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Post by MatureMomG on Jul 29, 2004 15:12:18 GMT -5
Okay, I don;t post much, but when I do, you guys always have good answers. Current question:
Has anyone had a baby that has gained weight slowly? I mean one who has not had heart or other problems? My dd weighed in at birth at a big 9 lb., 9 oz. They suspected she had heart problems, put her through all the tests, but she was fine. (Only 2 minor things that cleared up on their own- no surgeries or anything). Anyway, I know these kids grow more slowly, but she has gone from the top 100% of the growth chart to a little under 25% (about 15 pounds at 12 months). No health problems, but her weight gain has really slowed down the last 2-3 months. Anyone else have anything similar?
Thanks,
Yours in Christ,
Kathy
Kathy
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Post by Jenifer on Jul 30, 2004 5:18:59 GMT -5
Kathy, I don't have a direct answer to your question, but from what you've said about her weight gain, coupled with your other post about her bowel movements, I am concerned. It just sounds like something isn't right. Perhaps your pediatrician could do some additional blood tests, or take a look at her G.I. tract? Or even refer you to someone with more expertise in this area? I think it's time for you to get some answers. You'll be in our prayers!  Jenifer, mom to Joy |
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Post by momofrussell on Jul 30, 2004 15:10:12 GMT -5
I , unfortunately, am not much help unless your daughter has reflux. But you are saying there are NO medical issues at the moment... so I don't know what it would be. Maybe you should ask the doc.. maybe get refered to a specialist??? GI doc, or something???
Is your daughter lethargic? not wanting to eat? playing? Active, Happy? Sad? Hard belly? I know those are things are docs asked us when Russell's weight and reflux were an issue. If your daughter is not lethargic, crying lots and doesn't have a hard belly, there may be no cause for alarm. But asking a doc is still always ok to do.
Russell gained weight ok until he was a year old. HE has always had reflux though. he peaked at 18 pounds quite quickly but stayed there and lost a couple by the time he was 3 or more. Russell is now 6 and weights 35 pounds. He has ALWAYS been LOW on the DS weight charts.. always. BUT, Russell is content, eats, is active (not lethargic) and so that warrants no need for concern according to our docs. Russell does poop more frequent but he is six LOL. He was the only one of our children that was NOT nursed either. So , that in itself, might be a factor too for you, that you nurse your daughter.
Good luck!
A.
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Post by momofrussell on Jul 30, 2004 15:18:28 GMT -5
Here Kathy, I found this on a breast feeding web site. It is an answer to a breastfeeding question. The question was not what yours was ( mom nursed and drank Mountain Dew LOL), but I found the info in the answer to maybe be of some help to you... read on.
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The color and consistency of the bowel movements is not a big concern, unless there is a medical problem such as low weight gain associated with it. The color can change according to what you are eating, and I have heard of Mountain Dew turning stools green. Dr. Jack Newman says in his new breastfeeding book (in response to a mom who says, "all my baby's poops are green. Everyone is telling me this is abnormal and the doctor is making me very worried"): "If the baby is content and gaining well, ignore the comments. Buy yourself a pair of sunglasses so you don't see the color."
You didn't say how old your baby is or why you think he may be constipated, but you should know that it is perfectly normal for a totally breastfed infant over the age of 4-6 weeks to only stool once every 4-12 days. This change in stooling patterns can be very confusing to new mothers who are used to their newborns pooping after every feeding, but it is quite common in older babies.When a baby is constipated, it means that his stools are hard and dry. Breastfed babies who aren't receiving supplemental feedings rarely have hard, dry stools unless there is some sort of bowel obstruction or medical problem. Having stools every other day or even only once a week is often a normal pattern for an older breastfed baby. Be prepared for a major blow out when he does go - he will have lots and lots of loose stool, and may grunt and be uncomfortable when he passes it. You may need to change his clothes and yours too! If the stool is soft when he does finally go, he is gaining weight appropriately, his abdomen is soft and he is content and alert, with no signs of illness (like lethargy or fever) then you don't need to worry, even if a week or more goes by without a bowel movement. Infrequent stooling may be a sign of inadequate milk intake, especially in a newborn. If your baby isn't gaining weight, then there may be a reason for concern. Otherwise, I would try to relax and wait to let nature take its course.
