There are quite a few books I am getting through these days. Books previously abandoned, in order to attend to Perfection Personified or catch up on sleep.
King Lear, Little Dorrit, and an uncompromisingly dull study of basic physics concepts. Fun, fun.
Life is settling down.
Spunky Sweetheart was the main impediment to my reading habit, and, thankfully, he's finally drifted into a routine of some sort. The transition from normal feeding to formula/bottle, is complete, and from the deferential offering of solids he was used to, to a regimented, gung-ho approach. THESE PEAS AIN'T GON' EAT THEMSELVES, BOY.
A major blessing: early intervention. There is a waiting list, and our doctor didn't feel the need to refer us to them for ages (which they found astonishing and negligent on his part), either. Thanks, doc. There were so many things we were doing wrong, without considering his specific needs.
They diagnosed acid reflux (which his FOUR other pediatricians hadn't picked up on, nor Sick Kids walay) just by looking at him. Back arching and gulping noises.
Also, they took us off the PediaSure which our supposed "registered nutritionist," experienced and highly rated pediatrician had told us to give him since 6 months onwards.
This was despite the warning printed on the label. I would often protest and ask him whether it was really safe, but he would reassure us every time: it was not only safe, it was A SUPERIOR REPLACEMENT TO FORMULA. Early intervention folk were appalled by this recommendation. Apparently it was worsening his acid reflux, and was unnecessary besides. Also, it tasted so sweet and dessert-like compared to formula, so he rejected the latter, in every brand incarnation.
They gave us guidelines to help him take to the formula. Some of their tips, we knew, some we didn't, all of it incorporated together was very effective indeed. I'll share them here in case it will help anyone else. I apologize in advance if it reads as a bit haphazard, but I really am just writing with minimal revision, as always :P
Guidelines included:
lay him on his LEFT side always, hug him or use a blanket to wrap him tightly, making him feel snug.
Keep bottle tilted sideways, slightly upwards. Open/close bottle cap every now and again to prevent a vacuum from forming, which frustrates his attempts to efficiently suck.
His muscle tone was dubbed, generally lacking. Even in his mouth (no chunky purees, that would have to be chewed).
His temperament was deemed stubborn (he was used to milk, so he wanted to stick with it, making exceptions only for yummy fruit puree). And his appetite was quite small. It had to be increased little by little, and the best way to do this, they said, was not by giving many small meals throughout the day, in the hope that he would take in enough calories, but by deliberately making him hungry. Three times daily, and only two ounces of milk in between. (16 oz total but only 2 immediately before or after-NOT more, really difficult for me when he would cry wanting more formula, but, as they said, we needed a tough love approach.) This would also allow him to take in a greater volume of solids.
One thing that was putting him off, was that he was uncomfortable in his seat. Being weaker than most babies, he couldn't prop himself upright. This unstable base, slouching to one side always, was annoying him. So we were told to put a small, rolled up towel, on either side of him. Also, a rolled up towel under his feet, so they had a stable base, and weren't waving in the air. (We no longer need these towels, as he has grown stronger. Is also tall enough that his feet sit flat and comfortably on the foot rest).
The pureed solids had to include 1 starch, 1 protein, 1 green, with a teaspoon or so of butter/olive oil/flaxseed oil/coconut oil. Fruit could be given as a dessert snack, or given whole (e.g. bananas) as practice. They didn't count as the main meal. Make sure the solids were thick enough that you could hold the spoon upside down in his mouth.
Finally, to eat while he was eating. I LOVE this tip. Truth be told, this made the biggest difference in terms of solid intake. I was already doing several of the other things they mentioned, but THIS, this was the game-changer.
It made mealtimes fun for him, rather than an excruciating exercise in patience. I can imagine, the severity of my expression, a spoon constantly hovering by his mouth, when it wasn't forcefully jammed in, would make any meal indigestible.
To have me eat alongside him, makes Tiny Tot so very happy. He reaches out for the very food/drink I'm going for. He sees me have a mouthful after mouthful of food, going mmmm... and, hey, is that a challenge? I can do that too, ya know.
It creates a jovial atmosphere of camaraderie for him, awesome, I'm doing what the Giants are doing! No longer do I seem like Captain Hook (Cook?).
He is digesting better (apparently, like the rest of us, babies can get stomachaches if they are force-fed or stressed.)
I sing to him, he plays with the food, lets it slosh around between his fingers, feels the texture, throws stuff around once in a while. More to clean up for me, but who cares? Solid meals have become something to look forward to!
Along with all the other help, Glorious Gumption is finally, finally, thank GOD, prospering.
They saw him yesterday. Not only has he grown in height, he is slowly but surely catching up in weight (was off the CHART before). Coordination, balance, muscle tone, have all improved. They were very pleased indeed. As am I.
And life, now that baby is thriving, is very, very good.
King Lear, Little Dorrit, and an uncompromisingly dull study of basic physics concepts. Fun, fun.
Life is settling down.
