Premmie Mums

Hi Tiff - I'm glad to hear that the medication helped. :crossfingers: that it keeps doing the trick! Let us know how it goes.

Maria had a good day today, wish she'd go to sleep now though, but at least she isn't crying, just talking to herself in the cot.

Bec - when are you coming back to mother's group?

Carrie, I live literally around the corner from the Baby Bunting in Balwyn...(might be Kew, technically, though!) I'd love to have a get together here. Might have to do the vacuuming first though - comes from having a seven month old who loves eating newspaper and dirt and grass!

Tiff, I was at my auntie's place about 3km from Broke. A couple of vineyards and a lovely new house. I ended up taking Ned to the Singleton hospital as he got a lovely vomiting bug while we were there!

Nick, let me know what you want, again I'm happy to send them to you or we can arrange a pickup.

Jess, hope Patrick stays put a little while longer!

Tiff, hope the Zantac is continuing to work for Ivy. How are your little ones doing today?

Louise, good to hear Maria's doing a bit better. Josh was a bit better last night - woke lots but didn't get upset so I didn't have to get up to him until he got cranky about 5am. I'll be at mother's group on Friday. I've just had a run of things on Fridays for the last month or so! Unfortunately I probably won't be able to come for much longer though as I am going back to work in a few weeks. :(

We've had a pretty good day. We went to premmie playgroup this morning. The physio said Josh is doing well and gave me some tips to encourage him to sit up on his own and the speech therapist said that he is doing some good things with his talking (as in baby talk). She was pretty impressed with his squealing too! :rolleyes: We've now got the flushed cheeks here along with all the other teething symptoms, so hopefully a tooth will be on the way soon.

How is everyone else?

Bec - great to hear Josh is doing so well and I hope the teeth come through soon. See you on Friday.


Maria's top tooth has come through today, thats 3 teeth now. I found out when she bit me at the end of a feed - ouchy.

Just had to share my exciting news that today Nixon was BF 3 times! 2 of those times he didnt need topping up cause he was full as a goog. he also had 1 bottle feed for the first time ever and took it all!
They took out his nasal tube so for the first time since being born he has nothing on his face.
And mummy gave him a bath for the first time (daddy had done a few i was abit scared!)
what a day!

Bec- where did you get onto premmie playgroup?? At what age did you start going?

Divvy- I could come to your place one day if you want, or we could meet somewhere. Or if you don't have a lot of time i could just give you my address. Like i said i dont want to be greedy and take too much as Nixon is going so well i dont think 00000 will be needed for a long time. PM me if you like

YAY Nickers!!!!
What a wonderful day and wonderful to hear that your little man is making great progress.

Nickers - great news, it always felt like a great achievement when I could feed Maria and the nurses didn't need to do a top up.

Hi guys - Sorry I haven't been around for a few days, but I've been pretty busy.

Nick - It's great to hear that Nixon is doing so well. 3 breast feeds in one day is brilliant! It's so nice when you get to see them without all the ubes on their face.

Tiff- How's the Zantac going with Ivy?

Bec&Louise- Hope that your little ones don't have too much trouble with the teething.

Divvy- I wouldn't worry about the house, I know the feeling. ATM my house is clean, as I had mothers group here the other day and DH helped me do a big clean up. It's so nice when the house looks good, but it never stays that way long enough!

The physio and psych from the premmie study came to see Kyla yesterday. They said that her development is in the 25 percentile when corrected for prematurity. The only things that she's not doing are reaching for toys on her tummy and hasn't started pivoting on her tummy. I've been doing ummy time a bit more lately and she's getting beter though.
They also told me something interesting that you guys might find helpful. I commented that the other bubs in MG were all into playing with their feet, but that Kyla had not shown much interest in her feet yet. They told me that this was true for most premmie bubs. The reason being that Kyla had missed out on the last 3 months in the womb when the baby is curled up without much space, therefore was not used to the sensation of crouching/slumping forward and squishing her tummy. Apparently a lot of premmies arch alot and prefer to lay out flat on their back for this reason.
They advised to do lots of letting her sit between my knees slumping forward a bit and carrying her in the crook of my arm looking outward with her knees brought into her tummy.

Just something interesting and helpful that I though I might share in case you have similar experiences.

Great news, Nickers! WTG Nixon with the BF! :D

And Nickers, the premmie playgroup is held at our local hospital once a month. They run it for premmie mums and bubs that have spent time in the Newborn Care unit there. At each playgroup they have a couple of physios, a speech therapist, a couple of midwives who are lactation consultants and a social worker. All the mums have a chat and can ask any of the staff members questions and the physios generally spend some time with each bub to make sure they are going ok. There was a 24 weeker (1.5 weeks corrected) there this week. So tiny & cute!

