Hello!

It sure is confusing when the doctors disagree on the treatment plan...there you are right in the middle! With my daughter, it really helped to have one doctor who was the " go to" person and acted as the case manager. For our family, it was our wonderful GI doctor. The case manager can be the primary doctor or one of the specialists. With preemies, it is often the neonatologist or the follow up clinic. See if one person can coordinate the care for your daughter and communicate with all of the specialists.

It is hard to advise you on whether or not to re place the feeding tube. The case manager would be able to look at growth over time, intake and other factors to make a decision. Some doctors add calories to the formula to increase weight. I know of some GI's and feeding specialists who use an appetite increaser such as Periactin for short term use. I am assuming the Nissen Fundoplication has decreased or eliminated the reflux and that is not a significant factor in her slow growth right now.

It puts a lot of pressure on you when everyone is staring at the scale and looking for stready growth. I am sure she is eating as best she can right now given her prematurity, respiratory and reflux issues. It takes a lot of energy to eat and grow. Preemies often burn a lot of calories just by eating. Make sure the doctors are assessing her based on being a preemie.

Let me know how you and your daughter are doing!

Jan