Spunky Sweetheart was the main impediment to my reading habit, and, thankfully, he's finally drifted into a routine of some sort. The transition from normal feeding to formula/bottle, is complete, and from the deferential offering of solids he was used to, to a regimented, gung-ho approach. THESE PEAS AIN'T GON' EAT THEMSELVES, BOY.
A major blessing: early intervention. There is a waiting list, and our doctor didn't feel the need to refer us to them for ages (which they found astonishing and negligent on his part), either. Thanks, doc. There were so many things we were doing wrong, without considering his specific needs.
They diagnosed acid reflux (which his FOUR other pediatricians hadn't picked up on, nor Sick Kids walay) just by looking at him. Back arching and gulping noises.
Also, they took us off the PediaSure which our supposed "registered nutritionist," experienced and highly rated pediatrician had told us to give him since 6 months onwards.
This was despite the warning printed on the label. I would often protest and ask him whether it was really safe, but he would reassure us every time: it was not only safe, it was A SUPERIOR REPLACEMENT TO FORMULA. Early intervention folk were appalled by this recommendation. Apparently it was worsening his acid reflux, and was unnecessary besides. Also, it tasted so sweet and dessert-like compared to formula, so he rejected the latter, in every brand incarnation.
They gave us guidelines to help him take to the formula. Some of their tips, we knew, some we didn't, all of it incorporated together was very effective indeed. I'll share them here in case it will help anyone else. I apologize in advance if it reads as a bit haphazard, but I really am just writing with minimal revision, as always :P
Guidelines included:
lay him on his LEFT side always, hug him or use a blanket to wrap him tightly, making him feel snug.
Keep bottle tilted sideways, slightly upwards. Open/close bottle cap every now and again to prevent a vacuum from forming, which frustrates his attempts to efficiently suck.
His muscle tone was dubbed, generally lacking. Even in his mouth (no chunky purees, that would have to be chewed).
His temperament was deemed stubborn (he was used to milk, so he wanted to stick with it, making exceptions only for yummy fruit puree). And his appetite was quite small. It had to be increased little by little, and the best way to do this, they said, was not by giving many small meals throughout the day, in the hope that he would take in enough calories, but by deliberately making him hungry. Three times daily, and only two ounces of milk in between. (16 oz total but only 2 immediately before or after-NOT more, really difficult for me when he would cry wanting more formula, but, as they said, we needed a tough love approach.) This would also allow him to take in a greater volume of solids.
One thing that was putting him off, was that he was uncomfortable in his seat. Being weaker than most babies, he couldn't prop himself upright. This unstable base, slouching to one side always, was annoying him. So we were told to put a small, rolled up towel, on either side of him. Also, a rolled up towel under his feet, so they had a stable base, and weren't waving in the air. (We no longer need these towels, as he has grown stronger. Is also tall enough that his feet sit flat and comfortably on the foot rest).
The pureed solids had to include 1 starch, 1 protein, 1 green, with a teaspoon or so of butter/olive oil/flaxseed oil/coconut oil. Fruit could be given as a dessert snack, or given whole (e.g. bananas) as practice. They didn't count as the main meal. Make sure the solids were thick enough that you could hold the spoon upside down in his mouth.
Finally, to eat while he was eating. I LOVE this tip. Truth be told, this made the biggest difference in terms of solid intake. I was already doing several of the other things they mentioned, but THIS, this was the game-changer.
It made mealtimes fun for him, rather than an excruciating exercise in patience. I can imagine, the severity of my expression, a spoon constantly hovering by his mouth, when it wasn't forcefully jammed in, would make any meal indigestible.
To have me eat alongside him, makes Tiny Tot so very happy. He reaches out for the very food/drink I'm going for. He sees me have a mouthful after mouthful of food, going mmmm... and, hey, is that a challenge? I can do that too, ya know.
It creates a jovial atmosphere of camaraderie for him, awesome, I'm doing what the Giants are doing! No longer do I seem like Captain Hook (Cook?).
He is digesting better (apparently, like the rest of us, babies can get stomachaches if they are force-fed or stressed.)
I sing to him, he plays with the food, lets it slosh around between his fingers, feels the texture, throws stuff around once in a while. More to clean up for me, but who cares? Solid meals have become something to look forward to!
Along with all the other help, Glorious Gumption is finally, finally, thank GOD, prospering.
They saw him yesterday. Not only has he grown in height, he is slowly but surely catching up in weight (was off the CHART before). Coordination, balance, muscle tone, have all improved. They were very pleased indeed. As am I.
And life, now that baby is thriving, is very, very good.
OMG ALHUMDULILLAH THIS POST MADE ME SO HAPPY <3 <3 <3 did you tell ammi abbu? they're so worreid!
ReplyDeletealso this part:
We no longer need these towels, as he has grown stronger. Is also tall enough that his feet sit flat and comfortably on the foot rest).
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALHUMDULILLAH!!!
You think nav wd ever sue? He doesn't even care that the doc was wrong all along, he wants to stick with him cuz it's easier.
ReplyDelete