tests

Well Ian had his 12 month check up yesterday. The dr was concerned with his weight. I had him there 2 wks ago for an ear infection and he weighed 20lbs, 6oz. Yesterday he weighed 19lbs, 5oz. He had lost a pound in 2 weeks. She says that his weight and height are on the low end of the chart, but that he is not consistently gaining weight or height. Now she wants to have tests ran to check his Thyroid and a sweat cloride test for CF :( . I know that all these tests are precautionary, but it still makes you worry. Also she suggested that I keep a food journal of everything he eats for 4 weeks and send it to her weekly and she will have it evaluated and then I bring him back to have him re-weighed and measured! That really made me feel like I was not doing a good job at mothering my child. I know I am a good mother, but sometimes dr's have a way of making you feel about 2 inched big! I keep telling myself that I'm doing everything right, but it's still feels good to voice my feelings and get them off my chest. DH say's everything will be fine and not to worry. I know I shouldn't, but I guess that's a mother's instinct. Thanks for listening...

[MommaBear]

Carolyn...First, don't beat yourself up. I am sure you are a GREAT Mom! God chose YOU for this little boy so He thinks you are gonna do a good job too. Second: I know that scary feeling. They ran tests on our daughter for CHD and I cried for two weeks waiting fot the results and thinking I did something while she was in utero. But Docs like to run precautionary tests to catch things early. I will pray for your little one's health and for you that you find some peace of mind while goinf through this. Love and hugs to you!!! ~Kerri

[breezykc]

My little guy weighed 19 pounds even at 1 year and that put him at the 50th percetile on the chart and the doc said that was great! He's healthy and active....he also goes through periods of not eating and then eating a lot for growth which our doc said was totally normal! Also, my little guy will typically lose a pound if he's really sick...especially with ear infections which make swallowing hard and uncomfortable, that's really normal!
The food journaling is required by a lot of docs/insurance people before they can refer to a specialist if there is a problem...so it's not them accusing you! My friend had to do so and they put her little boy on extra ensure to boost vitamins because he's really light and shorter too! It's seemed to do the trick!
I agree, they do a lot of prelim tests to be extra cautious that give us breakdowns at times, but at least they're on top of things and something won't slide by! ...and if there is something they can fix easily, that would be great! One less thing to worry about! I totally understand worrying about your child...all Mom's do! We just have to remember (over and over throughout the day!) to go to our knees...and when we're on our knees, we can't fall! :wink:

[Reneemomto5]

Carolyn, you are a wonderful mommy and though the dr's make you feel small, you're doing a great job! I don't think dr's realize how much us mommies take things personaly and to heart, -- your doing a great job. Remember you know your son best. I understand fully how you feel though. My daughter for her 12 month check up weighed 19lbs something. I was shocked because my scale said 22lbs. She is my 5th baby and grated a premie, but the dr's still gave me the speech of "give her "good" fats because she is skinny." Mandy was in the 25% for weight and 75% for height. Thankfully she's my 5th so I am not worried about it, I know she eats plenty of nutrious foods all day.

Try not to worry about the tests, I know easier said than done, the dr. is just being cautious. I'll pray that all goes well. Please keep us posted.

Hugs,
Renee

[tracy]

I hope this helps.
My daughter is close to 14lbs and she is 11mos. She started almost below the chart, but now she is obviously way below their charts. When she was 6mos, I had to bring her in 1-2 x/mo. From 8-9mos she gained 13oz, which I thought was good. Well, the dr said even 18oz wouldn't have made him happy. During her 9mo visit he had me in tears. "You are going to start to stunt her growth... you'll start stunting her brain development..." WOW! Did he have me horrified! He made me make an appt to see a GI (while sitting at the front desk :oops:, as if I didn't have enough going on in my head). I was also to start her on formula, IN ADDITION TO, what she currently ate. I don't know about others, but when my dd is full, she's full. Also, bfeeing is very important to me and I was terrified she would stop due to the formula. BTW, she has never been ill and doesn't have any GI symptoms. I share in your feelings. I felt so lost and alone. I prayed and prayed and prayed... When my dh came home, he was wonderful. He said to cancel the GI and we were NOT starting formula. I decided to see another ped. The other ped said as long as she continues to grow on her own chart she was good. Whew! I never started formula and she has gained 3lbs since then. :D I know he had good intentions and I've heard drs are harder on new moms. Look into the tests to see if you can hold off. Maybe his weight loss was due to not feeling well. And maybe get a 2nd opinion. And pray.
I will pray for you.

Thanks for all the wonderful posts. It makes me feel better to know that others share in my feelings. DH says to hold off on the tests and see what the food journal can do. Yesterday we filled up a whole page on one of those small size notebooks. He eats like a little pig, but no meat though, that's kinda weird because we are meat eaters at my house. We have also tried to increase his milk intake. He's not crazy about whole milk and won't take formula anymore. I'm going to try Pediasure to see if he will drink that, but he loves yogurt and other dairy products so...He also has been battling 2 ear infections since February so that could also cause the weight loss. I know in my heart that everything is just fine. My DH laughed and said that I am short and he is skinny so what did the dr expect??!! :D My first son was always in the 90% for his weight and height, but we haven't found out where he got his genes from yet. My father I think, he's a pretty big man. But I think Ian is just genetically different so I've decided not to worry. I'm putting the worry on God's side and not thinking about it any more!!

PS - wonderful for you Tracy!! I'm glad your little one is doing so good and you didn't have to do anything you didn't want to. I know dr's don't see things from a mother's point of view.

[stephwhiz]

I would be worried too but I really think he is fine. Every child is different and some are just smaller than others which is fine as long as they are being taken good care of and I know you are doing that. Doctors have a way of scaring us half to death sometimes but I really think in this case that he is fine. My dd was 18 lbs at 1 and stayed there for several months. She had just started walking (running!) good and was burning all of her calories. I think it is pretty norm for them to level off when they start getting active. Autumn has always been in the 75% for height and 50% for weight. Her peditrician said she is "tall and willowy" and that all of his kids were that way and that is nothing to be worried about. Good luck and keep us updated. Stephanie

[breezykc]

If he likes yogurt, my son loved those drinkable yogurts! Something to try if he's not a huge milk drinker or the pediasure doesn't go over well! Also, Carnation chololate milk mix has good vitamins too for non-full milk drinkers! Keep it up, you're doing great!

[tracy]

It's funny that you mention meat. We are meat eaters, too, but dd doesn't eat much meat. I'll have to work on that. Veggies and some fruit (we make our own). I guess that's good, though. I've read so much lately about children not getting ANY fru & veg. Will he drink water? Maybe see if you can supplement the lost calcium elsewhere (I think green veggies?) and just focus on water. If he get's vit/min from his food, water should be enough for now. I'm more into trying to stay natural for dd while she's little, so I wouldn't be comfy with Pediasure. I've heard controversy on milk, too, but I LOVE milk - couldn't live w/o it.

BTW, aren't hubby's sometimes so wonderful! I'm glad you were comforted by yours. I think drs get us doubting ourselves and our hubby's get us back on track...[thumbsup]