Our GI Appointment for Quinn
We went to the GI doctor finally. I have to say that it is so nice to go to a doctor that specializes in the type of problems Quinn is having. I had to go through our medical history completely, but to not have to explain everything completely again as to what is happening and why was wonderful.
We arrived and checked in and then were told the dr. was running late. They said it would be about 45 mins late or so by the time we got in and the dr got to us. I was ok with it because my husband was able to be home with the other kids. I had also brought some homeschool curriculum so I could work on lesson plans.
We were taken back after about 20 minutes to get him weighed and measured. He weighed in at 13 lbs 6 oz. He gained about 12 oz in 3 weeks! not as good as the last weigh in but totally acceptable in my book!
After waiting 2 hours I began to wonder if we had been forgotten. After 30 more minutes the doctor finally came in. I have never waited so long. She told us that he was gaining so it is good, but he isn’t gaining enough even with nursing 5-6 times a day and eating 2 solid meals a day.
Honestly that part of my life is exhausting. I have to kind of feed him on demand in a way. So I feed him and feed him and feed him some more. I am not complaining, I know it is what he needs, but I swear this takes up more then 1/2 my day.
So after talking to the doctor about everything, she told me “I want you to feed him more”…. Come again? Can that even be done??? Can his little belly hold more food? So you want me to be his personal restaurant? ok, I can do that…. {I think I can, I think I can.} So we have upped his solids to 3 times a day and he is having a tablespoon more puree with each meal a well.
Then she added a powder to his meds that increases the fat and carbs of his food. I have noticed an increase in his reflux a little but he is also teething (tooth number 6 just broke through… I know, 6 teeth at 6 months old, it is crazy!) so all of these things could be at play here.
We will have monthly appointments to track his weight and his meds to be sure he is getting what he needs. I like having a doctor to go to who knows more about what is happening. It is nice to ask questions and get real answers too.
We will see how the next appointment goes. Keep the prayers coming because they are worth it!!! I think he is still growing, but I am not sure. He is LOVING eating though. He loves everything he has tried so far. We are focusing on vegetables because they are generally less acidic. I am making them all in bulk and freezing them. So we will see how his next appointment goes and see if we can get him up on the growth chart.
I feel for you. Both of my kids had trouble gaining weight and my daughter had reflux as a baby that we had to treat. Once we figured out she was allergic to milk the reflux settled down and she gained weight more easily.
I think the growth charts must be different nowadays. Both of our kids are considered to be underweight, my daughter at -3 percentile, at age 16 and my son in the 5 percentile range but they are the same weight my husband and myself were at their age and we were considered to be in the average weight range when we were young.
It’s great to know that your efforts at feeding him more are paying off. I am glad for you that he is gaining weight.
Awww, there’s my boy. Glad to hear that you were able to see a specialist.
When I was born, I was 4.5 lbs and I was tiny for most of my childhood. When I was 5 years old, I could sit in the palm of my mother’s hand. Kinda crazy, but yeah.
Anyways, I will be keeping him in my prayers and looking forward to seeing him at another blogging conference in the future . . . maybe 🙂
Leslie! I seriously can’t believe you were that little! What a huge personality for that little body! Heavenly Father really had a special job for you! As for him coming to another conference, we will see… I may take some mommy time for the next one. 😉