Celebration of a Milestone

Little Tyke was due for his baby wellness check-up on Tuesday and his 4 mo HIB jab and 2nd Rotateq.. He's now a big boy! 4 months and 4 days' old. Daddy and mummy went early to the hospital and found out that your usual doctor was on leave. Hummph.. No one bothered to tell us? So we have to wait another 45minutes before we could see another pediatrician, Dr Paran.
Mummy made a long list of questions to ask the doc, we managed most of it before he was called into the operation theater. LT was very brave, thou he screamed his lungs out before doc could touch him for his dose of Rotateq, his cries were lesser than the baby before him. Considering that they both got their jabs. Possibly LT already knew what was coming (the jab). He was fidgety the whole time in the hospital before the HIB jab.

Looking around in the waiting room, we noticed that LT was a bit on the small side. Especially when a great-grandma of another 3 month old baby boy asked if LT's 4 months. Wow, that great granny looked so young, and so wise! She took one look at LT and announced that he's 4 months and every bit of a rascal cos of his mischievous look. Her great grandson looked very chubby and had a bigger stature than LT. Hmm, that got mummy worried.

When it was LT's turn to see the doctor, mummy asked about LT's sleeping habits (only 10 - 12 hours a day!) and weight (LT now weighs 6.2kg, which was short of the expected 6.5kg). Doc said 10 hours of sleep is okay for his age. Then doc asked what formula was LT on, he said 750g gain in weight for a month is still above the minimum, so no cause for concern. Daddy told the doc that LT was on total breastfeeding (TBF). Doc gave a surprised look and exclaimed, "That's very good! Very little TBF babies are so chubby!" [At this point, you could see mummy's got relief written all over her face]

Mummy's always been a bit phobic on LT's weight. Ever since the beginning when many people commented that LT's skinny. We keep telling them that he's on TBF, but they seem to not register it in their heads. LT's been gaining 900g every month since birth until April.. Most babies we see in church and now chubbiness extreme. =) Very contented and sleepy babies.. Unlike LT, whose all eyes and curious as a little kitten =P. Mummy read somewhere that babies who are TBF are generally:
1) more alert
2) more active
3) progress faster (cos less weight to bear on their little bodies makes them easier to turn and crawl faster)
4) skinnier
5) healthier (less likely to be hospitalized due to antibodies provided in mother's milk)
6) smarter (higher IQ)
7) more confident (cos closer to and more skin contact with mum)
All of the above which encouraged mummy and daddy to persevere on BF.

Upon checking the growth charts, mummy found out that LT actually improved in his weight percentile. He used to be hovering above 25%, but now, he is in the 50% line. Hmm, it could be cos the chart tapers as babies age.

However, looking at the chart, Dr Paran marked LT's head circumference as 38cm, which was lesser than what Dr Peter marked 2 months back, LT was already 38.5cm then. Mummy went straight to alert mode! Daddy got concerned too and we measured LT's head again, yielding a healthy 42cm. Whew! Maybe Dr Paran didn't measure at the correct spot? Oh well, these things would have errors. Not that we have anything against Dr Paran, we think that he has many years of experience.. Possibly the next check-up would reveal a more accurate figure? The next check-up would be due next month, but the family is leaving for a week-long trip to see Granma and Granpa. Hmm, maybe we shall change pediatrician?

Dr Kwan's very good and he's got 30 years' of experience. More importantly, he's office opens on weekends and weekday evenings. That means, daddy doesn't have to take a day of leave to bring LT to see the doctor. Hmm, I guess we should consider changing from Assunta to Dr Kwan's..