Gimme some sugar...

One of the things that has been on my mind since I first learned Nora would be born with Gastroschisis:

Will she be able to eat a normal diet?

My definition of a normal diet for her is simply eating what I eat, without taking special dietary restrictions into consideration. I've put much thought into this, and especially now that Nora is showing signs of having an oral aversion. I've come to a personal conclusion as a mother, and trust me- this decision of mine is educated!

We've had some feeding troubles with Nora lately. We attempted to start solids at about 5 1/2 months, only trying a couple spoonfuls of purees a day. I tried to figure out if it was flavors or textures making her vomit. Turns out, texture is her trigger. We've cycled days of attempted feedings and just bottle feedings to make sure she doesn't develop a negative connotation to feedings, but this girl seems to have a super strong gag reflex!

The county OT/PT (a therapist) came out for a visit on Monday, and we came up with a game plan to see if we can't bite this aversion in the butt before it gets worse. Essentially, I just gotta let her gag herself (not choke, ONLY enough to trigger her gag reflex) once in awhile. So, that means more playing with spoons with a hint of puree on them. What gets me is the fact she can eat the Gerber Puffs (they melt fast) without gagging issues. No, these puffs are not necessarily a source of nutrition, but that is alright. We are not trying to get her off her bottle yet- it is just practice.

Another way to help her with her food aversion is to simply expose her to foods. Celery sticks and other things that are solid and good to chew on without breaking off pieces will help expose her to flavor, which will help reduce any picky eating in the future. Because if you know me, you know my husband is HORRIBLE about being a picky eater. I do not need another picky eater to cater to!

So, knowing that it really is okay to let my child gnaw on whatever she feels like exploring (this morning's flavor was banana chips, I promise I supervised!), I've come to the conclusion that until I say so, she only get whole, nutritious foods. This means no excessive sugar (a tiny sprinkle to give flavor to sweet potatoes or squash, that's fine), no overly processed foods, and whole grains. Organic when able.

And I'll explain my theory on organic right now.  If you feel inclined, read about concentrated cases of gastroschisis happening in the UK here. 


Let me be clear. The cause of gastroschisis is still unknown. But that doesn't mean that I cannot be suspicious, especially when I fell out of the "normal" scenario (teenage pregnancy, drug/alcohol abuse, etc.).  An environmental influence mixed with possible genetic factors makes sense. So, until I know for sure what caused my child to be born this way, I will be a little extra cautious.

Since I'm Momma, what I say goes ;)