Still Growing Fast

Someday, these posts will focus on more cheerful subjects, but for now we continue our medical updates.

Friday, the family was on the road going to doctors, the pediatrician in the morning and the pediatric gastroenterologist in the afternoon. The first visit was to look at a rash that has taken over baby's face, neck, and ears; this seems to be normal newborn acne and we are relieved that it should resolve on its own. The second visit was to look at Samson's digestive problems, adjust his medications, and talk about any new strategies to minimize his reflux, cow milk protein sensitivity, and colic symptoms.

The good:

• Weight = 9 lbs 5 oz
• Feeding = all meals by breast; finally, no more bottles & round-the-clock pumping!
  
• The cow milk protein sensitivity is likely to resolve by 10 months of age, and Mama can start reintroducing some dairy (small amounts, always with other food) into her diet by April or May.
  

The bad:

• Reflux is still a problem, although he will probably outgrow this eventually. We have tripled his Prilosec dosing and will monitor progress for 3 weeks; if we don't see improvement, the GI doc wants to do a GI study by X-ray, which will require Samson to fast for 4 hours -- hello, misery!
• The GI upset related to the cow milk protein sensitivity will take some time to heal, and the high acid content in breast milk continues to irritate those inflamed tissues. This means that the colic is likely to continue for a while.

Tomorrow, Samson will have his first outing that isn't related to a doctor's appointment. We're attending a baby shower and Daddy & Mama will take turns being sequestered with the baby in a bedroom while the other participates in the party for a few minutes. We'll give a full report on this momentous occasion then.