Wow, another tooth for Maria! Josh is still Mr Gummy!

Carrie, it sounds like Kyla is doing well! We were told the same thing about the arching and extension when Josh was a newborn as he was a classic premmie - he used to lay flat on his back with his arms and legs flat out. He used to arch his back a lot too. (Still does sometimes). We were given a little booklet with tips for keeping him curled. We swaddled him to sleep for months to keep him in the flexed position. It's interesting to hear the things you were told to do too. Just another point of interest...we were also told to avoid stuff like baby walkers and doorway jumping seats as a baby pushes off their toes to create movement which reinforces the extension in the legs and can cause problems with their balance when they learn to walk.

Also Carrie, just on the playing with the feet...Josh wasn't interested in his feet either until recently (think I might have already mentioned that) and I discussed it with the physio at prem playgroup. One other thing she suggested was putting "fun" socks on him (you know the ones that have little rattles and things attached to them) to make him more interested in grabbing at them. I also tried the little rattles that you can attach to their wrists/ankles. In all honesty, I don't think they really made any difference with Josh though, it was just something he came around to in his own time.

How are all the other mums and bubs? :smt039 to you all!

Hi Bec - Thanks for your advice.
The ladies said the same thing about the jumper - I didn't quite understand what they were alking about so your explaination has helped!
We do have those little socks from lamaze which I have put on kyla but she doesn't appear too interested. The ladies also advised to put things in between her toes so that she will reach to get them. I think that you're right though - they will probably do it in their own time and not before or after!

Hi guys.....

I really need to find more time to get online.....

hope all your babies are doing really well....

We are in our 4th week home & things are going great, Alexa doubled her birth weight in her weigh in yesterday......she weighs 7lb 5 oz now or 3320 grams.....

Not looking forward to taking her to get her 12 week jabs..... might have to con her dad into taking her......

Better get going the wee toad knows when I am trying to get something done..... she has a "mummy busy sensor" I am sure of it......

I will try & get online more often......

Hi all,

just likew to let you know Nixon will be coming home on Thursday! he will be 3.3weeks old an corrected age of 37weeks. Im so happy was told yesterday morning and have frantically making/freezin meals and getting the house cleaned!

I went to a seminar two weeks ago and had all the arms out laying on back talk, the lady did also tell us the jolly jumpers may not be a good idea? I can't remeber why for this? (I understand the walkers being dangerous even for fulll term bubs) does anyone know or has anyone used one or not used one and what are your thoughts on them?

Hey Girls :)

Mitch, it is good to hear that things are going well with you. WTG Alexa, doubling her birth weight! I hate taking Joshua for the needles too. I feel like crying right along with him!

Nic, WOOHOO for Nixon going home on Thursday!! That's great news! Just on the Jolly Jumpers...they were what I meant by doorway jumping seats in my post above. It's all to do with the way that premmie bubs tend to extend their trunk and legs. (ie. the stretching out and lying flat). The JJ's make them extend their legs even more because they use their toes to push off and can cause trouble when they learn to walk, as they want to walk on tiptoes. I haven't ever used one with Josh based on the advice we received. Probably just as well because when we stand him up now, he likes to stand on tip toes. The physio told me to just flatten his feet for him whenever he stands.

How is everyone else?

Josh is going well. Having a few feeding issues, but we seem to be sorting through them. I'm not sure if I already mentioned that he can now roll from tummy to back? He has been able to roll from back to tummy for ages but has always got stuck on his tummy which meant we had to flip him back over whenever he got cranky about being there for too long. Well, now he can roll back over himself and he is rolling all over the place! I think he's getting ready to crawl too - he gets up on his knees a lot when he's lying on his tummy and this morning he actually stood up on his hands and feet for a few seconds!

Hi all,
Bec- That's fantastic that Josh's rolling! It must be so cute to watch. Just imagine when the crawling starts, he'll be in to everything - have you childproofed the house yet??? Kyla has been able to roll from tummy to back for a while cos she hates the tummy, but doesn't seem interested in going to tummy.

Nick- OMG how exciting!!! That's the best news! Nixon must be a real star coming home so early.:D <- I bet you look like that atm.

Hi Mitch - I don't think that we've talked before. It's good to hear that Alexa is doing well and chubbing up! (beautiful name btw). The needles are horrible aren't they:( - hopefully they don't worry Alexa too much.

