Update on Avery!

Avery went to the Winthrop Pediatric GI doctor this morning due to the choking incidents/reflux situation. We are so blessed to have such amazing doctors I tell you. Dr. Daum was voted one of the top 100 best doctors in America. He is very nice as well. He said Avery looks wonderful and said repeatedly that no baby could be more beautiful! I had to agree with him on that :).
Her reflux is not severe, although the choking is terrifying to us as parents. He does not believe she has anything wrong with her anatomy, but to be sure he ordered a complete GI ex ray. He also ordered her to see a feeding therapist, who will give her barium enema by mouth. Basically a radiologist will watch the liquid as it moves through her system to make sure there is nothing wrong that could be causing her to choke. She goes for this special test at Winthrop Hospital on Monday, June 8.
As far as her bowels go, he is starting her on a lose dose laxative once a day to help her use the restroom on her own. On a yucky note, I have to send in a poop sample, so they can make sure there is no blood in it. If there is, that would mean she is reacting to the protein in the Neosure formula, and therefore, they would switch her formula. If no blood, which is most likely the case, then that means the formula is not causing any problems.
I spoke to the Nicu doctor this afternoon, and she said it is almost always the case for a preemie of her birth weight to have GERD, which is reflux. And that she will start to grow out of it when she begins baby food, which should be in a few months. She said Avery's reflux is very mild, which is great. Like she said, Avery has come so far, and we are on our way down hill now, with way less worries! Avery weighed a perfect 11 lbs today and was actually 23 inches long, which means the last height measurement of 21 inches was probably not accurate.
We will keep you updated as things progress. As for now, we are just enjoying every second of our sweet baby, and when I say sweet, I mean as sweet as sweet gets.