Possible Failure to Thrive?

March 15, 2001

I'm very concerned about my 9 mos. old daughter. She was born a healthy 8

lbs. 1 oz. and was in the 75th percentile until she was 2 months old. She has

steadily gone down the chart until she's now in the 5th percentile. I am

breastfeeding her but she eats solids and has a great appetite. Her bowels

have always been abnormal since she was born. They were always watery until

she started eating solids. They're usually green or black and most of the

time she's constipated since we've started solids. She had terrible colic

until I went completely GF/CF when she was 1 month old. After all the

problems with my 3 yr. old ASD son, I'm really concerned about her. She's

doing great developmentally and is ahead actually. Her head circumference is

fine but height and weight is where her problem is. I would like to hear

experiences from other parents who have been through this and what I should

do. My doctor said if she's not gaining by next month, he was going to send

her to a Specialist. Yesterday I started supplementing her with Cod Liver Oil

and Calcium with D because I heard a Vit. D deficiency can sometimes cause

failure to thrive. Could it be a Zinc deficiency? Could it be mercury

problems (she's only had one Hib shot so far). I have 7 amalgams. What tests

should we do? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fatten her up?

Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

Jo (South Carolina)

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