grrr.. frustrated with nutritionist.
not really, mcdev. I asked about transitioning to whole cow's milk and she just said "go slowly" and siad she was worried it would cause some constipation for him since he's had trouble with it in the past. But that wasn't exactly news.
Honestly, she didn't really have much to say except "he needs fiber" "he gained too much weight" "he's too full" and "wow." (there was a lot of "wow.")
This was just the add meeting, so it wasn't a formal session or anything. I'll give her another shot when she comes out to actually discuss things, but honestly, if she can't do something a little better than this, I'll just stop seeing her.
I'm fully aware of how much weight he should be gaining (the 4 pounds snuck up on me. Like I said, he went from barely squeaking by to gaining like gang-busters.. I wasn't expecting that) and can tweak his caloric needs by myself. I really wanted more advice on something like a blenderized diet.. supplements, that sort of thing.
Of course, I'll continue to try to get him to eat solids, but we can't rely on that as a source of nutrition. Honestly, our therapists have said not to TRY to rely on it for nutrition because it's just too much pressure on both him and me... right now the focus is on trying to get him to like food.. to trust food.. if he gets one bite in and down- that's success.
But in the meantime, I need him nourished..
My Blog
Thanks! That's so sweet and means a lot. I worry a lot about if I'm doing enough and it's nice to hear someone thinks so.
Being a preemie mom certainly is a whole new world, eh?
My Blog
That lady sounds...Awesome.
Yeah on the puffs. That is actually awesome.
I put in a quick call to my mom. On her list that she has she said it didn't appear that Pediasure had corn syrup. There is also something called Nutran Jr. that does not have corn. Pediasure (and others) come with Fiber so you could get that version to help with the fiber issue.
When adding something new in - I would try doing a mix of 1/4 cows milk and the rest of whatever else he is getting (BM or formula). If he tolerates it than go to 1/2 and then 3/4, etc.
As for his weight gain. That can certainly happen. Olivia had to be cut back several times on her feeding amount because she gained way too much weight. Could try one of two things - keep everything the same and do a weight check again in a couple of weeks. If the gain stays consistent than you know you need to cut back. The other weight could have been incorrect. If it goes up more than you can try taking out about 90 calories a day and see what happens.
I hope that helps...
vouvoune, Robbie didn't qualify for speech therapy.. we do feeding therapy with his OT, though. I'll have to look up the stuff you're talking about. We'll try anything!
PP- thanks for the info. Right now, they're having us stick with the Good Start formula.. though that's interesting about the pediasure. I'll keep that in mind. And thanks for the info on the milk. I bought a half gallon of whole milk, but have been too scared to try it. I might make one bottle with it tonight (25%) and go from there..
My Blog
Gaaahhhh! Can't win for losing! She must not have heard a single thing you probably explained in long and great detail so as to provide her with the most important information. Dumb ass nutritionist!
But YAAAAY for eating puffs! OMG! Tricia that is amazing! Take it for what it is, keep putting it there in front of him and maybe he'll just decide he's ready to do it when you're not looking. Big HUGS!!!!
If I've learned anything this year it's that nutritionists seem to have no actual useful knowledge. I have become so disillusioned with them and their advice because it's just so stupid. They keep telling me that Emma needs to eat more. No duh, wtf do you think I'm trying to do moron??
I'm sorry you are frustrated, I totally know how you feel
Need help with high fat food ideas? Chunky Monkey
Part of the problem is that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist without having the proper training or knowledge. There are useful people out there but they are hard to find.
When you're looking for someone - try and find a dietician. They should have a master's degree as well as being credentialed. To have that they need to go through continuing education too.
Hopefully you can find someone who has experience with preemies or kids with feeding issues.
Disclaimer: My mom is a dietician who does an awesome job with the kiddos that she sees so of course I'm a tiny (a lot) biased.
pp- your mom has already been more helpful to me than all of the other nutritionists (NICU, NICU follow up program, EI & GI doc's) combined.
At one point the NICU follow up program was supposed to be trying to find us a "developmental nutritionist" (whatever that is) but I never did get a referral.. I don't think they could find one in my area..
The more I think about today, the more angry I get. When she said "of course he's not eating, he's getting so many calories now that he's not hungry" I was just flabbergasted. Robbie stopped eating in November.. he didn't have a tube. He was literally starving.. whether he's hungry or not, he doesn't eat. Yes, I agree he needs to get hungry to try to eat. That's why I let him go a long period during the day before I work with him on stuff.. He gets a slow drip in the morning (because he's so pukey) that is done by 10. It's not like he gets a full feeding at 10.. his stomach is probably empty by 10:30. I work on his feedings around 1:00. Is he starving? Probably not.. but a normal kid would eat every few hours.. it's not unreasonable..
But she's trying to tell me to completely drop a feeding that would be almost 150 calories.. I think that's a lot.
Anyway, now I'm just being pissy.. I should shut up and go to bed.
My Blog