My baby was premature. Will he be always be smaller than other kids?
My grandaughter has been put on metformin to deal with her excessive hair growth and lack of a period at age 15. Does that sound like the right treatment to cure her?
Adolescent girls who have excessive hair growth, especially in a male-type distribution (in other words, hair present in locations where girls do not typically get hair such as the face, cheeks, chest, and abdomen) and who have amenorrhea (absent or irregular menstrual periods) may be exhibiting signs of polycystic ovarian syndrome or hyperandrogenism (excessive male hormones). Although the mechanism is not completely understood, very often girls with polycystic ovarian syndrome have an underlying insulin resistance, especially if the child is overweight. Insulin resistance results in excessive insulin production which stimulates ovarian androgen hypersecretion. In other words, the high levels of insulin stimulates the ovaries to overproduce androgens (male hormones) which causes unwanted hair growth in a male distribution pattern and interferes with normal menstrual physiology. Although there is no cure, use of Metformin (glucophage) is an appropriate therapy as one of the effects of Metformin is to increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin resulting in decreased levels of insulin secretion and, as a result, decreasing stimulation to the ovaries to produce androgens. Other options include the use of birth control pills.
My child is very underweight for his age. He is 12 and also quite short. Is there anything I could augment/supplement his diet with to help him grow? He and his 9 year old brother are the same size, yet his brother weighs more. Thanks so much for your help!
Along with a proper, healthy, well-balanced diet there are two additional measures parents can take to ensure proper growth in children. First, a child should get plenty of sleep. Growth hormone is secreted in pulses largely during REM sleep. As a result, the more cycles of REM sleep a child gets the more pulses of growth hormone secretion can occur. Generally, recommendations consist of 10-14 hours of sleep for newborns and toddlers, 10-12 hours of sleep for younger children, and 8-10 hours for older children and teenagers. Secondly, proper exercise is important. Growth hormone secretion also occurs during exercise. Although there are genetic limitations to growth that are not able to be overcome, ensuring proper rest and adequate exercise, along with a proper, well-balanced healthy diet can help your child maximize their growth potential.
My 6 year old’s legs hurt at night time every few months. What could it be? Are these growing pains? How can I make her feel better? Does this happen some years more than others?

Thank you!
EXCELLENT QUESTION. Most likely you are absolutely correct. These sound like growing pains. These pains do happen more frequently during growth spurts. The child usually responds to plenty of TLC and anti- inflammatory medication like Motrin or Advil.
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