Not sure if I said - but we had Kyla's visit to MCHN and she now weighs 6.81kg, she's still in 25% for weight and height but her head is 75th percentile - bit of a boofer! ALso booked her last hearing test - but apparently the last one you don't have to get them to sleep - hope they don't put that horrible tape in her hair again!!
I feel so bad...a the shops today Kyla knocked her head into Mum's and did that cry where the face goes all red and tears come out but no noise. Then I knocked her head when putting her into the car and she did the same thing. I felt SO bad!

Hi there guys!

Nickers, I've got your PM and will send you some stuff today.

:hug: for all.

Hi Carrie, nope, haven't childproofed the house just yet. Might have to look into it very soon, though! How is Kyla going today? When is her hearing test? Did you have to get her to sleep for a previous one?

So Nic, is your gorgeous boy all settled in at home? :)

How is everyone else?

We are good. Nothing new to report, really. We went shopping yesterday and bought lots of warm winter clothes for Mr Josh as it has got quite cold here all of a sudden and he has grown out of all his warm clothes. I love shopping for clothes for him - much more fun than shopping for myself!

Hey Divvy! Just saw your post when I previewed mine. Hope all is well with you and your boys.

Hi All,

Divvy Thanks so much for that!

Yep we bought Nixon home yesterday, if anyone wants to c some pics tell me your email address and I'll send some through, I haven't had a chance to upload on his web page yet, I am using babies online and ive used the max amount of pics i can, for anyone else using this site whats the best way to allow more pics???

He went to sleep really well in his new cot when we got home, man he looks small in it!! Last night we had the cot in our room but after 5am feed i end up pushing him back into his room. I was worried he was too cold in our room as our bedroom is the coolest/hottest room in the house.
I bottle fed EBM the first night feed approx midnight, next feed i tried BF & he was not going so well so bottle fed again.
Then he slept 5hrs and took 1.5hrs to take a full BF thismoring...... he fell asleep half way through, i changed him trying to wake him up, eventually got back on, it was 11am b4 i had breakfast!!
I've just fed him again now but dont know how long he will last he was only on my breast about 25mins when i changed sides he wouldnt get back on, he also didnt want a bar of the bottle?? I guess this is all new to both of us and going to take some time to get used to, the nurses had told me he will prob need both BF & EBM as he will tire more easily. How did you all going when getting your bub home & feeding? I am already getting frustrated with BF but not giving up yet!

Hi Nic,

I just replied to your thread about the EBM before I saw this post.

It's great to hear that Nixon is home where he belongs! :)

As for the feeding, Joshua was pretty much the same as Nixon when he first came home. I used to struggle to keep him awake during feeds and he also needed a comp feed of EBM after most BF's. Unfortunately, Josh never really got the hang of BF, he had terrible suction and didn't latch on well at all. We perservered with it until he was 4 months old, but eventually had to change to formula as he simply wasn't getting what he needed. So I say well done for sticking with it! I wish we could have.

I'd love to see some pics. I will PM my email address to you.

WRT to the Babies Online pages, I just use their gallery and update my photos regularly. You can use an external photo site that allows more pictures and link it to your page if you want, though.

Hi Bec, Kyla's next hearing test is at 10 months, the first two tests I had to get her to sleep and they play different frequency sounds and look at her brain waves. They stuck the sensors on her head with a tape which was horrible to get out. The last test came back perfect but due to her birth weight she has to get all done.
I love it when I need to go shopping for Kyla - it is definatley more fun shopping for the bubs that yourself!

Nickers- So glad that you have Nixon home from Mothers day! I'd love you to send me some photos - I'll PM you.
IKWYM re: BF. Like Bec, I had probs with Kyla latching on as she has a small little mouth and she would also fall asleep. I perservered with trying to BF then topping up with EBM in a bottle, then expressing for about 4 months. I tried to do only breast feeds to see if she would get used to it but the MCHN was worried about her weight so I finally went into the mother baby unit in Mitcham where they got her fully breastfeed.....then had to stop and put her on formula due to meds I was on!:angry: Needless to say, I understand that it is difficult. Was he fully on BF in hospital? ARe they weighing him regularly now? I know that I tried to keep her awake with a change half way through and lots of tickling her feet etc.

Hi Divvy, how are you?

If I don't speak to you before...
:confetti:HAPPY MOTHERS DAY EVERYONE :confetti:

...I'm pretty excited about my 1st mums day...

Carrie- Just sent you the pics of Nixon coming home.

