I think there is something wrong

[FOURtunate]

My Son is 2.5 years old. He was born in March 2004, at 34 weeks.

He was Breastfed, but had quite a few feeding problems.

Prenatally, he was IUGR due to Placventa Praevia, was transverse and has Torticollis, and was born withdrawing from 10 weeks of Maternal Morphine use (I was hospitalised for several painful placental abruptions)

I breastfed him fully until his 1st birthday, then weaned from 18 months to 2. At 6 weeks it was discovered that he had severe Silent Reflux. He was medicated with Losec and Gavison until he was 2.

He has the following symptoms that are causing us great concern:

He has NEVER eaten anything that isn't pureed, as he gags, and now refuses

His poo is very runny, like Diaorrhea EVERY time

He has been hospitalised several times with Rotavirus

He has lost wieght, and I am now having to roll the waist of his pants

In 2.5 years, he has not slept through a whole night (not sure if it's hunger or behavioural)

We have cut down his milk, and other fluids to encourage him to eat, but this hasn't worked, and we have just had a very cranky little boy on our hands.

He does eat bread, mashed potato (rarely), yoghurt, jelly and icecream. Recently he took a bite of a Party Pie, but gagged.

We have made an appointment with a Paediatrician, and a Gastroenterologist at Sydney Children's Hospital, but we cannot get in for a few months.

Any ideas? ANYONE?

[the pero clinic]

Dear Angeldoula,

What a rough start to life your son has had! It certainly sounds quite complex and it is hard to give clear solutions or guidance as there are many factors at play. It is great that you are seeing a paediatrician and a gastroenterologist. They should be able to give you some guidance regarding the diarrhea and weight issues.

It can be extremely difficult to overcome a child’s behavioural feeding issues at this age, and particularly if the patterns have been set for some time – but it IS possible.

You are probably aware that your 2 year should be able to manage just about any food without gagging, but it sounds as though he is very orally hypersensitive to different textures as well as having behaviours or expectations built up around different types of food.

As it sounds as though he has a very limited repertoire of foods to choose from, and few textures he can physically manage, it probably isn’t a good idea to reduce his formula to try and make him hungry. He sounds like he is at the stage where he will continue to refuse solids anyway, and will just end up hungry and dehydrated as a result – which isn’t conducive to positive behaviour or general wellbeing!

While there certainly may be some underlying medical issues, I would strongly recommend that you seek help from a feeding specialist to commence a behavioural feeding program to increase the range of your foods your son will manage and eat.

There are feeding clinics at the children’s hospitals in Sydney – but they may not see children over the age of two. You can try phoning them to see if they will accept a referral for him. Alternatively, please send an email via our website www.theperoclinic.com.au (http://www.theperoclinic.com.au/) so that we can try direct you to a feeding therapist in your area.

the pero clinic