Talked with a mom today baby is 5 months wt. 11-3#.  Birth wt. was 7-13
and regained that by 8 weeks.  It was essentially an uneventful
pregnancy/delivery.  At approx one week experienced apneic spells and lost
weight.  A sleepy and slow feeder.  Mom took baby to ER for frequent
regurging and dusky spells.  Unfortunatly she was blown off the first time
......"babies regurg..thats normal".  Her own Ped did the same.  The next day
they returned to ER with bigger concerns/fears.  A different Dr. admitted the
baby and with in 24 hours she was transfered to a level 3 hospital.
 Diagnosis: Reflux and Apnea.
     Up until two weeks ago she was on a monitor and medicated with  Tagamet,
Propulsid(sp.) and Theophylline.  She eats approx every 2 hours during day
 with some feeds more interested than others.  Regurging occurs occassionally
now with a little regurg nasally.  Stools are not as frequent as in the past
lately.   We talked about assessing whether the baby was truly hungry at 2
hrs (mom regularly feed her regardless of hunger signs).  Maybe waiting 2 1/2
to 3 hrs and switch nursing...observing for nutritive suckles.  She had used
an SNS when discharged with EBM....when baby was weaned from that she had
done switch nursing and saw improvement with weight and more successful
feedings.  They are being monitored regularly by the Dr.  She has popped two
teeth and doing doing other things characterictic for her age.
     Moms question was..."Could the theophylline and/or other drugs be
interferring with her growth"?  She met a lady in the grocery store the other
day that has a three y/o that was on theophlline for 1 year (don't know why)
and is finally meeting age/weight.  Her Dr. told her this was typical.  I can
see how this could happen with the irritability etc. that can occur but,
would this drag on for so long.
    Inspire me please

    Sharon Lemon (Illinois)