Growth Check | Goddess in Progress

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Six-month stats

By Goddess in Progress · Comments (1)· February 13th, 2008

We had our rescheduled six-month well-baby visit this morning. I really do like my pediatrician. She’s knowledgeable, explains things without being at all alarmist, and while she has her opinions on things, she also respects that there’s a range and that some parents do things differently. I tend to agree with her on most things, but it’s nice to know that she’s not totally dogmatic.

She was perfectly pleased with the babies and their growth and developmental milestones. They both slipped a little in the percentiles this time, but it’s right after a stomach bug and they both otherwise look great, so she isn’t concerned. She gave us the green light for solids, told us the standard things to avoid, and off we go! Oh, three shots each, of course. Not fun, but they did alright.

The stats, with percentiles in parentheses (both actual age and adjusted age):
DANIEL
Weight – 17lb, 4oz (40th/63rd)
Length – 26″ (28th/54th)
Head – 17.5″ (65th/81st)
REBECCA
Weight – 13lb, 2oz (4th/12th)
Length – 24.75″ (13th/32nd)
Head – 16.75″ (48th/67th)

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Categories : Infants, Pediatrician appointments

Tags : growth check, shots

4-month appointment

By Goddess in Progress · Comments (2)· December 10th, 2007

The twins had their four-month pediatrician appointment this morning, and all was well. They’re about the same height/length – right around 24.5″. They’ve grown a good six inches since they were born! Yikes! As for weight, Daniel is a solid 15lbs5oz (54th percentile/82nd adjusted), and Rebecca is a petite 11lbs5oz (6th percentile/21st adjusted).

Everything else was just peachy. Doctor was perfectly happy with their development, size, et cetera. The shots, as always, were somewhat traumatic. M was possibly more upset than they were. But a little infant Tylenol and we’re doing just fine. Much as I like our pediatrician, hopefully we won’t see her again until February, for our six month (!) appointment.

From the other day, my big four-month olds! And yes, their shirts say “What Happens at Grandma’s Stays at Grandma’s.” Thanks, Marci!

Comments (2)

Categories : Infants, Pediatrician appointments

Tags : growth check, shots

Two month checkup

By Goddess in Progress · Comments (2)· October 14th, 2007

Friday was the twins’ two-month well-baby doctor visit. And they are, indeed, well. The stats are as follows:
Daniel – 12 pounds even, 88th percentile for his adjusted age (probably closer to about 50th percentile for his real age, thanks to these charts from the CDC). He’s also 22.5 inches long, 70th percentile (adjusted). No joke, he’s my very big boy!
Rebecca – 8 pounds, 9 ounces, 20th percentile (adjusted). For her real age, closer to 5th percentile, but that’s still better than last month! She measured about 20 inches, which is 5th percentile (adjusted). I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate, since the difference in percentiles would suggest she’d be kinda chunky. My daughter is many things, but chunky is not one of them. Ah well.

I’d also like to point out the things I learned at the pediatrician’s office. Maybe you can benefit from my experience.

Don’t make appointments for your infant’s well-baby checkup at 3pm. That’s when all of the sick school-aged kids are there. That means the waiting room will be packed with kids and germs, and the doctors will inevitably be running behind.
If your child is throwing up in the waiting room, bring him into the bathroom. This was not my child, but the toddler next to us. Not only was it grossing-out everyone there, but I didn’t feel like I could scoot my babies far enough away from his germs. And I’m not even a germ-phobe. Seriously lady, I know he’s too little to hold back his hair so he can puke into the toilet, but maybe try not to let him keep spewing all over the other kids.
When taking twins for their vaccinations, bring someone along to help. Even better if that someone is also a pediatrician. (Thanks, Jamie!) Comforting one screaming baby is hard enough. Two would have been impossible.
Shots can make them bleed. This will break your heart into pieces. It will also create a horrible-looking stain on your cutest onesie and receiving blanket.
Oxi-Clean works wonders on blood stains. OK, I learned this one the next day. But no pre-treating, no-soaking! I just added the stuff to the wash like I usually do and *poof*, blood stain from super cute onesie has disappeared! Whew.

Other than the expected screams from both and unexpected blood coming from Daniel’s thigh, they did well at their appointment. It didn’t take too long to calm them down, the Infant Tylenol kicked in quickly, and we noticed no ill effects.

I’m already talking to M about getting the morning off for their four-month. I can do many things with the twins by myself, but comforting both after shots is a little much to ask of even this super-mom.

Comments (2)

Categories : Newborns, Pediatrician appointments

Tags : growth check, shots

One-month checkup

By Goddess in Progress · Comments (1)· September 7th, 2007

Today was the twins’ weekly weight check and one-month well-baby appointment. Both have continued to put on weight well. Daniel is up to 8lb14oz, and Rebecca is 6lb9oz. For those keeping track at home, in five weeks they have posted a net gain of 2lb12oz and 2lb1oz, respectively. Not too shabby.

As for percentiles, since parents love to compare their babies to one another, their weights are in the 76th and 15th percentiles (you can guess which is which!). So for two babies who spent the same 36 weeks in the same belly and were born in the same minute, they are awfully different sizes. Oh, and those are their “adjusted” percentiles, taking into account the fact that they were technically 4 weeks premature. So, yes, Rebecca is only bigger than 15% of one-week-olds. Compared to the average five-week-old, she has finally climbed into the first percentile. Whew.

When I expressed to my pediatrician that I’d like to take Rebecca off of the high-calorie formula, she had no problem with that. She’s clearly eating and growing well, and this will allow me to attempt to breastfeed her more, which is a good thing for both of us. For today, I’m attempting to pretty much just breastfeed her on demand, and we’ll see how it goes.

I asked her if she had any ideas about Daniel’s terrible suck, I finally got a new suggestion! She said that, since they were officially premature, I would qualify for a visit from the Early Intervention folks. The thought being that they might set me up with a pediatric occupational therapist who might be able to help out. It may or may not be the answer, but at least it’s something to try. She also gave me a prescription for Señor Fussy-Pants, thinking it’s possible he might have reflux, and that’s what is making him grunt and fuss some of the time. We’ll see if it helps.

Thanks to all those who offered support and suggestions about my breastfeeding woes. As you can tell, I was in quite a state when I wrote that last post. Not only have the suggestions been nice to have more things to try, but the support has helped me to let myself off the hook a bit. I’m backing off a little, and allowing myself to just say I’ll do my best, and it’ll be alright.

In the meantime, we now await the arrival of Grandpa Jack, Abuelita Cha-Cha, and Auntie Desi. Should be a fun weekend!

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Categories : Feeding, Newborns, Pediatrician appointments

Tags : Breastfeeding, Formula, growth check