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Feeding Update

We went to a feeding team evaluation last Thursday, where a whole group of therapists and nurse practitioners watch her eat, ask a bunch of questions, and develop a new feeding plan.  This was our first eval since exiting the feeding program because Abby got sick for the first one, so these therapists last remembered her reluctantly eating purees and often refusing to drink her milk.

Imagine their surprise when they saw Abby taking bites of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, drinking her milk out of a open cup and straw, and eating an applesauce pouch independently!! They were very impressed at how far she has come.

Of course, they had a few concerns too.  Abby only gained an average of 3 grams per day, and she was supposed to gain 6-10 grams a day.  She's hanging onto that first percentile, and hasn't gotten any taller since this summer.  (That is a separate issue...)  She's also having a lot of tummy issues, which they believe is from not drinking enough liquids.  With all of the Pediasure 1.5 (which is hard on tummies), she just about refuses to drink anything else throughout the day.  It was much easier to just put some water through the g-tube, but we won't be going back down that road!!  We are now giving her Miralax daily, mixed in with 4 oz of some kind of liquid.  I will probably do juice just for the extra calories.  (Mixing Miralax into Pediasure isn't an option, as it won't dissolve in milk protein!)

The team was also very understanding in that increasing the textures of Abby's food would mean that she wouldn't gain as well.  It's much easier to gain weight by eating all purees that don't require much effort.  It's definitely a process, but we are getting there!

Comments

Mary Lou said…
Julie....
"Imagine their surprise when they saw Abby taking bites of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, drinking her milk out of a open cup and straw, and eating an applesauce pouch independently!! They were very impressed at how far she has come.". Thanks be to God!! ;-D
"Of course, they had a few concerns too. Abby only gained an average of 3 grams per day, and she was supposed to gain 6-10 grams a day. She's hanging onto that first percentile. She's also having a lot of tummy issues, which they believe is from not drinking enough liquids.". I am praying!! ;)
--Raelyn

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