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Post by Deannalee on Jul 31, 2004 0:19:27 GMT -5
When Justin was born, he only weighed 1 lb 14 oz. He was 11 weeks early. He was also born without serious heart defects (only had a small VSD and PFO). He had severe reflux and has been on Reglan and Prevacid. He has never been able to eat because of aspiration and laryngomalacia. I remember that over a 2 month period last yr he only gained 2 oz. In Feb this yr, they pulled his G tube and placed a J tube....mainly because of possible hypoxia r/t aspiration of his feeds. He finally started packing on the weight to the tune of almost 1 lb/week. They were happy at first til he topped out at 29 lbs last mo. He is on a serious reduction in calories. I know several kids with DS are diagnosed with reflux (GERD), Hirshsprung's, or Celiac. We had started off by increasing Justin's tube feed from 24 cal/oz Neosure to 30 cal/oz Neosure. Then we added some oatmeal to that to help thicken it for his continued refluxing. Your doc might want to try that (increasing the cal/oz). I think they should also eval for some kind of malabsorption if there are no signs of cardiac anomolies. I hope that helps. God Bless.
Deanna
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Post by PaigesMom on Jul 31, 2004 9:20:23 GMT -5
Hi,
This may sound like overkill, but I'm going to suggest the possibility of Celiac Disease, just in case. The symptoms you state, including the large infrequent bowel movements are classic signs of Celiac's. The doctors wont/dont generally do the bloodwork or biopsy for it for a child under ONE, since they really dont consume gluten yet, BUT since you are breastfeeding, and most likely your diet contains gluten, your baby is also getting it.
Most doctors "ignore" the classic signs (I know this personally) especially when it's not diarrea, but constipation, however 15% of all kids with DS who have Celiacs present in severe constipation that they just treat for the symptoms, however, if your child is not gaining weight and doesn't have reflux and is eating, I would definately have it checked (bloodwork done), even if they say there is no reason.
Debbie
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Post by ALLISA on Aug 1, 2004 8:59:43 GMT -5
How old is your daughter now ? Is she just at an active age where she is burning off so much energy and calories ? That's how my daughter is.
Or the other possibilty could be thyroid... which if off can ALSO cause constipation which I believe someone mentioned your daughter has as well. A simple blood test at the peditrician can tell if her levels are off & then it just requires taking a pill daily. Erin has had hyperthyroidsm since birth & takes Levoxyl daily for it. Good luck !
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Post by Jackie on Aug 2, 2004 5:29:47 GMT -5
YES Kathy....I CAN identify. My Emily who is now 24 weighed in at birth at 8lbs 5 oz. At six months she was only 9lbs 3 0z!!!! They diagnosed her with failure to thrive....which is certainly a nebulous term. She did have some problems at birth....she had Hirschprungs Disease and they did a temporary colostomy...and she had a VSD and PDA both of which were mild and spontaneously resolved before she was two. Really despite all those terrible sounding medical problems...she was quite healthy and active and developing well.... she kept growing in length ...by the time she was six months old she looked like she was a skeleton!. We were in the military at the time and I had to drive across Denver to the base hospital three times a week just to weigh her. She was the youngest of four and my first baby to breast feed which all parties thought she was doing quite well.
She had to be hospitalized following her first cardiac cath due to "hospital diahrreaha " which she picked up while in there. They had to take her off breast milk and put her on Isomil...and during her brief stay.....she gained.....a pound!!! So I went home and stopped nursing cold turkey......and after that she gained about a pound a month. Her pediatrician jokingly said during all this....one day we will maybe despair about her wt....and he was right...now we are battling it big time...so just hang on there....They told me sometimes these things just happen for no apparent reason....you can email me privately if you wish and I will tell you the whole story which I have done here already before....probably more than once....LOL
Jackie mom to Emily 24 working in Houston area
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 2, 2004 10:36:33 GMT -5
Just to clarify, so we all don't think constipation is NOT pooping for days.. LOL.. constipation is DRY, HARD poop, hard to poop out... constipation is NOT, not going for days... breastfed babies can go DAYS without pooping and poop regular stools.. that is not considered constipation... I just don't want any new mom or dad to panic and think not pooping everyday was constipation.. because it's not.  A. |
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