Four Month Appointment

As I type this, I am taking a little break from CC, who is playing nicely on the floor where I can keep an eye on her.  She has been very fussy yesterday and today (probably due to the vaccines she received at her four-month checkup yesterday). I was finally able to calm her a few minutes ago, thanks to the Bruce Springsteen blasting out of my computer speakers.  Whew!

Speaking of her appointment, things went pretty well.  CC is still 50th percentile in weight, which relaxed me a little bit about her recent eating issues -- despite them all, she is apparently still getting enough to eat.  She is in the 40th percentile for her head circumference, and 25th percentile in length.  Hmmm ... she is becoming a little short and chubby!  (This would not surprise anyone who has seen her thighs.  MJ's mom tells me CC has inherited what she calls "Murphy Thighs.")

I spoke to the doctor at length about CC's fussiness while eating.  Late last week, it seemed that things were getting a little bit better, but then the weekend came.  CC would not eat well no matter what I tried, and she even stopped taking bottles well.  The only good meals she was getting were if she woke in the middle of the night, when she would lay there peacefully and eat well.  This continues to mystify me and every professional I consult.

The doctor believes CC has a combination of things: a bit of unresolved colic, a touch of reflux (although with atypical symptoms), and probably a tendency to get easily overstimulated (which might explain her smooth midnight meals).  Depending on what MJ and I are comfortable with, there are a few things he recommended.  We could give her a trial run on Zantac, which is commonly prescribed for babies with reflux.  That may or may not work, but even if it didn't help, it would give us another clue to this puzzle.

We could also start her on solids.  The recommended window for babies to start solids is 4-6 months, and she's in that range now.  ("Solids," by the way, is a misnomer: she would be getting pureed, soupy-textured foods.)  Many babies with gastrointestinal issues do better on solids, because they're more substantial than milk, and help settle their tummies.

Lastly, we could see a specialist.  He gave me a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist, and we will be making an appointment soon.  A second opinion couldn't hurt, and a specialist might think of something no one's considered yet. 

Uh oh, my break is over.  I guess Bruce's magic isn't working anymore!