Thanks for sharing your feeding stories does sound like a regular pattern with premmies and feeding.
At the hospital I was BF him when i could get there (about 2 feeds a day) and the rest of the time (toward the end once feeding tube out) they gave him my expressed milk in a bottle.
It does seem to take a while for Nixon to get on properly, I have to use a nipple sheild (due to flat nipples) which i thinkh e finds quiet big for his mouth at the moment.
4months you guys certainly did persist for a long while anyway, so i will see how he go, no doubt his mouth will grow and latching on might get easier.
Whe he is on i think he definatley is getting enough he settles well after feeds and i know that my milk comes in bucket loads so doesn't have to work too hard to get it!!

Did anyone see a short story on the news tonight there was a couple bringing their baby home who spent a few weeks in special crae at Royal childrens hosp. and was saying how all she wanted was to have her son home for mothers day etc, watched them getting in the car etc, that was me yesterday!

So anyone have any special plans that they know of for sunday?

Nickers, I saw that story - and got a bit teary!
We're having lunch on Mothers Day at my MIL house. What about you? Although just having your little boy home will be special enough!!!

Well no happy mothers day at home for me! :crying: :boohoo: :p

Glad to see you are all going to have your bubbas home with you on mothers day and i am so glad to see everyone's little ones are thriving! :D

its hard racoon - i know. Ours kids first xmas and new years was spent with them in special care. And funnily enough their second xmas we ended up in hosipital with DS .
Its these special days that are hardest. We just made the best of it and celebrated these occassions the best we could at the hospital. Make sure you still get piccs of your first mothers day.

will be thinkin of you and he will be home in your arms in no time.

Well i am grateful that we get to spend mothers day with him considering he was so early, so im not really upset about him not being home.. :D

Im sorry to hear that you had to spend those days at the hospital but im sure it makes you cherish each one now? :D

Racs tomorrow is going to be just as special for you, like me you wern't even to be a mummy this mothers day & look what u got!
Sounds like Ronan is going really well again, so happy to hear!

I'm about to take Nixon on his first outing! would you belive its to the hospital! he has to get weiged just to make sure he's been getting enough since being home for two days, will post back here with how he went.

Edited to Add: Nixon now weighs 2700g!! (5pound 9 i think that is)
Total weight gain since birth = 404grams

Hi All!

Nic, I forgot to PM you my email address yesterday - have just sent it now. 2700g, that's great - well done Nixon! How exciting being on the news too! I'm in Sydney, so unfortunately I didn't see it.

Carrie, have a lovely lunch with your family tomorrow!

Rac, Joshua was in hospital for Father's Day last year and the nurses in Newborn Care made up a special little gift for the Dads of all the babies who were in hospital. They took a photo of each of the bubs and put them in little Father's Day cards with an IOU for a hug.

We're probably going to go out for lunch tomorrow. Just the three of us as my Mum lives about 5 hours away and my MIL passed away in 2004. DH and Josh have been out doing secret stuff at the shops this afternoon and I've told them I want breakfast in bed tomorrow morning!

I'll try to pop in tomorrow, but just in case I don't...

Happy Mother's Day to you all! :D

Bec, thanks i just sent u his pics!
DH ran out for a while today to get some things! if we can get our selves sorted we may go out for lunch which will be our first real outing!
when Nixon was in hosp early in the peice i said to one of the nurses i'd love to have him home for mothers day she told me thats its a very special day in NICU & SCN on mothers & fathers day, she didnt want to tell me what they do to b a surprise if he were still there, so i am sure all mum's with bubs in hosp will have an extra special day tomorrow!

Happy Mothers Day to all!!

Great pics, Nic! I have one of Joshua in his carseat coming home from hospital that looks almost exactly the same as the one of Nixon!

I hope everyone has had a lovely day. I got very, very spoiled! A sleep in and breakfast made for me, flowers and pressies and then DH and Josh took me out for lunch. I felt very special! I hope you all got spoiled too! :)

Tiff, just noticed you online. Haven't seen you about much lately...hope all is ok. Would love to hear from you when you get a chance.

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

Hi there,

Rac - It's difficult on days like today, not having yout little one home with you. I hope that you got to spend heaps of time with Ronan today and that the hospital helped to make it a special first Mothers Day for you :hug: . I treid to have a quick peek into Ronan's site to see how he was doing, but couldn't get in. Hope that he is well sweety. It is so true that having had your bubs in hospital for some time and going through what premmie mums go through makes every event, milestone and day even more special.
Kyla was in hospital for Christian's first Fathers Day and the Woman's Hospital made it really special. When we got to the hospital there was a little card for Christian on Kyla's isolette with a photo of her dressed in a little "frock". It was beautiful and something that we will always look back on to see how far she has come.

