[tri-med] Re: weak suck & thermometers (was constipation)

>I mean, we were sent home with an infant who couldn't suck, 
>I was attempting breast feeding and it's taking 1 hr to get 
>1-2 oz of liquid into him. 

Philina wasn't sent home to die...we had a super great ped to
begin with, and no diagnosis yet any way. But by one month we 
gave up on breast feeding, as she was losing weight. She had a
really weak suck and a high arched palate.  So I started the 
hour ritual to get a few ounces in her, just to have her throw 
most of it up 1st time she moved.  And as if that wasn't enough 
stress, I was then turned into Child Protective Services by the 
public health nurse, who the hospital social worker had sic'd on 
us at birth.  Charges were "trying to starve my child to death", 
and because I was following the recommendation of our ped not to 
start her immunizations until she'd reached the normal weight 
they're started at as opposed to normal age. Ped came to our 
defense, got the case closed, and threatened the nurse that he'd 
go to her supervisor if she EVER showed her face on our door step 
again.
 
He offered me an ng tube, but since she was gaining weight, even 
if it was painfully slow, he left it up to me whether I wanted 
one.  I suspected that would just be one more problem to deal, 
she has tiny funky nasal canals.  So we tried adding Polycose to 
her formula instead.  That helped some.  Biggest helps though 
were.... 

1. Cutting bigger holes in her baby bottle nipples.

2. ENT diagnosed her with glue ear.  Vent tubes = no more motion
   sickness.

3. We figured out she was actually allergic to both soy & milk.
   Soy gave her projectile vomiting, milk made her wheeze. Gerber 
   Beef Heart formula was nasty smelling, but she thrived on it.
   Then Gerber discontinued it, so I made her almond milk.
  
4. Cardio discovered her PDA hadn't closed after all.  Fixed it.
   Better circulation = better oxygenation = better growth.

>When I was using the rectal thermometer there were NO digital
>thermometers nor were the ear thermometers invented yet.

Ditto, but since she fought the rectal ones, I went to axillary 
temps on her pretty early.  One of those advantages of having 
worked in nursing homes....

>and the ear thermometers that were all the rage, they took them 
>away from us at the hospital about a year ago as they are not 
>accurate 

When they came out with the ear thermometers we discovered pretty 
quick that they aren't accurate for someone who wears hearing aid 
ear molds.  It raises the temperature in the ear....

Fawna, mom to Thom & Rhonda, Lara and
Philina 20 (PT6p & Moya Moya Syndrome),
wife of Doug, 12 >^..^<, 3 llamas, 2 tortoises,
& 1 turtle, Philina's Pharm Bengal Cattery
Escondido, CA., USA
http://home.mindspring.com/~fawna33/index.html
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