*UNDER CONSTRUCTION* :)

Henry’s early history was not an easy one. I had to deliver 4 weeks early due to the risks involved with the pre-eclampsia I developed my second trimester.  He eventually had to be delivered by c-section when my induction attempt was unsuccessful.

When he was born, right away they noticed breathing problems and a very low oxygen saturation level. This sent him to the NICU where a heart murmur was also found.  His breathing issues eventually came under control and his murmur was being caused by an Atrial Septal Defect and a Ventricular Septal Defect. He also had a small mitral valve prolapse. This was a lot for us to take in these first days, so we were surprised when we had to add jaundice to his already long list of ailments. Despite all of these overwhelming turns of events, Henry spent only 3 days in the NICU and he proved himself to be a fighter. We brought him home on day five, and soon his jaundice began to clear.

Henry had a hard time latching on during breastfeeding. When he ate, sometimes milk would come out of his nose. He would arch, and scream and seem really uncomfortable unless being held upright. I thought these were all normal things, after all this was my first child. I was still learning. So it was easy for me at first to trust and believe what the pediatrician was telling me : Henry has colic. Great, every new parents worst nightmare. I’d heard of it but couldn’t be prepared for it. Especially when it was not actually colic, Henry suffered from severe GERD (gastro esophogeal reflux disease). It was classified as silent reflux by a pediatric gastroenterologist when Henry was four months old. It was a long four months. We also found out he had food allergies…this information came about from testing his stool, as well as an elimination diet. It seemed the food allergies were aggravating Henry’s reflux.