3 Professionals - 3 Different Opinions

We've seen 3 different people now about Anthony's eating (or lack there of) and each had a different opinion:

GI Doctor: thinks Anthony has an oral aversion due to all the negative experiences preemies have in/around their mouths.  He doesn't think reflux is a main factor because he's not spitting up much anymore.

Speech Therapist:  thinks that when Anthony hit the 4 months adjusted age "it's-my-choice-to-eat-now-and-not-just-a-reflex-to-suck" stage that he just decided not to eat much because eating is hard work.  She gave us a couple of things to try, but things had already been a little better by this point because of some things that we had already been trying. He's been eating more since we switched back to a level 1 nipple, started pacing him again like the good 'ole NICU days, limiting feedings to half an hour and sticking to feeding him every four hours.  He likes to trick us and make us think he's hungry sooner than that when he's actually not!  Oh, and we've gone back to feeding him in the middle of the night in order to get another feeding in, which has actually helped quite a bit.  He's been eating an okay amount most days, but will only eat when he's drowsy (and maybe isn't as aware of the pain?).

Occupational Therapist who works on feedings from the AEA: thinks the root of the problem is indeed reflux.  He exhibits all the signs of reflux, except the spitting up, which could mean he has silent reflux.

So what are we to do with all these different opinions?  Trust our instincts I suppose, which are telling us reflux. That's what my gut feeling has been all along.  He really does exhibit all the signs and I think he doesn't spit up much for a few reasons: 1) the reflux meds have helped some, 2) we hold him upright for about 20 minutes after we feed him, and 3) we don't lay him flat for at least a couple hours after he's eaten.  So, rather than have everyone keep guessing what is wrong, I think we're going to ask about doing the pH monitor when we go back to the GI for a follow-up appointment this Wednesday.  If reflux actually is the problem, that would tell us and we could try different meds.  I hate to put him through that (it's a lot like a feeding tube that goes through his nose and down to his stomach and will measure how often he has reflux) but will be worth it if it helps us get to the bottom of this.

And what would a post be without some pictures of these two?!

Having some sweet dreams!

 

 

Anthony and Aryanna have started "talking."  We caught Aryanna on camera the other night, but Anthony gets camera shy so we haven't caught him yet.