Gastroschisis

[Trish]

Just popping in and reading your update. Good to hear that Lucas is doing so well.

Now, I don't know anything about gastrochisis however, I would be hesitant to start Lucas or my own babies on solids until they are 6 months old. Their digestive system just isn't ready for it. Of course you may have other reasons for starting him sooner, not sure if it does have something to do with his condition or not.

Anyway, I am so happy to see that he is dong so well. What a gorgeous little man he is

[bindyangel]

Hi August!

Glad to hear things are going really really well! My daughter was also a great sleeper/eater. I think being put into a fairly strict routine at the hospital, and the noises etc really helped. However beware when they start walking...She changed over night *LOL* She became the cheekiest little miss independence

She's now 3 and a half.

Unfortunately, we had another visit to the hospital last month. She once again got severe stomach cramps. I do really put it down to the biscuits she ate on the previous weekend...FOr some reason she can't tolerate biscuits with cream in the middle. I didn't even think when her Nanna gave her some (she hadn't had any since the last bout of severe cramping in January). All week, she had sore bellies on and off and it got really bad on thefollowing weekend. She had been doing BMs during htat week, but I didn't really see them (she goes to the toilet on her own, so its hard to checK!!)

Poor thing had all different tests/xrays/blood tests/urine tests...They even emailed all the stuff to the Royal Brisbane...It looks like, it just clogs her up...So I need to remember next time, if she starts having small belly pains, to give her some Parachoc (its kinda like a lubricant) to get things moving so they don't block up. I ended up having to give her a laxative this time,which did the job well within a day. Shes been fine since. Not sure what is in the biccies, but she is banned!!! (She does fine on other biccies, bread etc)

Anyways, on the solids. I started mine at 4 months on rice cereal as she started waking up during the night. I know its a wives tale, but it helped straight away and she was straight back to sleep during the night again. It worked really good with her (beware though..with my next daughter it caused MAJOR constipation issues..and ended up havign to put her on wheat cereal) I totally understand the fear!! My surgeon really just told me to treat her like a normal baby.....

I also made my own foods, as I knew what was in them

Pumpkin was my next intro...a couple of weeks later... I was pretty anal about introing foods, so I took like over a week of the one food to make sure she wasn't having a reaction!!! *LOL* I wouldn't give her stuff that was mixed together until she was over 9 months old. (Unless they were a mixture of ones I have given to her previously...eg. pumpkin, broccoli, mince mixed together)

We never had any problems with her food until January this year...when those stomach cramps started.

The surgeon wasn't too concerned with her two bad stomach cramps. He really doesn't see that gastro has any other effects...however I disagree, as I visit a gastro forum and there are some children on there who have had sideeffects from gastro..ANd of course us mothers are going to be much more concerned about belly problems. HOpefully you won't have to , but you make a big deal about your child having gastro if you have to visit a hospital..ok?

Well I better go. I'm so very glad things are going well with you! Let me know if I can help with anything and keep us updated!!
Take care
Bel

[August]

Hi Bel
Oh no those naughty cream bickies! So glad to hear everything has been well up until then. When we do start solids I think I will be like yourself and start slow, waiting for any reactions, not just to the food but to see the effect on his bowels. I had to try a whole heap of things for Lucas' constipation, it is the only thing that has been a concern for us since bringing him home.

He is on Duphalac now which is a non-stimulant laxitive. It is a sugar that is not absorbed and goes in one end and out the other drawing moisture to the bowel to help him go. DP and I spent hours one morning searching for answers about how to treat infant constipation and what we found was that in treating constipation you need to be consistant with the treatment, not stop once he goes, like we were doing, to have to start all over again.

Anyway, thanks for your advice re: ever presenting to the hospital and it so good to hear all is going really well for you. I finally got onto gastroschsis.uk and I also joined yahoos gastro site. I was having problems getting onto geeps but I must try to remember to share our story as much as possible as when I was pregnant all I wanted was to hear was positive outcomes for these precious babes.

Trish ~ wow 34 weeks! How the time flys! Thanks so much for all your support and advice as always!

August x