9 Month Appointment

Carter had his 9 month checkup today.

We went to a new doctor today. He is part of the same group but is in a different office. This office does things differently than the office we were going to. Before, we'd just see whatever doctor happened to be in the office that day (even when we made an appointment ahead of time). At the new office, we'll always see the same doctor (for well and sick appointments) unless it's Wednesday (his day off). I think I'm going to be much happier with this practice because we were starting to get contradicting advice from various doctors at the other practice. Also, we started getting the feeling that none of the doctors we met with ever actually spent any time with their kids. Their answers to questions sounded just like those we'd read in a book. Nothing from experience. A couple of friends recommended the new doctor we are seeing. Meredith even had one of his kids in her kindergarten class so she knows him outside of his office as well.

We really liked the new doctor. He took his time with us. He did a very thorough exam on Carter and didn't make us feel rushed when asking all our questions. He was also really gentle with Carter which was a complaint I had about a couple of the other doctors at the old office. I know Carter's not going to break, but they didn't seem to care if they gained his trust or not by being gentle with him.

I also really liked the nurse we had today. She was really sweet to Carter and got him smiling lots, which is usually hard when he's in a new place with new people (he's usually Mr. Serious for awhile). She had to prick Carter's finger to do a blood screening and he never even cried. She also had to give Carter a flu shoot which did make him cry, but he was over it in about 15 seconds.

Overall, I'm happy that we switched offices.

Here are Carter's 9 month stats:

• Weight: 17 lbs, 6 oz - 7th percentile
• Height: 27.5 inches - 23rd percentile
• Head: 46.8 cm - 87th percentile
  

Carter gained 2 lbs, grew 1.5 inches taller, and gained 2.3 cm in head circumference in 3 months. Brian and I were a little worried because his weight and height percentiles are so low. I think we're more worried because they used to be higher and are really starting to fall off.

The doctor wasn't really concerned. He said he looks fine. Though he did recommend trying to feed Carter a little more solids during each meal. He also said this may help Carter start sleeping through the night if he's getting more food during the day.

One of the doctors at the old place told us the percentile charts are based on white, formula-fed babies in Ohio. So they aren't a very good sampling of children in the US and don't fit us too well since Carter is breastfed. I know I shouldn't be too concerned, but I still am.

Carter and I have to go back in a month for his second flu shot so I'm going to ask them to measure him again then and to see if he's still dropping off the charts.

Just for reference, here are his stats and percentiles:

Weight:

Birth - 7 lb, 5 oz
1 Month - 9 lb, 10 oz - 46%
2 Months - 11 lb, 6 oz - 45%
3 Months - 13 lb - 42%
4 Months - 13 lb, 13 oz - 34%
6 Months - 15 lb, 6 oz - 16%
9 Months - 17 lb, 6 oz - 7%


Height:

Birth - 20 1/4 in
1 Month - 20 7/8 in - 27%
2 Months - 22 in - 22%
3 Months - 23 1/4 in - 24%
4 Months - 23 3/4 in - 17%
6 Months - 26 in - 36%
9 Months - 27 1/2 in - 23%


Head Circumference:

Birth - ???
1 Month - 37.5 cm
2 Months - 40 cm
3 Months - 42 cm
4 Months - 42.5 cm
6 Months - 44.5 cm - 72%
9 Months - 46.8 cm - 87%