WHAT WOULD YOU MAKE OF THIS PHRASE IN A PAEDIATRICIAN 'S REPORT?

[BitTiredNow]

dd1 (my third) was referred to a paediatrican at birth because of her extensive birthmarks. At the consultation she was very very thorough and checked her for everything, and I went away happy, but when I got her report there was a phrase in it which puzzled me- she wrote 'mouths her lower lip a lot which is a possible cause for concern'. DD (14 weeks then, 5 months now)does have a habit of sticking her tongue out over her lower lip a lot (sorry, it's really hard to describe in words), but in other ways I haven't seen anything to cause me any alarm. She is a bit behind her brothers at the same age, but I just assumed all babies develop at different speeds. I have left several messages with her secretary (the paed's, not dd's ), but no answer yet and I am curious. Any medical folk out there care to venture an opinion? HV was (as always) v non committal.

I don't know what that might mean. Is so worrying when you get random comments that aren't explained.

DS had his normal 8 week check and rather than commenting on his precociousity, the doc wrote "small chin". Given that ds is now 2 and I still check his chin every now and then, the comment has certainly stuck in my mind

how odd!!! Did anyone give you a reason for it?

I think if the paed had real concerns she would have arranged other tests to rule out anything she was suspecting. Has the Paed asked to see her again? All babies develop at different rates as you rightly say. I would assume that if they are not following her up extensively then she is very normal (whatever normal is).

Sometimes with certain syndromes the tongue is overlarge and protrudes alot but your DD doesn't sound like she has any problems so it's probably quite normal for her.

thanks pagan - she has asked to see her again, but routinely. why would she write it then? Just to cover her back?

I thinks so. I read lots of paed reports at work (am a part time whispers HV) and they seem to put in everything they find on an examination - they also usually follow up at least once more (as in your DDs routine follow up). They are the most thorough reports I ever read from doctors.

Wow! Bold print - how did I do that? Not technically minded at all.

I suppose they rightfully make sure that they demonstrate that all things have been checked. With your dd, maybe she was referring to tongue-thrusting? Googled that, and it's an orthodontic/swallowing issue?

WRT ds's "small chin" it was difficult not to be a bit affronted! Almost like writing "eurgh, brown eyes" or "what a shocker". But then I mentioned it to my own GP in passing and she said that small chins can result in b/feeding probs and also can be related to some congenital illnesses. So the doc was simply marking that it had been noted, I think.

yes, I was really impressed with her and the thoroughness. I didn't mean to be rude about HVs as a profession, as I have had some really good ones, it's just that the one I have now will never give you an opinion. Thanks for not getting annoyed!

glad that he's OK now, pooka. I wuold have been a bit affronted as well!!

I wouldn't worry too much about it, but mention it when you see her again.

We see paeds regularly and their examination reports and letters are always incredibly thorough. I would imagine this is for medico-legal reasons, so that there is no room for doubt or discrepancy.

It's probably one of those 'keep an eye on this' things, that in isolation meant nothing, but if your DD was having other problems (eg feeding, speech, protruding tongue etc) could be significant.