poor weight gain

Candi - posted on 03/15/2011

Phew. Why is social services bugging you if it's documented that you're doing everything that you possibly can? Man. Yeah, my guys were preemies too, and one just cannot keep on weight either, although he is 27 pounds at 3 years. He's so skinny, though, that he really does look frighteningly anorexic sometimes. Have the doctors done swallow studies? Have you seen a feeding clinic? (Do you live near a children's hospital or a special children's therapy center, like Pittsburgh's Children's Institute? www.amazingkids.org.) You might call the Children's Institute and see if they'll do an evaluation and possibly take your daughter to their in-patient feeding clinic. You would be able to stay with her, if you wished. Other people I've known who have done this have been very pleased with the results. Other things we've done have been suggested, but you might have a child with an emptying disorder (i.e., her stomach doesn't empty food fast enough, so she just constantly feels like she doesn't need to eat) and there are medicines to help with this. Also, at one point in time, we really did have my guys on the all fat, all the time diet (and sometimes we revert to this). Whole milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast added to it, Straight mayonnaise on a slice of whole wheat bread. A dump of butter in EVERYTHING. Ice cream for dessert every day. (we're lactose intolerant, so this didn't last long.) Peanut butter by the spoonful. Honestly, it's stuff that would make me gag, but it would work for a little while. I dread when my guys get sick because the one loses so much weight that he just freefalls off the growth chart that he's only barely hitting anyway. Breaded fish sticks are high in fat, but also good for her because they provide all kinds of vitamins and minerals. Flax seed and wheat germ to cereals both promote emptying and provide extra calories for weight gain. Hmmm...what else? There are a lot of high-calorie diet recipes on the Internet that you can look up for kids. If Christopher isn't eating, I'll have him chug Pediasure. And I've never gotten rid of milk at bedtime. They'll often have either Pediasure or some other high-calorie drink for that last infusion of the day if they haven't eaten much throughout the rest of the day. If she's healthy, happy, and active, then the social services should be leaving you alone while you try to find a solution to this! Hang in there!

Rachel - posted on 03/12/2011

i was told to put double cream in her food, marvel, butter, extra cheese, thats she's to have 3 main meals and 4 snacks through out the day, she's on special high calorie drinks, yet nothing works, We have had a chromosone test on her 2 months ago and that came back all clear, it's so fustrating not knowing why she's so small and having the social services telling you to try more harder to get her to eat more, wot do they want me to do put a tube down her neck like they do ducks and geese, then i'd be done for abuse, she's a happy girl, always on the go, doesn't sit still for long, it's driving me crazy

Cheryl - posted on 03/08/2011

Hey My daughter Anabelle was born at 29 weeks and we have had a constant battle with her weight. We found out last week that it is due to a genetic condition she has, She has a ring around Chromosone 22 causing her to have a difficult time putting weight on has well as getting taller. She has only grown half an inch in 3 months. May talk to her doctor to see if there might be a cause for it

Kristin - posted on 03/07/2011

My son was born at 27 weeks and has always been in the lowest % for weight. The docs had me add powdered milk to everything(puddings, glasss of milk, potatoes, etc.) Also Avacodos are healthy fats the have been called a preeemie's food since ithas alot of calories. Also more small meals might be bterre than 3 large meals. Mine eats like 6 times a day. My son, now 13 is only 80 lbs, but healthy. He burns alot of calories becuse he has high muscle tone. Plus dad is thin so I think he gets a high motabolism from dad. Best of luck

Rachel - posted on 03/07/2011

summer also has ftt but they don't think it's a food allergy, she can gain weight but loses it as soon as she has gained it, i was told to give her 3 main meals aday and add butter and double cream to things like mash, she's on special drinks called provide extra and fortijuice but still nothing, she was a fussy satrter with solids and would only have jar foods for a long time and because she had chronic lung diesease and wasn't getting the right amount of nutrients from the jar food i think thats why she's struggling now but the social services don't seem to listen to me, and i'm at my wits end and i'm reserching things all the time, at the momment were waiting for results to russel silver syndrome and i am wanting so bad for it to come back positive so we can get on with our lives and be the family were all trying to be , i want to enjoy bring my kids up but i can't till this is all sorted, they should be out there finding children that are at risk of abuse and bein murdered not on at me when i'm doing everything they have told me to do, thank you for letting me know about the splash milk and i shall mention it any way to see if it can be used for the added nutriends and calories xx

Corinne - posted on 03/04/2011

My son turned 2 in November. He was born at 24 weeks. He weighs 21 pounds and is about 30 inches. He was just diagnosed FTT. His GI doctor suggested adding protein powder to his food. Also adding olive oil and try tuna or salmon. I puree the fish since he has texture issues and only eat stage 2 baby food. We also give him Neocate Splash instead of milk. He has a milk allergy and the Neocate Splash has 30 calories per ounce. He gained over a pound in the first month of doing the protein powder, olive oil and fish.