We had our six month appointment last week. As many of you know, Delaney is not a chubby bubby, but she's so active and alert that we haven't been sweating the weight topic. Apparently our doctor has a different take on that issue than we do. Delaney weighed in at 12 lbs 3 oz. and 27 inches long, which apparently isn't "fat enough." In fact, the phrase that was used was "Delaney is failing to thrive." I was speechless, while Delaney continued to laugh, crawl around all over me, and attempt to eat my face off. The doctor than proceeded to list what needed to happen next: meet with a nutritionist, do blood work, pump and add oil to my milk, etc. etc. All pretty extreme stuff. I wish that I would have said a million different things to my doctor, asked a million different questions, but I was just trying to hold it together and couldn't get past the thought of my giggling baby hooked up to tubes and IVs, wasting away in some hospital.
Now that I've had time to process everything, I have a better grasp of reality and know that Delaney is a healthy, happy baby. My doctor is not a bad person, just a gruff lady who isn't a mommy and doesn't understand how off-handed comments can traumatize a hyper-sensitive-paranoid-perfectionist-first-time-mommy (that's me, in case you're wondering). EVERYONE that knows Delaney knows how healthy she is, and assures me that she'll be just fine. Not everyone gets to be a fat American from the get-go. If Delaney's curse in life is to be tall, thin, and gorgeous, she'll learn how to deal with the cards that have been dealt to her. Rough life.
We are trying to fatten her up, and I'm trying to just breath and do the best I can. We are adding oil to her cereal and doubling her solid intake, but if anyone has any other tips on putting some meat on my kid's bones, I'd be much obliged. We go back in three weeks to weigh in and meet with the nutritionist then. I'll keep you all posted.
Delaney Marie is not just a dot on a growth chart. She is INCREDIBLY active and talkative, and you pretty much want to gobble her up every time you see her. I laugh thinking about what she'll be like down the road--thinking that she'll be that chatty charlie girl that just can't sit still. She'll have to sit up next to the teacher, but everyone will love her because of her dazzling charm and friendliness towards others. Well, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. We don't have to tackle the elementary school years yet...we'll just focus on letting her be the baby that God created her to be.
I wanted to post some beautiful six month photos of the babe, but she just doesn't sit still anymore, so what you see is what you get. Thanks for listening!
She's finally getting hair (sort of), so Steve thought a mohawk was appropriate. Delaney agreed whole-heatedly.
Even though we don't wear much pink, we're still girly. This picture is for you, Auntie Andrea!
Drooling like crazy, with no teeth to show for it...
Not sure what to think of the camera's flash
So proud that she's able to sit up by herself!
9 comments:
i think you are doing all the right things, karen. you are a wonderful mommy and your daughter is thriving! we went through a 4 month period where aniyah gained mere ounces every month. she "looked" chubby b/c of of her cheeks, but just wasn't gaining weight. kids do that. she was busy crawling, walking, we were dealing w/ food allergies. the dr. did have us add olive oil to her veggies and increase food intake if possible. we went in for weight checks every 2 weeks. i can't imagine you can do much else. she will eat when she wants to eat and stop when she is full... that is what we are trying to teach our kids so they don't become glutenous people. just give it time and don't let that dr. make you feel like you are anything less than a wonderful mommy and provider for your baby!
Oh this post made me miss you so badly, AND hate that I tease you about her being too skinny. I'm sorry, honey.
I think you are absolutely right about her. No one knows the child like the mother and father, and I am happy to see that the more time you have at this parenting thing, the more confident you get.
She's perfect.
I love you all.
I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Delaney yet, but I'm sure she's fine. I have a baby now who is really obese and she is going to have a lot of issues. i think being a little skinny is ok. I've had parents who have added avacado to their baby's diet to add weight and it worked well. I love you guys. Megan
One of the first things we learned really quickly is that doctors can be totally misinformed. And why wouldn't two skinny people have a skinny baby?
I wish i was there so i could have rolled my eyes at your doctor. Soren was a low birth weight too, and we got that same schpiel, though our doctor was a little more understanding. You guys are breastfeeding, right? She'll be fine.
The idea of her "not thriving" is totally a joke! Totally! Is she having fun, engaged, moving around? Check, check, check. You're gold. If you had a fat baby, i doubt she'd be as healthy and active.
You're good- just go with it. Some of us are skinny, and that's okay too.
Oh, Karen, how doctors just toss around scary phrases like "failure to thrive" without considering the impact of their words...
It seems like Delaney's doctor is unaware that there are two different infant growth charts; one for breastfed babies and one for formula fed babies. Guess which babies are leaner, especially starting at around 6 months? Unfortunately, many peds don't know about the different growth curves breastfed babies take, probably because such a sad percentage of American babies are breastfed more than a handful of months. Show this one to her! (And, while your on the site, check out all the other great breastfeeding info!)
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/growthcharts.html
Delaney is lean, certainly, but she is on the chart! She is meeting her milestones, she is happy, she is engaged. She is beautiful and healthy! Keep trusting your mama instincts!
If your goal is to help her gain a little weight, getting her to nurse frequently is your best bet. An ounce of breastmilk has about 22 calories, half of which are from fat. An ounce of veggie puree has less than half of that, with very little fat. Six month olds are curious little beings, and can be pretty distracted when they nurse. Soren would eat much, much longer if I nursed him in bed, without all the distractions of the rest of the household. I'd feed him on one side as long as I could, to make sure he got all the higher-calorie hind milk. When he was first starting out on solids, we'd nurse before a "meal" of solids, so that he'd fill up on the richest foods before the lower-calorie foods.
You are a very attentive mama, and very attuned to Delaney's needs. It shows in her bright eyes!
Karen, I have been following your blog for a while now and I just had to comment on this one. I too had a baby that wouldn't gain weight. He's 2 and still has trouble. It's so hard not to take what a doctor says to heart. Because, though they are just looking out for your baby's best interest, it doesn't always feel that way. Hang in there, and trust your instincts. In the end the only people that know what's best for Delaney are you and Steve... don't ever let anyone convince you otherwise.
I think everyone has said anything I would say. Just wanted to say that it is obvious Delaney is thriving and you guys are doing a great job. Trust your instincts as her parents, and reach out to your friends & family when you feel overwhelmed. She is adorable, and I can't wait to meet her someday :)
You are an incredible mum to Delaney, and I think you've taken everything in stride really well. You've evaluated what the doctor said with what you know and see every day in Delaney, and I think you are really grounded in your approach. All babies are different and grow at their own paces and in their own ways, continue to trust your inner voice, no one knows your baby as well as you and Steve do! Rock on
Just an fyi I think your a great mom! And Alicia (nate and erica's baby) is a month older than Delaney and she only weighs 12 pounds, we just call her petite! Your doing great! love you!
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