Failure to thrive - the sequel

Failure to Thrive

“Failure to thrive is a delay in physical growth and weight gain that can lead to delays in development and maturation.”


“Sometimes failure to thrive is caused by a medical disorder in the child. The disorder can be as minor as difficulty chewing or swallowing (as with a cleft lip or cleft palate). Medical disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux, narrowing of the esophagus, or intestinal malabsorption, may also affect a child's ability to retain, absorb, or process food. “

Over these first few weeks, if I wasn’t being fed and burped, I was on my way to, at, or, on my way home from a Dr… Gastrointestinal, eye, ear, pediatrician – name a discipline and I was seeing one of them. My “spitting up” had become projectile vomiting (from gastroesophageal reflux) and I turned a lovely shade of yellow to boot.

We never found out why, but I developed Jaundice bad enough to require me going back to the hospital for a week. This wasn’t that run of the mill “you need sunlight” jaundice, it was the “oh my god, what happened to you” jaundice. I was school bus yellow for a week and then, as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone.

As I said, we never did find out why