Emilia is seen by an Occupational Therapist

This morning the Occupational Therapist came to assess Emilia's bottling (sucking & swallowing) ability. As expected, she said there was nothing concerning. She is actually an "excellent bottler". So that means we are not going to be referred to the proposed feed study conducted at SickKids because the feed study is where spitter-uppers, vomitters, and babies with serious feeding problems go to. Emilia is not one of them according to the doctors because, for one, she is gaining weight consistently and loves eating. Apparently babies with feeding issues and serious reflux refuse to eat because food causes pain. The OT did find that Emilia goes too fast when she starts her bottle. She sucks on the nipple too fast at the beginning before she starts to pace herself. This sometimes causes the sputtering and choking, which can be prevented by her caregivers like myself.

Any way, while the OT was there with Emilia, I asked her about Emilia's thumbs - her thumbs are always folded (flexed) in her palms and she does not utilize her thumbs much. Even when I extend her thumbs out, they slowly go back into her palms. The OT showed me a few stretching exercises I could do for Emilia. She said it's not serious enough to require a physiotherapy but definitely Emilia should be using her thumbs more. Later I asked the doctor also and she told me the same thing. So, let there be one more routine in her exercise regimen.