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SN children

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Original poster

Should I be worried about my dd weight?

8 replies

proudmum74 · 15/04/2011 15:05

Hi - my dd is 1 year old with DS. She's only put on 200g in the past 4 months and has moved from being just below the 91st percentile to just below the 50th. I've mentioned my concerns to both the GP & HV, but neither seem bothered by it. As she's my only child I could be over reacting, so I guess what I want to know is should I be worried about this or is it normal??

Thanks!

OP posts:

auntevil · 15/04/2011 15:15

I don't have experience of DS, but my DS3 has a swallowing problem and i noticed that his growth and weight were tailing off. At first, everyone patted me on the head and said it would be fine. It wasn't and now they are taking it seriously.
My advice is to have her weighed and measured regularly by a health professional. Get it plotted on her growth chart. If it is a trend, you will have the evidence to produce - a failure to thrive. Otherwise, you might be given 'strategies' to increase weight, but told to wait for 6-9 months to see if a growth spurt is around the corner.
If there are any eating/gastroenterological issues that affect DS specifically i would dig your heels in and insist on a referral. It may be that the gp and hv are unaware of any issues.

Original poster

proudmum74 · 15/04/2011 15:32

Thanks auntevil.

I've been getting her measured & plotted on her charts every month for the past year because she had feeding problems when she was first born & had to be put on special 'fat formula'. Up until 4 months ago she was tracking beautifully on the same line, but since Xmas the line has plateaued. I've shown these charts to both her GP & HV but they think I'm over reacting. We have a review with her paediatrician in a couple of weeks time & I'll flag again then. Do you mind me asking what you had to do for them to take you seriously?

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auntevil · 15/04/2011 15:43

Hassle, hassle and more hassle. Sorry, it isn't a positive 'they suddenly realised' moment, more of a constant nagging from me!
If its any consolation, i was told by a hv that my DS3 was going to be 'a little man' and to 'just get over it' - aged 1 ish. His gastroenterologist has just requested some growth hormone therapy until GOSH can sort out his swallowing issues - aged 3.9.
Don't feel you're over reacting. GPs and HVs are not always right.

Original poster

proudmum74 · 15/04/2011 15:57

I've become very good at nagging over the past year!

Thanks again, it's really good to know that I'm not just an over reacting first time mum! (well I might be, but at least I feel better now about it!)

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sonora · 15/04/2011 17:43

Hi again ( am not stalking you...honest ) Ds (also DS) up until around 16 months or so went from being between the 50th/75th percentile to the 25th. Like you I was really worried and had to endure the hell that is baby clinic every week for months to monitor ds weight.

I think alot had to do with his health at the time...a few stays in hospital for viral infections and also ds had really crappy congestion which made him vomit after his feeds. The hv at the time just suggested putting things like full fat cream on his cereal, extra cheese in dinners etc. This would of worked had ds actually eaten more than 2 spoons of solids at each mealtime!

For us it just kind of sorted itself out, ds appetite picked up at around 18months and now gains weight ok, I think he's above the 50th now. If your dd is due to see the paed soon she'll be due some blood tests aswell (thyroid/ coeliac screen/full blood count) I was convinced ds had coeliacs because of the weight loss, but his results were all ok, but it's nice to rule things out!

Original poster

proudmum74 · 15/04/2011 17:53

Hi sonora - feel free to stalk me anytime!

You're probably right about her health, dd has been in hospital with severe croup in the past month & we've also had months of her vomiting slightly any time she had milk (but interestingly not other dairy products ) which thankfully now seems to have stopped. The bizarre thing is dd REALLY likes to eat, she amazes everyone with just how much she can put away in one sitting! Hopefully the blood tests will show no problems & it will sort itself out in a few months.

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MarioandLuigi · 15/04/2011 18:15

My DS is under a dietician because of his weightloss - he has lots of food issues and his diet is very limited.

We were told that professionals dont worry until a child dropped 2 centile lines, because that is more than what is seen as natural weightloss.

If she is quite healthy and is eating well I would try not to worry. Get her weighed and measured regually. If your DD hasnt actually lost anything its not too bad. In NT children there is normally a plateau about this age (there certainly has been with my DD).

I know its hard not to worry, especially if she is your first (I was terrible for it).

Original poster

proudmum74 · 15/04/2011 18:26

Thank MarioandLuigi -we were told the same by the professional right up to the point where she dropped 2 centile lines (is now 200g less than she was a month ago). Now my HV is saying that it can be perfectly normal for babies with DS to form a baseline that is lower than they were previously tracking - mind you this is the same woman who told me it was perfectly OK to cut milk completely out of my dd diet if it was causing her to be sick , so I'm not sure she's the best person to listen to about dietary concerns...

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