Failure to Thrive... Questions Questions and shocker more questions

It was finally time for the baby’s regular six month check up. I had a few questions but was expecting the typical everything is fine kind of visit. You can insert laughter here.

When the baby was born we were told she had hemangioma but that to be sure we should have a pediatric dermatologist take a look when she was a little older. It is an excess of red blood cells under the skin that typically fades out by kindergarten time. Anyway, I asked about that and about her skin and was ready to be on my way. The doctor had some more concerns. What did she weigh when she was born? How long have her cheeks been like this? Are you breastfeeding? Did you notice one cheek is more swollen than the other? When did this congestion start? Can you see my mind spinning right about now?

In this moment I was doing my best not to freak out. She goes on to say that my baby is severely malnourished. This is where my heart hit the floor. Or ceiling. Or just exploded. I was breastfeeding her and was careful to eat well so that she would get good vitamins and nutrients and all that stuff. We eat all organic and pretty paleo and grass fed. It is not like I was scarfing down twinkies and chasing them with beer. So this was a punch to my gut, logical or not. I felt like a failure. I know it is not my fault, but emotions do not ask permission to make sense. So in the midst of all this I also had to keep telling myself not to feel guilty. But oh did I! So at this point she says the baby likely has a stomach bug or intestinal parasite that is preventing her sweet little body from absorbing anything. She told us to add a probiotic to a little milk and start giving she and I a multivitamin. We were also to collect a sample of stool (the baby’s not mine thankfully ha) to test it for yeast or bacteria or something. My head was reeling so the details are not clear. We were to come back in two weeks for a weight check and follow up. What I thought was going to be a regular visit with a few skin questions turned into more and more questions. What was wrong with her? How did she get this parasite, if that is indeed the problem? How long will this last? Is my milk supply the problem? Is my milk somehow not good quality? Am I eating something she is not reacting well to? How did I not notice this? Overall I felt better after this appointment set in. Yes, I had many questions spinning around, but I thought we also had some simple solutions. Take a vitamin and give her one. Take a probiotic and also give her one. Collect some poop. In two weeks we will be back and I am sure we will see improvements. Keep your game face on for your other children. Pray to God and ask Him for calm. Go about your life. So much easier said than done, right? Read Part 3 for the next doctor visit