Growth and Nutrition Archive Questions

Below are Growth and Nutrition Experts’s answers to Growth and Nutrition questions
received through the Ask the Expert feature.

This content is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended
to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating a
health problem. Please consult with your physician about your specific health
care concerns.



Now displaying records 1 to 6 of 6.

1

---

Q : 1 01/11/2010	If the mother can't keep food down the first 3 months, will this effect the growth of the baby and the gestational age of the baby via sonogram? Frequent vomiting and nausea is common in pregnancy. Mothers usually have minimal, if any, weight gain in the first trimester when the fetus if forming. As long as a pregnant woman's weight gain is adequate in the second and third trimesters, vomiting early on is generally of no consequence.
Q : 2 01/02/2010	My baby's head circumference is 44 1/2 cm at 10 months.The health visitor says this is too small. My baby seems well and responds to us and his older brother (3yrs) with laughs and chatter although he just about crawls in a fashion and doesn't attempt to pull himself up on the furniture yet. What is the reason for a small head please and what can be done? Your child's head measurement plots out between the 10th and 25th centiles on the U.S. standard growth chart for boys under 3 years of age. On the WHO charts,the growth is similar. This means that your baby's head may be perfectly normal. What is more important is how the head is growing over time. A head that is growing slower than usual can occur for many reasons. Sometimes, the bones of the skull can fuse sooner than usual. As long as your child is achieving normal developmental milestones, there may be no problem at all. A health provider will be able to give you more information by an examination of the head and a review of the growth chart.
Q : 3 12/07/2009	I am the mother of an almost three year old. I'm searching online trying to gain insight as to whom I might turn to for a national expert on pediatric gastric issues/failure to thrive. I see a specialist locally and they are now at a loss with the lack of growth (22lbs)and many efforts and every test imaginable done over his young years -- this all began with reflux. Do you know of the best way to go about finding information or an individual that might be worth researching? I'd like a consult or just the ability to read what others do in these situations. We're in a real time sensitive situation now. Thanks. Weve compiled a list of a couple of resources near you that you may find to be helpful. --Miami Childrens Hospital outpatient feeding program. Miami, FL. 305-666-6511 ext. 2975. --Stacy Carmichael, Ph.D. Clearwater, FL. 727-725-8820. www.CentralFloridaPsychologist.com. --The Marcus Institute Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program offers several levels of therapy for feeding issues, outlined on their website at http://www.marcus.org/default.aspx?id=37. Atlanta, GA. 404-785-9437. --All Childrens Hospital, Happy Mealtimes hospital-based feeding program. St. Petersburg, FL. 1-800-456-4543 / 727-767-4141.
Q : 4 12/01/2009	Does my diabetic condition have anything to do with my child's poor growth? She is 7.73 Kg at 11 months. The answer depends on what happened in-utero and at birth. Most babies born to mothers with diabetes are large at birth, although they will achieve growth in the normal ranges. However, some babies born to diabetic mothers with poor sugar control may be very small at birth, and have difficulty catching up. Your baby's weight-for-age is at approximately the 5th percentile, meaning that of 100 babies born the same day, 95 would weigh more than your baby and 5 would weigh less. However, your baby's growth can not be evaluated without more information, including birth weight, gestational age, current length, and health history. Your pediatrician can help determine the next course of action. There are also interdisciplinary specialty clinics, such as the Growth and Nutrition Clinic, for babies with poor growth.
Q : 5 11/23/2009	Why shouldn't we give too much carrots to infants after six months of age in their vegetable soup, apart from carotinaemia? Is it related to its phosphate content? The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dietetic Association have a wealth of information on infant nutrition. "The primary concern is with home-prepared infant food in areas using well water. Because the intake of naturally occurring nitrates from foods such as green beans, carrots, squash, spinach, and beets can be as high as or higher than that from well water, these foods should be avoided before 3 months of age. Infants fed commercially prepared infant foods generally are not at risk of nitrate poisoning. However, home-prepared infant foods from vegetables (eg, spinach, beets, green beans, squash, carrots) should be avoided until infants are 3 months or older, although there is no nutritional indication to add complementary foods to the diet of the healthy term infant before 4 to 6 months of age." American Academy of Pediatrics - Nitrate Statement The following website warns about giving 6-12 month old babies raw carrots due to possible choking. http://www.aap.org/family/6to12mo.htm
Q : 6 11/05/2009	My son just turned 2, he is 32 inches and 23 lbs. From the begining his height and weight has increased very slowly, but just over the limits to draw a red flag. Mentally, he is developing perfectly and is a happy kid. Recently he was diagnosed with Morning Glory Syndrome in one eye (his vision doesn't seem to be impaired) but I have heard this syndrome to be linked with slow growth. His MRI showed no issues with his pituitary gland and his blood work seemed to be normal. But I am still concerned that he is not growing normally. My pediatrician suggested a GI or Endocrine doctor. I just need a little guidance on what direction to take. His birth weight was 6.7 oz and 19 inches and he was breastfeed for 6 weeks but didn't gain any weight so we had to put him on formula Enfamil. Thanks Your child currently is in the 25% weight for height, which is very good, although he is growing slowly. There are many possible reasons for this growth rate (genetic predisposition for short stature, behavioral problems with feeding, etc). Given the problem with the eye, there may be an additional medical problem. Your pediatrician's suggestion of consultation with an endocrine and/or GI doctor is appropriate. You may ask your doctor to first obtain a bone age x-ray, which is a simple x-ray indicating growth rate.

1