6mos well check appointment today

I went in for our normal six month pedi appt today and left a little overwhelmed. Okay so everything is ok but it was not what I expected. Maddie is 15lbs 1oz and 25 3/4". I knew she had a cold but after checking her ears turns out she has an ear infection as well. He prescribed amoxicillian (sp) and said he wants us come back in four weeks to check her ears again. Ok so on to Allie. She is doing good. She's 13lbs 10lz but at her last appt she ws 12lbs 8oz so she hasn't really gained much weight. He said he wants me to feed her more often. He thinks she's okay but maybe just isn't getting enough to eat. I feel horrible like I've been starving her. So her bottles plus breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then he says well what about her flat spot. She's right on the boarderline of needing to see a specialist for a helmet. WHAT?!?! Okay so yes she has a flat spot on the back of her head but it's gotten SO much better. He says we don't have to take her and that since it's getting better that it's probably nothing to worry about. BUT if we wanted too he could. The flat spot is really rounding back out. If it looked like it did a couple months ago then absolutely I would be seeing a specialist but you can't tell as easily now. He wants me to bring her back in four weeks for a weight check. They both got four shots today and the rotovirus vaccine. One of those shots was the flu. It's really bad in our area so he recommended us go ahead and getting it even though it's late in the season. When we go in a month for the follow-ups they'll get the booster then. I was expecting to be in and out and now I have follow-up appointments and I have to beef up my baby.

 

Wow! That is a lot of news to get in one appt! Try and breathe and don't worry. Regarding the flat spot, obe of the moms on TS told me about a product called a boppy noggin. We started using it earlier , about 2 months. It relieves the pressure off irvine back of the head when they are laying around, in their car seats etc. It really worked for us. Regarding the weight, did the doc give you suggestions regarding higher cal foods? I mean she is still so little and probably not eating crazy amounts of meat or any dairy right? I am stumped on that one, especially if you are breast feeding! There are higher cal formulas though. Good luck to you and honestly, your babes sound like they are doing fine just need a little extra tender care

Wow! That is a lot of news to get in one appt! Try and breathe and don't worry. Regarding the flat spot, one of the moms on TS told me about a product called a boppy noggin. We started using it earlier , about 2 months. It relieves the pressure off of back of the head when they are laying around, in their car seats etc. It really worked for us. Regarding the weight, did the doc give you suggestions regarding higher cal foods? I mean she is still so little and probably not eating crazy amounts of meat or any dairy right? I am stumped on that one, especially if you are breast feeding! There are higher cal formulas though. Good luck to you and honestly, your babes sound like they are doing fine just need a little extra tender care

 

Sorry I on my phone and it went nuts posting twice

On my phone and it keeps posting twice, sorry

 

I told him that I didn't think the flat spot was as big of an issue because she rarely lays back on her back anymore. She sleeps on her belly, sits up in the highchair, johhny jumper, and the walker. She only lays back when she's in the swing or boucner but she doesn't spend too much time in them. I will just go back to rolling a recieving blanket under her side that she favors when she's in the swing/bouncer. I did that orignally and that's how the spot has filled back out. That and her sitting up more of course.


He said if she was the weight and it followed her curve he wouldn't even worry but she dropped a bit. He just said to feed her more often. I asked if I should change her formula and he said it wasn't necessary. I told him she does spit up but it doesn't happen as much anymore. I feed them in the bouncer or boppy and leave them in there after they eat. When my MIL feeds the babies she holds them and moves them around after and then she goes BARF! He just said to offer her more at each feeding. I really think if I offer her 8ozs at each meal and then start a good schedule with solids she'll chunk up.

 

as far as weight goes I wouldn't be super concerned. My oldest was very near failure to thrive and all her ped did was put her on 1 can of pediasure a day plus her food and formula. You could also maybe switch for a bit to neosure which is a higher cal formula. Not sure if your twins were on that at birth but that (plus bm) was what my twins came home from the nicu on. Isabella (my oldest) acutally went from being in the 7th %tile (always small) to dropping off the chart between 4 and 6 months and like I said we just added pediasure. She is still small to this day she is 9 and all of 48 lbs LOL but she is a healthy kid.

 

:hug: What an overwhelming appointment! Are you doing solids yet? I've heard that avocado is good for babies who need to gain weight since its high in fat and calories. I also bet she'll go through a growth spurt any day now since she's just turned 6 months old.

One of my guys had a really bad flat spot. We saw the pediatric neurologist, who referred us to a PT for torticollis and plagiocephy. E went to PT for about 4 sessions and we've seen a huge improvement. I think being more mobile, able to sit, etc will also help her flat spot.

 

oooh avacado! I remember reading the same thing! I'm going to pick some up on Friday when we go out. Tomorrow will be their first day when they get three meals.

 

flat spot: push harder on belly time. I strongly suggest you go see physical therapists. they can help. She might not need to wear helmet.
weight issue: man i have been dealing with this forever. But if she is happy active, pees, poops, then you dont have to worry. Babies grow on their own pace. My DD is just like that. She slows down on weight gain since 5th month. Our pedi doesnt worry. She even told me that 'through out her life, if she is 25% of weight and 95% of height. she is happy and active , why would you worry?' i think it true. finally i was totaly convinced. She now drinks 29-32oz of milk and eats 2-3x solid/day, still gains tiny tiny bit. our pedi said she expects our kids gain 1 lb/ 3 months. She is not big fan of chubby kids. shes kindda against it.
And heres food for weight gain: avocado mixed with BM or formula, Whole plain yogurt mixed with fruit/veggies, sweet potato (it does have more cals then other food), you can add BM/formula in her solid if you want to. Good luck! i know dealing with weight issue is stressful. I was so stressed out the first 7 months. Now I dont care anymore. s long as they gain some, are happy healthy and active (which they are) im happy.

 

oh and yellow egg mixed with BM/formula. I suggest you get 'super baby food'. you can check itout from a local library or order on amazon, less than 10 bucks!

 

I will second the post on avocado. My guys were tiny at 6 months and not gaining weight from month to month (they didn't even make it onto the charts until 9-10 months). We started avocados, and I swear that's how they chunked up. They loved it plain and mashed with banana or mixed with some applesauce.

Good luck!

 

Definitely don't worry too much on the weight. As long as she gains each time, she is just making her own curve. Right about 6 months babies switch from being the size their placenta told them to be to being the size genetics tells them to be. My DS was like your daughter, small and slow to gain. Fast forward to now at 20 months old and he eats more than some adults but is still a good pound lighter and 2 inches shorter than his sister. He didn't even hit 20 lbs till he was 15 months! We did offer fatty foods like avocado and whole milk yogurt, but I wouldn't stress about trying to get her to eat more often or larger quantities.