Failure to Thrive

[FindingMercy]

Originally Posted by mekat Depends on the reason baby isn't taking enough by mouth if it is an artificial nipple aversion this is a great idea but if it is because of volume intolerance this is a horrible idea. It could go either way depending on the exact cause of him not consuming enough. If it is a volume intolerance then they need to do an emptying study to find out what is going on in his digestive track. Gracious there are so many wild cards in GI management.

I think an emptying study may be in our future. He spits up baby food up to 4 hours after eating it.

[Mama*Kim]

I'm surprised at the diagnosis of FTT already, unless I'm missing something. DS2 only gained 2 ounces from 6-8.5 months. He dropped off the charts then and they didn't even discuss FTT. Our pedi said she's actually more watchful of length than weight. According to her, a body will not grow in length if it is not being nourished, therefore, if his length stayed on curve (for him), she was totally ok with waiting and watching longer.

He is also a reflux baby and on Prevacid. Prevacid has a very large range of acceptable dosing. You could consider seeing about a higher dose. I would definitely get into a GI if he's spitting up baby food after 4 hours. It should be well past his stomach by then. Huge hugs, mama.

[mrspopo]

My little one dropped from 95th percentile weight at birth to 0th by 9 months. Height stayed pretty close to 100th percentile. The doctor was very very concerned about it, but she was otherwise very healthy. He wanted me to add formula and other things, but I wasn't comfortable with that. It was scary that she only gained about 8 ounces from 6 to 9 months old and grew almost 3 inches.

Since she was otherwise very healthy we just upped her intake of things like avocados and just chalked it up to babies come in all shapes and sizes. By 1 year she was started to chunk out a little and is fine now at 20 months.

[waterisntsomething]

Originally Posted by FindingMercy Quantity isn't the problem. I'm having to make the quantity he's getting have more calories now. I make formula using breastmilk instead of water essentially. I have an SNS, it just won't really help in this case because he will only consume so many ounces/feeding and I make plenty.

I just figured it might be less of a struggle since he hates the bottle. Good luck!

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

that's about the weight of ds1 and 2 at that age. ds2 was born at 9 lbs 3 oz too. i just have slow growers.

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

here is ds2 at 7 months, even now at age 7.5 he's only 42 lbs

[FindingMercy]

Originally Posted by Mama*Kim I'm surprised at the diagnosis of FTT already, unless I'm missing something. DS2 only gained 2 ounces from 6-8.5 months. He dropped off the charts then and they didn't even discuss FTT. Our pedi said she's actually more watchful of length than weight. According to her, a body will not grow in length if it is not being nourished, therefore, if his length stayed on curve (for him), she was totally ok with waiting and watching longer. He is also a reflux baby and on Prevacid. Prevacid has a very large range of acceptable dosing. You could consider seeing about a higher dose. I would definitely get into a GI if he's spitting up baby food after 4 hours. It should be well past his stomach by then. Huge hugs, mama.

I was surprised by the diagnosis too. It seems a little premature perhaps, but I do really like and trust this dr. Our regular ped is not the one that's concerned (although he's only seen him twice in his life), its just the specialist that's worried and gave the diagnosis.

If he weren't spitting up all day long (literally) I probably would be less worried or ignore the diagnosis and write it off as "some kids are just small". It's that he doesn't hold his food down well at all even hours after its consumed and he doesn't eat enough that make me agree with all the testing and worry.

His length had always been super slow. He was only 18 3/4 inches at birth and is still only in the 10th percentile for length. He was even tested for some rare genetic disorders that slow length growth were a sign of (as well as some other issues he uses to have).

[AniMommy]

I don't know much about FTT but I do know allergies. If your LO has eczema, there is some thing he is allergic to. Don't let a dr tell you the cause of eczema is "unknown" and give you a cream to treat it. It is a symptom of an allergy. Resolve the allergy and the rash will go away like magic.

Signed,
(No longer ) Lifelong Eczema Sufferer.

ps hugs to you. It will get better.

[Michelle_M]

Have you tried an SNS system? Baby gets to nurse, but also has a tube going down so that supplemental milk/formula can be fed at the same time.

I have no other advice for you but will definitely be praying for your little one. I'm so sorry for him and for you. I remember when my DS3 fell off the chart and the doctor was really concerned, and I remember how scared and worried I was... so I've been there mama!!



God bless!

[Michelle_M]

Originally Posted by AniMommy I don't know much about FTT but I do know allergies. If your LO has eczema, there is some thing he is allergic to. Don't let a dr tell you the cause of eczema is "unknown" and give you a cream to treat it. It is a symptom of an allergy. Resolve the allergy and the rash will go away like magic. Signed, (No longer ) Lifelong Eczema Sufferer. ps hugs to you. It will get better.

I agree with this. I know a lady who was diagnosed with Eczema almost her entire life. Almost nothing gave her relief. Later, someone told her that Eczema is a sign of an allergy.. now she is dairy free and gluten free and has not had an Eczema outbreak since changing her diet!

God bless!