Earlier today we saw the nutritionist at the WIC office. She's concerned that Jackson weighs just under 18 lbs and just turned 15 months. For any parents out there that know what the growth chart is, he's just under the 5th percentile for both height and weight. Meaning 95% of babies his age are bigger than he is. She wants me to give him foods that have more calories. The biggest problem is his apparent allergies to dairy, eggs, and peanuts.
Tonight I bought a 6 pack of pediasure that said lactose free. Only AFTER giving him some of it did I realize it contains milk products. He drank a total of 2 ounces before I took it from him.
Here it is, 12:30 am and his face is blotchy, he keeps rubbing his eyes and he's wide awake. I've given him benadryl for the allergies and tylenol because he's teething. When I say teething, his top gums are swollen on only the left side. As if he's getting his left front tooth and the one directly to the left. I've swabbed his gums with baby orajel. But nothing I've done is working. He's still splotchy, still cranky and still wide awake.
Jimmy wanted to stay up and help with him. But I sent him to bed. He NEEDS to be alert enough to do his job. I can nap when the kids nap. My other kids never had these problems.
I feel like I'm being kicked in the stomach. First Jackson has Diaphragmatic Hernia, has surgery for that, then has Craniosynostosis, has surgery for that, and NOW has allergies. How am I supposed to get him to gain weight when most everything out there has milk, eggs or peanuts?
Heather, bless her heart for outing me as Kaytee (Not a big deal, just have to tease), did give me a couple of websites to check out for tofu that might help Jackson gain weight. I plan on checking those out very soon. Jackson has his 15 month check up Tuesday and I plan on insisting something be decided concerning Jackson's lack of weight gain.
I'm just at a loss. I've got three older children that I never had to worry about what I fed them, they ate it, at least until they were old enough to refuse food. LOL Now I have to check ingredients on everything I give Jackson. Thankfully, the nutritionist gave me a list of things to look for in ingredients concerning milk, eggs and peanuts.
Wish me luck!
3 comments:
Couple thoughts. WIC nutritionist isn't a doctor. They see hundreds of children, and without stereotyping, many people who fall within the income guidelines for WIC aren't the most conscientious of parants. Perhaps s/he's placing you in that category. What does Jackson's doctor say? If Jackson is otherwise doing fine, he may be one of those people who is smaller in stature. Or, because of the very busy beginnings of his life (all the surgeries and medical stuff) he's going to gain slower in most ways, including weight. One of my nephews had immediate surgery after his premature cesearean birth and it took him many years to catch up.
And you're not a bad mom. You've just added another thing to the list of things he can't eat or drink.
And, by the way, I DO know how to spell PARENTS. Don't ask me why my flying fingers found it necessary to typo that one!
Sheesh.
I had the same problem with my middle DD. She actually FELL OFF THE CHARTS at her 18 month visit. The dr had her tested (and also made sure I wasn't not feeding her...grrrr). He told me all kinds of fattening foods to feed her, and I didn't. I let her eat the way she wanted. I'm glad I did...because now, she's quite the chunky 10 yr old. I can't imagine if i tried to fatten her up as a baby. We would have had a life of obesity ahead of us, i'm sure.Personally, I wouldn't worry a lot about it. Make sure he gets all the vitamins and nutrients he needs. He might just be a small kid.
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