Sga~small for Gestational Age

Here is a link to a yahoo group, not sure if you have tried this group or not. It's the closest thing that I can find to SGA (the moderator/owners child is SGA from what I can tell, I am sure some of the members have experienced this, they may have some advice for you and understand what you are going through).

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IUGR/?v=1&t=sear...

Good luck, I hope this helps you out some!

My daughter is 21 months old and has been considered very small for her age. She currently only weighs 23 lbs and is completely off of the growth charts. We have taken her to an Endocrinologist by referral from her pediatrician. Not because she is small, but because she cannot find a spot on the growth chart and stick with it. Her height and weight are all out of wack compared to what should be "normal". We did the blood test to make sure it wasn't something like celiac, and an array of many other diseases. We also did a bone density scan that showed her growth age (by bone development) to be 7 months behind her actual age. The endocrinologist right now is just monitoring her to see how she continues to grow. Our next step is a HGH Test, which I am prolonging as long as I can. This test will tell if her pituitary gland is firing off the right amount of growth hormones (I hope that I am explaining it right). If it is not then they want to put her on Growth Hormone injection. By a treatment, I would assume this is what you are talking about. If it is then I would suggest waiting until your daughter is 4 to start injection, if she needs them at all. According to my Endocrinologist and everything I have read as long as a child starts HGH shots before or at the 4 year mark there ultimate size and growth would not be effected. So starting them at 2.5 and at 4 would be the same result, so why start a 1.5 years early? My husband and I have opted to continue to have the Endo. monitor and delay the test as long as possible to see if HGH is really what she needs.

I hope this help, and feel free to email me with any questions. I am not sure if you have seen an Endocron. but I would highly recommend it if not. Again, I do not know if this is the same situation you are experiencing or not.

I am not exactly sure what SGA is, I attempted to look it up but can not find anything. Can you please let me know - I have a 2 year old that has been dxd with Sensory integration disorder and if this is related I so want some help with my frustrations!

L.

Hi :)

What treatments did you choose if any? We are on Genotropin, prescribed and managed through an endocronologist.
What age did you start treatment? We started at 3 years
How soon did you see results? Only 6 months into it, so can't tell you yet!
What tests did you have done?
They usually just do a blood test and look at the growth chart and other factors like prematurity. We have taken an xray of his hand to determine his bone age, which showed it has progressed faster than his age. (not a good thing)

Keep in touch! ____@____.com

C.

Was your daughter diagnosed with SGA recently or was it while you were pregnant?

Usually by age 2, the child has been seeing a doctor for regular check ups and having growth, height, weight documented. If she is small for her age, then the documentation will show this. Before you can decide on treatment (if any), you and the doctors need to figure out the cause. There are lab tests which can identify growth related issues. Can you call the doctor's office to ask questions about this situation? Be sure to take notes. Good luck and let us all know what you find out.

SGA - Small for gestational age is a one of three terms used by the medical field to describe the size of a fetus in utero. There is also AGA - Average for gestational age; and LGA - Large for gestational age. I am an OB nurse and familiar with these terms, though I have never heard it used, nor do I think it would be an appropriate term to use, to describe a toddler. A toddler is no longer in gestation aka in utero, and thus could not be SGA. At least not as far as I know.

Hi I.. I don't know anything about SGA but if you want an alternative other than medical doctors and drugs, there is an awesome clinical nutritionist here in Wichita Falls that I'm sure could help. Her name is Dr. Donna Smith and her website is www.advancedclinicalnutrition.com. You can either call or email her ###-###-#### or ____@____.com. I'd hate to see the doctors put your daughter on drugs at such an early age! And the drugs would just control whatever is wrong, it wouldn't cure it. A clinical nutrtionist's goal in life is to cure whatever is causing the problems. Call her! Good luck!

What is sga? I haven't heard of it.
L.

I agree with the other response about going to see a certified nutritionist instead of a medical doctor. You need one that will run a few tests to see what is actually going on in the body instead of doing the guessing game. Also the prescription drugs will have horrible side affects that will show up later on. One thing is, drugs deplete your body of all it's nutrients and the medical doctors don't tell you this. I have a terrific Certified nutritionist and a functional endocrinologist who is very experienced and knowledgeable. Her name is Michelle Burris at ###-###-####. If you have any questions please feel free to call me anytime. My name is T. O'Connor ###-###-####.

I have identical twins and they are very short. They are 4.5 years old now and they are finally moving up on the growth chart. They still haven't reached the 10% level, but at least they are on the chart. They see an endocrinologist every 6 months. She is very good. Her name is Dr. Hamm. She is at Children's hospital in Dallas. The girls had a 3 hour blood test and their hormones were fine. So the doctor is just following their growth.

The one thing I know from researching is that being short is a sign of Turner's Syndrome. I would definately go to the endo. and get your daughter tested. It is better to be safe than sorry.

L.

Hi I., I don,t have alot to add to all you good responses. My son is now about to turn 37yrs. old. His sister, who is 19months older than him, is 4ft 10in. Short stature runs on both sides of the family. You are right there is alot more than being petite about being short. When my son was around 2yr. it was decided by his doctor, who was also family and short himself, that the growth hormone would be the best plan of action. We did the injections at age 3yr. He grew to be 5ft. 10in. Throughout childhood he was extremely thin.When he was 18yr. he had a 27in. waist and the Air Force waived 16lbs. under weight so that he could enter the service. He is still in the Air Force 18yrs later and filled out when he turned about 30yr. There have been no ill effects due to the hormone and that took place 33-34yrs. ago.I am sure whatever is available now is better than what we had that long ago. The other thing is my grandaughter , that I am raising, has a genetic syndrome that causes people to be small in stature so you may want to see a geneticists as well. Everyone is different and all we as parents want is to give our children the best that we can in life. It may include hormones. Although there can be side-effects I belive the benefits far outway the dangers.