Our Teeny Weeny

8 months 10 days – Isabelle is only 6.825kg!!!! Arghhhhhh, why isn’t she putting on weight? At the last visit 2 months ago, she was 6.1kg, which means less than 1kg in 2 months. She seems to be eating well, sleeping well, playing well, but just not growing as much as expected.

Here’s a sample of her meals for the day

8.30am: 230ml of BM
10am: 1 portion of fruit (sometimes with rusk or gerber puffs)
12pm: 1 bowl of Pasta/Porridge with 1 portion of vegetables
2pm: 180-200ml of BM
4pm: 1 portion of fruit
6pm: 1 bowl of Porridge with 1 portion of vegetables & 1 portion of meat/fish
10pm: 150-180ml of BM

The paed says she is definitely eating well. But probably too active that all the food intake is burned off fast, and that she might need to take in more if possible. So the paed prescribed us fish oil to increase her appetite (and it claims that it controls hyperactiveness too), and recommended that we may need to give her Pediasure when she turns 1 year old (or Neosure should she wean of breastmilk). It’s nothing to worry about cos Isabelle is definitely healthy, she is very active and responds well to her surroundings.

I am not overly worried about her weight gain, but it does bother me a little when people think she is younger than her true age cos of her size or when people think I am not feeding her enough.

E.g. 1: We were at the paed and preparing to take Isabelle’s weight. I put Isabelle lying down on the scale, when the nurse came over to help.
Nurse: Can she sit up? If so, you can let her sit instead of lying down
Me: yea sure, she can sit
Nurse: Wow…5 months can sit up so well already
Me: err, she is 8.5 months already
Nurse: So is she sick? Cough? Cold?
Me: I’m worried about her weight gain
Nurse: Didn’t feed her enough or is she a fussy eater?

E.g.2: We were at Haato’s Thomson Plaza having some waffles & Isabelle was seated in the high chair…and this is what I overhead
Woman to her husband: Look at that baby, so small can sit in high chair already

Anyway, since taking the fish oil, her appetite has improved. However, it was short lived as Isabelle started having teething pains again. And it's the canines this time, and she is having loss of appetite, fussiness, disrupted sleep in the night and mild fever. So listen here canines, please sprout out quick if you need to and give my baby some peace!

To my baby, Mummy & Daddy think you are a brave & strong girl indeed. Despite the pain, you are still cheerful and happy. We hope the pain goes away soon!