eegazda
04-01-2004, 01:39 PM
My daughter is 13 months old and is due to have an MRI next week for Spastic Diplegia. She has been receiving PT for 2 months for W sitting. Her hamstrings are pretty tight and she has low muscle tone in her other leg muscles and stomach. She is very active and cruises the furniture pretty well. Our main concern so far has been weight gain. She has maintained a height growth but continually falls on the weight percentiles. She eats fairly well but seems to prefer low texture foods. I'm nervous about her weight as she has dropped below the 2nd percentile. Has anyone experiences the low weight gain? Are there diets that help? Does this sound like CP? The Drs. don't seem to want to say too much until the test results come back but I really couold use some insight. Please help me...I keep reading but have not found much about weight gain.
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OrbOfConfusion
04-03-2004, 06:28 AM
Some kids are just naturally small. I come from a "big" family. My sister's children weigh little yet have average height whereas my kids are heavy and tall.
My daughter has spastic hemi cp on right side and she is 43 lbs at 2 years old! Needless to say, we have to watch everything she eats so hopefully she will grow into her weight within the next two years.
So long as your child eats enough, I wouldn't be too concerned just yet. Every child is different in their growth patterns. Her pediatrician may refer her to a nutritionist/dietician in the future if he/she feels it may be a problem.
My daughter's fast weight gain began when she was 2 months old and the pedia finally sent her to a dietician this past January. So I would imagine that the docs may want to see a longer pattern of low weight gain before they jump to any conclusions.
take care,
Melissa
My daughter has spastic hemi cp on right side and she is 43 lbs at 2 years old! Needless to say, we have to watch everything she eats so hopefully she will grow into her weight within the next two years.
So long as your child eats enough, I wouldn't be too concerned just yet. Every child is different in their growth patterns. Her pediatrician may refer her to a nutritionist/dietician in the future if he/she feels it may be a problem.
My daughter's fast weight gain began when she was 2 months old and the pedia finally sent her to a dietician this past January. So I would imagine that the docs may want to see a longer pattern of low weight gain before they jump to any conclusions.
take care,
Melissa
eegazda
04-04-2004, 05:46 PM
We are going through a battery of tests currently. Endocrinoloigist, Gastro and Nuero. I was just wondering if perhaps there may be a connection to CP...sounds like its hard to tell.
Thanks for responding. You must know how hard it is to wait through all of the testing.
Thanks for responding. You must know how hard it is to wait through all of the testing.
musicmaker650
04-05-2004, 09:19 PM
With Spastic CP, it might be harder for some young children to get enough exercise to control their weight at first. It's important to stimulate these children with some sort of physical activity daily, and get them used to exercise as soon as possible. This can bring better muscle control as an added benefit...
OrbOfConfusion
04-07-2004, 01:52 AM
When weather permits, I let my daughter play and run around outside. And believe me... she likes to run. I want her to get exercise. Next year, we are going to sign her up in Wee-Tee baseball for the 3 y.o.'s... I can't wait, that will be sooo cute.
The dietician suggested that her weight gain has been from all the juice and milk she has been drinking. So now we give her kool-aid sweetened with splenda. She has maintained her weight for two months now. (Don't worry... I make sure she still gets her essential nutrients from other sources).
But I still haven't been able to figure out why she gained so much so early in life. She began packing on weight at two months old. Since then, her growth chart weight never curved... just a straight line going up. I breastfeed her for a little over a year and gave her baby foods while weaning her. I sometimes wonder if the cp had an affect on her weight and activity during her first year.
Melissa
The dietician suggested that her weight gain has been from all the juice and milk she has been drinking. So now we give her kool-aid sweetened with splenda. She has maintained her weight for two months now. (Don't worry... I make sure she still gets her essential nutrients from other sources).
But I still haven't been able to figure out why she gained so much so early in life. She began packing on weight at two months old. Since then, her growth chart weight never curved... just a straight line going up. I breastfeed her for a little over a year and gave her baby foods while weaning her. I sometimes wonder if the cp had an affect on her weight and activity during her first year.
Melissa
eegazda
04-08-2004, 06:29 PM
It is so amazing how different people are affected. My daughter's chart doesn't curve either. Just straight down. We are going to another gastro appt this week and I'm hoping he has some ideas.
eegazda
04-23-2004, 08:09 AM
UPDATE: My daughter was diagnosed by the Nuerologist with Spastic Diplegia in her legs. We are still looking trying to find out how this is affecting her low weight gain. She also tremors in her hands when she wakes up, gets mad or trys to work hard with her hands. My Dr. said that was part of it but that is all the explanation he offered. Anyone know more about this?
musicmaker650
04-23-2004, 12:09 PM
Hello again,
it does sound like there's some other form of CP mixed with the Spastic Diplegia. I saw this when I was young in school with other classmates, but the doctors just name the most dominate type. Just let your daughter be who she wants to be and encourage her to be, and do her best. Don't limit her in any way. I was "chunky" until I hit puberty. I grew a foot in one year and got skinny... at 54, not so skinny...
it does sound like there's some other form of CP mixed with the Spastic Diplegia. I saw this when I was young in school with other classmates, but the doctors just name the most dominate type. Just let your daughter be who she wants to be and encourage her to be, and do her best. Don't limit her in any way. I was "chunky" until I hit puberty. I grew a foot in one year and got skinny... at 54, not so skinny...
eegazda
04-23-2004, 03:25 PM
Great advice! When I found out out I was feeling kind of sad for her. I am/was afraid of what she may have to deal with...struggling and mean kids. But she has such a great personality and I try to keep in mind that she has no idea. She is laughing and cracking me up even on a sad day for me. I'm sure she will teach me a lot.