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July 2011 Moms
lucylea
member
Those with tiny babies
lucylea
member
As some of you may remember, DS is very small (13 pounds at 9 months) and I have always been confident then he just takes after me and is going to be small since he is otherwise healthy and extremely happy. At his 9 month appointment, though, his length drastically dropped off the curve (only grew 1/2 inch in 3 months) so we started testing to rule out a failure to thrive situation. Now my confidence has been shaken a bit. We have done lots of labs (CBC, CMP, celiac panel, thyroid panel) as well as a chest x-ray. All but the celiac panel have come back normal so we are just waiting on those results. We will also be seeing an endocrinologist to rule out growth hormone issues.
Our pediatrician is confident that he is just small, but we want to rule out any abnormalities just to be safe. He is also sensitive to dairy so if he hasn't outgrown that at a year we will most likely go to an allergist to rule out any other underlying allergies that we might not be catching.
So, after that novel, my question is, those of you with small babies, has your confidence ever been shaken? Have you had any testing done to make sure your LO is healthy despite their size? Is there anything that your docs have done that you might recommend? I'm usually very confident in my parenting decisions, but since Tuesday my confidence is shaken and I want to make sure we are covering all of our bases. TIA!
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Re: Those with tiny babies
I'm sorry that you are going through this. At least there was some growth! I don't want to scare you, but the celiac panel isn't definitive. I have it in my family, and the only way to rule it out is through a colonoscopy. Even then there can be a low level of gluten intollerance.
Just remember, it is probably nothing, but if it is something, you will be able to deal with it. Modern medicine likes to catch things early, so you are going through this "just in case"...so you don't have to have a big problem and go backwards for a diagnosis. Good luck!
I actually have two friends with Celiac, one who is a dietitian, so I knew that the blood test wasn't absolutely definitive, just a starting point. Its too bad there isn't an easy answer for it!
I just heard back from the endocrinologist and they are also having us see their dietitian on staff so hopefully she can give us some insight into a possible gluten issue and guide us on whether to push up seeing the allergist or not.
Im typing one handed so Ill keep it short.
Tim's my peanut , at 3months he was still under 10lbs and was admitted to the hospital, the did a battery of testing, met with all sorts of fancy named drs/specialists. .
In short just breathe take it one day at a time and follow your instincts,
Write down any questions you have, if youre like me I forget them the second the dr walks in. Write down all of LOs food intake/ diaper changes. Your his advocate.
Sorry thisnt helpful but hang in there it will get better.
My LO was a decent size at birth - 8lb 15oz. She gained wonderfully - at 2 months she was 12lb 12oz and at 4 months she was 15lb.
But then at her 6 month checkup she was 15lb 8oz. We brought it up to the doctor and he said he's not worried, that we'd see where she was at her 9 month appt, which is this coming Monday.
I weighed her a few weeks ago and again earlier this week and she is right at 16lb. She's growing length-wise but can't seem to put on weight despite her healthy appetite. If she's only 16lb, she hasn't even doubled her birth weight in 9 months.
So we won't have an official weight until Monday, but to answer your question, yes, I worry about it every day even though my doctor told me not to as well as the girls on this board.
Audra is a small baby and always has been. She was 5lbs 12 at birth and at 9 months 14lbs and 26 inches. Her pedi doesn't seem to be worried because she has always followed the 5th percentile curve.
I am sorry you are going through all this but maybe your child is taking after you.
Addie was 6lb 5 oz and birth only 2 days early.
I remember her % but not exact weight #'s for following appointments:
2mo-12% 4mo. 9%, 6 mo 4% 9 mo.-1%
She was 13lbs at her 6 mo appointment in Jan. and only 14 lbs 13 oz at her 9 mo appointment last Fri. She weighed more the week before but she was ill with ear infection, cold and teething. Dr has never been concerned until this last appointment she doesnt think there is anything wrong with her medically but just thinks she isnt getting enough calories. She gets my BM but often refuses bottle when I am at school or work. She is very picky and doesnt eat much baby food/solids. She is really stubborn. only a few bites of something and that is it. we have recently been putting her milk in sippy to get a few oz in her when I am not around. She prefers finger food and to feed herself but still isnt getting enough..
I have always been worried as I feel it is my fault. I always beat up myself thinking is it something I did or didnt do while pregnant, when she was a newborn, now. something I did or didnt eat when I was pregnant or now.. I also dont want to force the food either..
Dr said if I want to schedule an appointment in 6 weeks to see where she is at and to discuss things more..she mentioned some kind of powder to mix in with her milk..
So I feel ya..its really frustrating and worry some..
Auden was in the 50th percentile until 4 months; he then dropped to the 25th percentile, and by 5 months he was off the charts (failure to thrive). He has had all the tests your LO has and more. He goes back to his GI in May for more tests.
They still have not found out exactly what is wrong with him. I believe it was a mixture of AR and me having a low supply and him not wanting to nurse. (They also said he has to be dairy/egg free, but I really don't think he has a dairy allergy.)
So yes, I know exactly what you are going through. My T & Ps are with you, because I know how stressful it can be. Please keep us updated. I want you to know though, he had his 9 month checkup yesterday and he is in the 15th percentile now! He has gained over 6 pounds since December. So babies are surprising for sure. We still don't have a definitive answer as to what was wrong, but he is doing so much better,so I pray the same allows for you and your LO!