A little update on Veronika's Reflux issue, as per my previous post.
On Thursday, May 8, Veronika was weighed by her Pediatrician and was a whopping 10 lbs. However, at her next appointment on Thursday, May 15, she was only 10 lbs 2 ounces, which was a rather low weight gain. I told her Ped that she still continues spitting up a lot, and although we've been thickening up her formula and adding rice cereal, it does not seem to be helping much at all. The Ped said she's growing fine, just gaining weight rather slowly. But knowing Natasha's history of slow weight gain as well, he's not as concerned this time, and thinks she might be following in her sister's footsteps. The only difference was that Natasha did not have Reflux and did not therefore scream through practically every feeding.
The Ped then gave us a free container of Enfamil's Nutramigen Hypoallergenic formula; this formula is made for babies who might have a milk allergy and/or are lactose intolerant. Now this does not mean Veronika is, but he said if drinking this formula will stop her fussiness and spit-up, then maybe there is our answer. So I brought the can home, and when I opened it, this absolutely horrible smell came out. It was disgusting, but when I made the bottle and tasted it, it was even worse. Think rotten pickle juice. Yuck. I just couldn't believe my baby will have to drink bottles after bottles of this disgusting liquid. I even called the Ped to confirm whether this was normal, and unfortunately it was.
Well, Veronika might be small, but she's not stupid. She refused to drink this formula altogether and screamed even harder for the next 3 feedings. And honestly speaking, I don't blame her one bit. I don't know what the makers of this formula had in mind, really. I gave in and made her a bottle of the regular Enfamil she was previously on. I would rather she eat and spit up, then not eat anything at all or have to endure this horrible tasting formula. Yuck.
So we're back to square one now, but we're taking it easy and hoping she outgrows this problem come three months. It seems like her Ped is very much against prescribing her meds, which realistically is the easy way out. He wants to get to the core of this problem, but at what cost is he looking for the answer? At the cost of my baby suffering every feeding? I don't know, but I hope some solution comes up really soon.
