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Post by vickia on Jan 25, 2007 13:30:15 GMT
Well, just been to the hv to get Thomas weighed and they've told me that Thomas is overweight and if I don't sort it out by the time he's 1 he'll be off the charts! Thomas is 30 weeks (7 months) and 8.48kg (18lbs 9oz). This puts him just below the 91st centile. The hv says that I need to check the calories in everything and watch what I'm giving him to eat. She says that he needs more finger foods (which he has no idea what to do with. He hasn't learned to pick up and put things in his mouth yet!) which is impossible but the hv says I need to TEACH him to put things in his mouth!!!!! I've also been told to water down his milk if he wakes for a night feed (which he does only occasionally!). The hv said that the weight will put strain on Thomas' heart. She then went on to say that I don't need to bring him back for weighing. He will be seen at home between 8-12months for his routine check! Thomas has a good appetite but I wouldn't say he has too much! I've tried to blend my own food up but I can't get it pureed enough and he chokes so I stick to jars. I do buy the healthy ones with the most fruit and veg and no sugar tho! Here's what Thomas has everyday: 8am 6oz formula Bowl baby porridge (made with water) 11.30am 4oz formula 1 small jar food (eg chicken & veg etc) 1 small fromage frais 4.30pm 4oz formula 1 small jar food (eg veg hotpot etc.) 1/2 jar pudding (rice pudding/custard etc.) 8.00pm 6oz formula 1/2 bowl baby porridge (made with water - hv advised supper to get him to sleep thru!) I feel so upset that I could cry. I have no where to turn and no idea what to do about this. Thomas isn't due to see his paed until the end of March. What should I do? Has anyone else had a similar experience? Sorry to go on guys, I'm just a little lost!
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Post by Jojo on Jan 25, 2007 14:35:23 GMT
Oh try not to be upset. He doesn't seem to eat too much at all, he's eating much the same that Lisa was at his age.
I mean does he look chubby or is he just big built?
Rhys, although hasn't got downs or heart probs is HUGE. I'm a it worried about getting him weighed actually before I get a telling off from the HV, but he isn't fat in the slightest, just big built.
Maybe stop giving him puddings for a few weeks and see if that helps.
My dd2 went off the chart at about 7 months, but once she was mobile came back down.
I don't agree at all with your hv on forcing him to finger feed!! Is she a special needs hv? Lisa has only just started to do this at 20 months, as she chokes really easily, and she could be 3 before she gets the knack properly, this is something you should think about when he is ready. I never give her toast and banana chunks are a complete nightmare slipping to the back of her throat. I am giving her (and as I said, only just) things that melt like rice cakes, skips, prawn crackers....but even then she tends to try to over load her mouth lol!
I'd try to give your consultant a ring, or speech and language therapist if you have one are normally clued up on feeding.
Good luck, hope you get some answers.xxx
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Post by Jojo on Jan 25, 2007 14:43:33 GMT
Also....heres some food ideas that are easy to puree, I just push them through the seive....All can be put in in ice cube trays to freeze, and then you can mix them together
Butternut squash, this doesn't take long to cook, and is really squishy.
Sweet potato......
parsnips.....
suede......
I never really did fruit for Lisa apart from puree banana, it's just you can buy cow and gates pure fruit which is also great for drinks. I still mix them with a bit of water now and it's not too thin for her.
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Post by vickia on Jan 25, 2007 14:50:34 GMT
Thanks for that jojo. I don't think cutting pudding out is an option as he'd be hungry and want more milk (which is the worst thing apparently! lol) so maybe I will try pureeing fruit. Thomas does look chubby but I don't think its excessive. We don't have a speech and language therapist yet, or physio, or special needs hv... the list is endless of what we haven't got. Its pretty much just me and Thomas at the minute.
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Post by Jojo on Jan 25, 2007 15:00:58 GMT
Perhaps have a word with your consultant, or doctor and maybe they could refer you to someonewho could help.xxx
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Gemma
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by Gemma on Jan 25, 2007 15:56:26 GMT
Hi hun, I would try swopping his milk he has at meal times with water. And maybe changing puddings to fruit such as bannas, apple, strawberrys etc. We had this prob with James at about the same age, its because they arnt moving they arnt burning off the energy. When he is sitting, rolling, crawling alot more the weight will fall off. Now James is under weight would you beilive!!! lol
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Post by shirley on Jan 25, 2007 20:35:51 GMT
Bloody HV's think they know it all, as Gemma and jo jo say it will probably fall off him as soon as he is active. I think he is tremendous and hope Grace looks as well so soon after surgery.
I am not an expert but from what I can see you are feeding him just fine. It just seems to me that from they are born it is drummed into us to get them to gain weight and finish EVERY bottle and now after you have done all this you are being told he needs to lose weight.
I would feel exactly the same Vicki, as long as he is well and his cardiologist is happy with him I wouldnt worry about it.
Big hugs Shirley & Grace xx
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Post by pinkshell1110 on Jan 25, 2007 22:44:16 GMT
how flippin rude of your HV ,jasmin hasn't got DS and she weighed around 18lb at six months but the
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Post by pinkshell1110 on Jan 25, 2007 22:53:20 GMT
oh dont know what happened there HV never said a word she is 18 months now and has been walking since she was 10 months, and this has toned her up a little if you like, she now weighs 28lb which i thought was alot but the HV says she's healthy and she doesn't really eat that much but she does eat alot of fruit ,i think maybe she is built that way all 3 of my girls are quite chunky munkeys but there happy,healthy and confident which suits me, i know thomas has had heart surgery but the docs spend the first part of their lives saying they need to put weight on, and the rest telling you there eating too much you cant win.it looks like thomas has a healthy diet,have they tested his thyroid yet ? Dont let them upset you vicki your little thomas is a star and your a fantastic mum xxxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by max on Jan 26, 2007 8:32:14 GMT
I'm willing to bet I will have this problem soon - Caleb is on the 99.8th centile on his Downs chart - just over 50 on the ordinary. He weights 15lb 6 at 4 months. He's a big chunker, and I'm just breast feeding him! My little brother was the fattest baby EVER and is now 24, with the most toned fat free body - no effort at all, he just lost it by the age of about 3 I think! So it's not true that fat babies are fat adults.
