Emily has never been overly worried about milk and although she is pleased to see her bottle and happily drink it she would never really ask for it. We last saw the dietician three months ago when Emily was still solely on milk. We had to change the milk to follow on as she wasn't getting all the nutrients needed from the first stage formula she was drinking. We were also told to start introducing solids into her diet. To be honest I didn't really know where to start as my oldest is six and I couldnt remember back that far not to mention she was very advanced and more or less weaned herself. We started of with some baby porridge in the mornings an hour or so after her first bottle. As long as it was a slightly liquid consistancy she was able to swallow it fine. Then after a few weeks we introduced lunch and so on.
For weeks she was on just over an ice cube worth of good not caring whether she has it or not. Over the last six weeks the amount has increased to just under a jars worth. Unfortunately Emily much prefers jars to my own cooking! She is still unable to cope with any lumps of any kind and gags, normally resulting in bringing up the last couple of hours food. I researched and reached the conclusion that while not ideal, she can thrive on age 4 month purée for the foreseeable future. When speaking with the dietician, she confirmed that Emily has done very well to get this far and at the moment no lumps is fine although I need to encourage some finger food that do have texture, for example cooked carrot so that she can get a feel and hopefully learn to use the big set of teeth she has been blessed with so far. It is very likely that Emily will need to be referred to a speech and language therapist in the near future so that she can be tought how to use the feeding reflex. Poor little thing has so many health professionals involved at present we just look at it as the more the merrier!
As of today we have also dropped her 4.00pm bottle which she has not missed one bit! I did try and drop her last 11.30pm bottle a week or so ago but she had a couple of unsettled nights so went back to giving it to her again as I was unsure whether she still needed it. I think half of the problem was me as she still sleeps in out room at night and I startle at any cries she makes as all of the consultants always seem surprised when I say that she hasn't had any seizures as of yet (touch wood) and still havnt ruled them out and have gone as far as telling me to keep her in out room incase she does have one. She is also a unsettled sleeper and likes to scare money and hold her breath or breath very rapidly and rugged. I have emailed both consultants a video of this as requested so we can discuss when we see them at the end of the month. Our Southampton consultant seemed a little troubled by this but we shall see what the outcome is!
All in all a positive meeting with the dietician and fingers crossed Emily may start to tollerate lumps in the very near future.
As you can see Emily is far from underweight
We have also had physio this week. Again the physio was really pleased with Emily's progress. Unfortunately we received a letter a week or so ago to say that North Hampshire Hospital will no longer be serving Hampshire as it went out to re tender and the whole service is now being dealt with by Solent. This week was the last time we would see her and I have to say she will be really missed and I wasn't happy at the prospect of losing her as she has been so encouraging and helpful in making Emily as strong as she is today.
As we are with Emily all of the time we don't necessary see how much she improves from week to week it month to month, whereas her physio comes out once a month to our home so she really sees the difference. This week she has said how much stronger she seems but most of all how she has come along mentally. In the last month we have tought Emily to say dada, mama more often and also she can now wave and the action I was most pleased about was that she can now clap. At first it was a very floppy hit and miss clap but as the last couple of weeks have passed she does it much more firmer and stretches out her fingers more. Because she has developed her motor skills more this month she hasn't developed so much with her sitting and rolling. That said the physio was more than happy with her.
Like most babies Emily has never liked to spend time on her tummy, she just lays and cries. Now she has no head lag one of the new exercises we have been given is to put one if the supports from her leckey squiggles seat under her armpits while she lays on her tummy so it raises her up higher making her work just that little bit harder on strengthening her core. Also more homework for us in the coming month is to practise sitting to standing making her put more weight onto her legs and also letting her stand up (with help) against a sofa or table with toys on to again strengthen her legs.
This session worked out really well as it was the first time the physio saw Emily be really happy and babbling away as normally she is quieter and then grumpy when she is pulled and pushed about!
I also mentioned about Emily's pushchair. When I was pregnant we brought a Babystyle Oyster however once Emily come along and we realised her problems there was no way we could keep this as she just fell to the side and slouched down. We then brought a quinny buzz a the seat unit is more like a bucket seat so she couldn't fall to the side. Up until this last week we have used her car seat on the quinny base even on the walk to school however as she is nearly grown out of this we have started using the seat unit and it's not great. She really slouches in it still and her poor chin looks like it is stuck to her chest. As I don't drive and have to walk on the school run I mentioned this to our physio and she is going to speak to out Occupational Therapist in regards to getting her a special needs type pram. She wasn't sure of the best pram but thought it maybe something like the Swifty which I am yet to google and research.
As predicted it was horrible having to say bye to the physio as it will be the last time we see her. As all the ladies know the harder you try to not cry the worse it is. So I done the inevitable and cried. She had tears trying to hold back and went onto say it's so hard having to say bye to all her patients as she has watched them grow and improve in whatever area they have physio. The good news is she will still be working in the hospital and has asked that whenever we are in at appointments to try and find her do she can see us and see how Emily is progressing. She also went on to say that she is confident that Emily is close to be being able to sit and also confident that in the future Emily will walk. It won't be next week or next month but in years to come. That's all I need to hear and spur me on and give me confidence that I am doing something right in helping Emily to improve.
As the takeover happens on 1 may I don't have another physio appointment until Solent get in contact. Until then we will keep up with our homework and cross outlet fingers that Emily keeps improving and doesn't have any set backs.
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