Nickers- Well done Nixon with the fantastic weight gain! How's the BF going Nick? Hope he has settled down a little for you.
Hope you had a fantastic day today and got spoilt by DH and Nixon! Did you get to go on your outing?

Bec - Hope you also had a great day and got a yummy relaxing brekkie in bed!

Hi Bec,
Yep online but feeling crap. Have currently got the worst case of PND ever and don't know what to do with myself. Not coping very well and feel so stupid, and lost. Probably won't be online much until I get this darn thing under control.

Tiff, I'm so glad that you popped in - although I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling crap at the moment. Please don't feel stupid though - you are not. You're a smart, brave woman who is able to acknowledge that what you are feeling is PND. I know you are a very busy mum, but have you had an opportunity to talk to someone (doctor/counsellor/etc) about what you are going through? Someone that can offer you some support? I'd hate to think of you feeling lost and battling it alone. And I know you said you might not be online for a bit, but remember that you can always pop in here for some moral support if you want, ok? I'm about to send you a PM...

Carrie, Yep, had a lovely day thanks! Didn't get the breakfast in bed, but it was made for me and waiting when I got up, so that was enough for me!

Well, we saw the CHN this morning. Josh now weighs 8.75kg and is 73.5cm long. I was a bit concerned about his weight as he hasn't had much of an appetite of late, but he has still managed to put on 220g in the past 2 weeks, so I am really happy with that.

Tiff - I'm sorry you're feeling awful! It's difficult enough looking after one baby and I think that you are obviously an amazing woman coping as well as you have with twins and three other children. I really hope that you have someone who you can talk things through with and who can offer you some help and support atm, as I know that when you're feeling like that it is difficult to do even the most simplest tasks.
As Bec said, please know that we are all here if you want to talk or need some support. Although I know that it doesn't help much to hear this - you are doing an amazing job!
Take care sweety.

Bec - I'm glad the visit went well with the MCHN, and 220g is good - especially if Josh's appetite has been a bit off.

Just thought I'd let you girls know I finally posted Ivy and Noah's birth story.

HI everyone

Tiff just read your birth story, you are one amazing woman to go through what you have. Your story have me goosebumps. Hope you feel better soon.

Maria is having sleep issues atm, but it has only been for the last 2 nights (not going to sleep until 11pm, so it isn't a sure problem yet, maybe just a growth spurt. She also has 2 more lumps in her gums (top insisors) coming through soon I think, gee breastfeeding with 4 teeth is bad enough, but I am just glad I have been able to breastfeed this long. We find out at baby massage class next week how to relieve teething pain, I think I need that info now.

Hope all the other babies and mums are fine. and that eveyone had happy mother's days. This time next year our babies will ne running around and talkingnon stop and we will just want them to stay still and be quiet.

tiggy
can you go to your doctor about your PND. Please know that dealing with twins and dealing with premmies is a lethal combination- even for the strongest. Its ok to feel this way. Please speak to a professional. You know were are all hear if you need an ear.

Tiff, we're all here for you, please go and see someone (GP, MCHN etc) about the PND. :hug:

And happy Mother's Day for you all.

Hey all,
Nickers - how are things going?

Hello,
everything is going pretty good here. Just trying to work out Nixons routine! sometimes he wakes for a feed after 3, 3 1/21 4hrs or even 2hrs! Last night for the first time he went 6hrs over night which was good.
MCHN came over yesterday, i was a bit upset when i told her he passed his hearing test and she looked in the blue book and said no he didnt. I just read the word "pass" but it said pass with high risk factor for progressive loss.
DH was bonr with 30% loss in one ear, added to the fact he was prem and had phottherapy are all ticks it in risk factors.
apparently i have to take him somewhere else to get tested 9will find out next week when i visit MCH centre but im just annoyed that no one at the hospital even told us this, considering we kept asking if it had been done yet (anxious knowing DH has hearing loss) i would have thought if he did not pass we would have been informed......

NIckers- Hmm doesn't sound like they're explaining things very well to you.
As far as I know, just because he has risk factors doesn't mean there will be anything wrong. Kyla was at high risk because of her prematurity, she had her first test at due date where they said one ear she wasn't hearing low freq sounds, so she had the next test at 3 months (i think), this was ok but she still has to have one at 10 months.