I've mentioned briefly in a monthly update that the twins were "finally" eating solids and somewhat enjoying it. Well that was short lived. Colton and Callan have had reflux since birth. We controlled it with medicine until they outgrew it (mostly) and then they were able to keep down milk on their own (for the most part). The past couple months their eating issues have been getting worse and worse. Callan was throwing up around 3 times a day and Colton not far behind him. If anything not completely liquid got in their mouth, they vomited and I'm not talking oh gross spit up vomit, I'm talking everything they'd eaten that whole day vomit. It was sad and discouraging for them and for me. I just kind of gave up on solids of any kind.
We have quarterly visits from a wonderful home nurse who monitors their development because they are part of a study on preemies. It's a wonderful experience and she has been SO helpful. This last visit we talked about the twins eating issues, she had many helpful suggestions including seeing a direct feeding specialist. We tried a couple other things she suggested (meds again, gradual thickening) and then talked to our doctor about getting a referral to the specialist. He agreed, referred us, and I called to schedule an appointment. They took our information and the next phone call I got was a disappointing one. Our insurance would not be able to cover any part of the feeding therapy because this office was out of network. There was no way we could pay $500 just for the twins first consultation. I was discouraged and so disappointed, yet again.
Fortunately, we were blessed to find out that there was a scholarship we could apply for. I quickly filled out the needed information, sent it in, told our home nurse who knew the specific therapist that we were applying to see, and prayed that the boys would be chosen and qualify. Our home nurse called the program directly to tell them about us and our application and told us she put in a good word and that we really should get it. We waited a while and after about 2 weeks were notified that both boys would be receiving their consult and 1 follow up for free! What a blessing.
We scheduled and went to our consultation with our Therapist, Marsha. She is absolutely amazing. Within minutes of putting the boys in high chairs to assess where they were with food, she turned to me as she opened Callan's lips with her finger and asked
"Did you try to breastfeed them?"
"yes"
"did you have trouble?"
"Yes..."
"they're tongue tied," she said as she opened Colton's lip, "both of them."
She then explained to me that when babies are tongue tied they have very limited tongue mobility, hence why they automatically gag if anything gets in their mouth! They can't use their tongue to move it around!
They (Callan especially) still have "gaggy issues." We may have to take Callan to a GI specialist for his gagging still.
We got their tongues "clipped" about a week after seeing Marsha and they have already made HUGE improvements!
So far Colton and Callan have eaten (and kept down)
gerber puffs
softened carrots
small bits of potato
bits of ritz cracker
yogurt
bits of nutrigrain bar
and that's all I can think of right now.
We got some great feeding tools to help them get used to textures! You'd never think to feed your baby with one of these, right?
It's so relieving to feel like my kids are making progress and that I don't have to worry, too much! And it's amazing to see them WANT to eat!
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