Just thought I'd pass this on.
I received a call from the mom on Friday to thank me.  Baby is now about 5
months old. I had insisted that she push for a neurology consult for her
baby. The baby had too many irritability symptoms that I could not pass off
as problems related to the trauma from the repeated oral intrusions.
OT/PT/NDT theraphy was not reducing the irritability. I didn't feel right
about this baby, neither did mom or the OT.
She said my *insistence* gave her the courage to threaten to sue if the baby
wasn't at least examined by a neurologist (Yes, she did have to go that far,
2 ped docs said the baby was fine neurologically) The threat resulted in
immediate referral. The neurologist ran tests. A CAT scan showed that there
was a minor defect in the foramen ovalle (an opening at the base of the skull
through which the brain stem passes) that was causing slight herniation (the
brain was *falling* through the opening) of the brain and brain stem
producing the irritability symptom (from meningeal tearing?).
The baby was taken to surgery immediately and appears to be doing better.
He's not as stiff and is nursing occasionally, mom pumps the rest of the
feedings.
The neurologist told mom that I quite possibility saved this baby's life and
higher brain functions. We sat on the phone for a while and cried together.
I can't take all the credit here she did most of the foot work herself. I
feel like it was just another case where I was doing my job to emotionally
support the mother.  Like a mother bear protecting a cub, once I agreed with
what she already knew, she pushed HARD.
Don't  get me wrong I am not a genius, but I did listen to the mother and I
did watch this baby enough to trigger that little sixth sense that said *this
doesn't look or feel right.* I can't explain it, but there was something
about looking into the baby's eyes that send a chill through me. Also I think
I've been in OB/Peds long enough to see that where's there is one defect
there is a strong possibility that there is another. So I never ruled out the
possibility that there might be neurological involvement in the baby's
symptoms like the ped docs apparently did.
I am sure that here will be other things for this family (they have four
older children) before this is all over but hopefully I helped in some little
way to make this baby's future a  bit better.
Marie
ps. Just so we're clear, I would never suggest that anyone threaten to sue.
duh.