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Post by Rilith on Jan 26, 2007 13:51:08 GMT
Is he still on High Cal milk?? Is she checking the chart on the Downs Growth Chart or the "Normal" one??? He does seem a big lad And looks like he likes his dinner.... LOL. I would prolly start dropping some of the milk down a little and topping him up with a bit of juice instead. As for putting him on FINGER foods for gawd sake... LOL Has he mastered lumps yet??? Tell your HV to get the text book and shove it where the sun doesn't shine !!! Is he still on duiretics? Is he still peeing enough??? Maybe its worth having a word with the cardiologists to see if his dose dosage looking at. Do you have any community nurses that can call out and ask their advice???
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Post by sarah on Jan 26, 2007 19:31:57 GMT
Well... Daniel is the same age as Thomas and his last weigh in was 19lb 5oz! No one has said anything at all (and I see the hv quite a lot). Although it is quite big for a baby with downs, he's only just above average on the 'standard' weight charts. There are babies (without ds) in my mums group that are younger than Daniel and weigh MORE! I'm no expert but I think the hv is talking PANTS!! Daniel loves his food and is doing well with solids and it sounds like Thomas is too. As long as he's healthy then thats fine. Can't beleive I used to worry about him not weighing enough!
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Post by sarah on Jan 26, 2007 19:41:47 GMT
Just thought I'd add that it sounds like you are doing brilliantly, especially as you say you've not had much help. I know how you feel though when you think everything is going well, and someone puts a spanner in the works. xxx
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Post by adrienne on Feb 13, 2007 10:39:21 GMT
hi everyone, my son Mark is 9 1/2 months old. His last weight was 18LB which was taken at the hospital. I don't see the hv much as you always feel that her attutiude is f you don't need to be here unless anything is wrong. Mark seems to be getting hungrier. He isn't a bad eater but somethimes giving him his dinner can be a nightmare. I make up all his dinners but am running out of ideas of what to make for him. Here is was he eats during the day, maybe he isn't getting enough but he certainly looks as if he is. i must get a picture of him so you can all see who im talking about.
Morning 7oz bottle of SMA (usually only takes 5oz) 1/2 weetabix
11.00 4oz bottle of SMA and fruit pot (Cow & Gate)
2.30pm 7oz bottle of SMA and his dinner which could be:
Spaegetti bol/chick, sweet pototoe, brocc & carrots/mince, pototoe carrots & parnsip
6.00 7oz bottle
He doesn't drink water but i do try to give him a few sips. i find that the baby juice even though i dulete it with a bit more water makes him sick.
For a few weeks he ate brilliantly and this week he has started to spite his food out at me. Dinner time can take up to an hour. His food is all pureed with a few lumps as he still has no teeth and i don't think he is ready for finger food.
Any suggestions of what other dinners i can make and if i should be feeding him a bit more?
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Post by Jojo on Feb 13, 2007 19:45:16 GMT
I have to admit, Lisa is bought up mainly on Heinz mothers own jars.
I find it is the easiest way of giving her what she needs meat wise, as she still can't chew properly.
She (at 22 months) has only just started eating finger foods, I still don't give her toast or anything like that, only things that melt in the mouth.
The only other thing that I have found that Lisa will drink other than milk, is Heinz apple juice. Or another thing you can try is to mix some of the fruit with some water to have a thick drink, he should be able to take it better then.
I can't really help you on the amount really, I just fed Lisa what she would take, but she's never been a fussy eater. I suppose as long as he is gaining weight ok, then there shouldn't be a problem.
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Post by sarah on Feb 13, 2007 22:13:58 GMT
Hi Adrienne. I use a great book by Annabel Karmel. It has loads of recipes that I would never have thought of and you can adapt them, ie puree them more to suit your child. Daniel prefers her stuff to bought jars (which means I have to pretend I'm mother earth and make more now!!) It also has different stages and charts that show how much milk/solids children should be having for a healthy diet. Its not specifically for children with Downs or anything but I used it as a guide to get me started as I had no idea about solids!! Hope that might help xx
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Post by pinkshell1110 on Feb 13, 2007 22:14:41 GMT
hi i have a similar problem with the spitting out and throwing of food, charlie can use a spoon and fork but chooses not too but i let him cos he does need to put alot of weight on, i always say to people if they question it at least he's eating, he too goes through lots of stages of not eating for days so of course when he does finally eat we dont care how or what (within reason obviously) have you tried mashing up lots of different fruits, our dietician suggested putting cheese spread with mash potatoe and things or grated chesse just to change the flavour a little, it worked occasionally . i cant comment either on the amount but i do find that charlie will let us know when he's had enough xxxxxxxx
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Post by adrienne on Feb 14, 2007 11:52:15 GMT
Thank you; must look up that book, im sure Mark is fed up eating the same thing even though i try to vary his meals every day. I just wish i found something he loves to eat at dinner time. He would eat custard and cow & gate fruit pots until it came out of his ears.
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Post by sarah on Feb 14, 2007 18:46:18 GMT
Its called the complete baby and toddler meal planner, but she does loads of other baby feeding books too with good recipes. Good luck!! (and daniel would also eat yoghurt forever too!!)
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