My Skinny Baby or Why I'm a Bad Mother

Friday we had Maddy's four month check up. I found she had only gained ONE POUND since her two month appt! Why didn't they just stamp "Bad Mother" on my head? Instead of taking blame, I turned to my daughter after the nurse weighed her and said, "Ooooh you're going to be in trouble." After all she's the one not eating right? She thought this was very funny and gave me a huge grin. I think it has a little to do with her reflux and not eating for long periods at each feeding due to discomfort. My side of the family is made up of lean people, so part of it might be genetic too. To my credit she did grow two inches and the head circumference had increased also. So she is growing, just long, not fat. The doctor was not too concerned. He had hoped she'd gained a little more weight though. Because of this and her reflux issues, we decided to start her on some rice cereal twice a day. Ideally, I would have liked to wait until six months for any solids, but I think in her case the pros outweigh the cons.

I am still struggling with what to do about her reflux meds. I had switched her back to Zantac for a couple doses until we could talk to the doctor. He suggested we mix the Prilosec with simple syrup (a sugar/water mixture) to see if she'd take it better that way. We tried her first dose with that last night. I'd say she kept about half down. This morning I tried Carrie's technique (thanks!) of slowly shooting it in the corner of her mouth while she was sucking on a paci. This worked and I think she finally kept a whole dose down. The real test will be tonight to see if it can be repeated. If not, I might just switch her back to Zantac. She really wasn't doing horribly on it and the doctor said if we go back to that we can up her dose of it again. I hate that we have to mix the Prilosec with sugar, but I'm assuming if they add flavor at the pharmacy that there is sugar in that too. ? Between that and the rice cereal I feel like I am polluting my baby with all this gunk I am shoving down her throat. I feel like she looks at me sometimes like, "Mom I just want your boob." Oh well. I think I am doing what's best. . . I think.

I have three days of work in a row coming up. That sounds like an eternity compared to my two last week. How did I ever do five? Oh that's right. I didn't have a baby.