Visit to pediatrician

Went to see pd at Kidslink - Seng Kang branch last Thursday since my nieces been there and the review seems good.

My worries:

1. Is baby drinking enough ?
2. Why is she drinking and stopping/choking when she used to finish the milk at one go ?
3. Cure for flat-head?
4. Constipation - have not passed motion for 3 days in a row when she usually passed at least once a day.

Doc's solution/comments:

1. Is baby drinking enough ? > see 2.
2. Why is she drinking and stopping/choking when she used to finish the milk at one go ? > 100ml to 120ml per feed is too much ! She doubled her weight in a month's time is too rapid, have to cut to 80-90ml. Prescribed Dentinox (infant colic drops) just in case to relief from wind.
3. Cure for flat-head? > she might be having mild torticollis, have to turn her head frequently, and also do head exercise by turning tilting her head away from the neck, exert slight pressure (think: like open durian) for 1 to 2 minutes (count to 10) everyday, preferably 3 times a day.
4. Constipation - have not passed motion for 3 days in a row when she usually passed at least once a day. > insert a tablet in her anus for her to clear her bowels; It is fine that she didn't pass motion for 3 days, as long as she pass at least once a week (4 times in a month), she is doing fine.

Pd also gave Sterimar to clear her nasal.


My Verdict - 1 week later:  

1. Is baby drinking enough ? - see 2.
   
2. Why is she drinking and stopping/choking when she used to finish the milk at one go ? > 100ml to 120ml per feed is too much ! She doubled her weight in a month's time is too rapid, have to cut to 80-90ml. Prescribed Dentinox (infant colic drops) just in case to relief from wind. - Not really. She still demands about 100ml per session, for 6-7 feeds a day. We have been listening to baby's cue and so far so good. We suspect that perhaps she drank a little too much few days ago (saw her sucking her thumb and thus giving her milk-but she might be just soothing herself to sleep) and thus her body is trying to adjust back to normalise with the amount of milk that she can take which is around 600-700ml. Using the kellymom's calculator, by keying 7 for average number of feeds, the low range = 81 ml while high range = 128ml per feed.  And the fact that she WANTS more milk when initially we tried 80-90ml after coming back from the clinic shows that 100ml is perfectly ok. Will give her Dentinox if she is crying non-stop for no reason.
   
3. Cure for flat-head? > she might be having mild torticollis, have to turn her head frequently, and also do head exercise by turning tilting her head away from the neck, exert slight pressure (think: like open durian but in a more gentle way) for 1 to 2 minutes (count to 10) everyday, preferably 3 times a day. - Ok, but we checked her pictures taken as soon as she was borned and it doesn't show any symptoms of torticollis but then again, we will monitor.  We have been doing the exercise, seems like she not as resistant in terms of turning her head towards her left. Trying to speak to her at her left also helps. And of course keep coaxing her in a super cute voice.....urgh.
   
4. Constipation - have not passed motion for 3 days in a row when she usually passed at least once a day. > insert a tablet in her anus for her to clear her bowels; It is fine that she didn't pass motion for 3 days, as long as she pass at least once a week (4 times in a month), she is doing fine. - Yeap, she pooed on the fourth day and then subsequently on the 2nd day. Gotta monitor.

mustard-coloured stool - eekss!!!

General Verdict:

• pd seems to be in a rush (ok, we were late, reached there half hour instead of 1 hour before closing time but I thought it would be better if she is calmer).
• pd is systematic, dealing with all your concerns one by one making sure she doesn't miss them.
• One of the nurses (short hair with specs) is very experienced and patient especially to 1st time mummy like myself.

I would think pd is better in dealing with toddlers rather than new-borns but I am very pleased with the nurse's professionalism. I was thinking if I should go back to the pd we saw in Mt A. when baby was borned, but let's see how it goes.