Babies Born June 16th - 30th 2008

[*Beema*]

Morning

We had my grandpa's funneral Monday, drove nearly 500km in the day and Nakita was brilliant, hardly a peak out of her, I fed her before each big trip and she slept and talked for most of it, only started to get grizzly 2km from home!! She was very good throughout the whole days as well, she fed early though when we got home, so 9pm, 12 and then 4am, usually I have a 9:30-10pm and a 12-3am (somewhere in there) and then 7am or so feed, so the extra one took it out of me a bit. But she is feeding better on the Boob, I think my milk is easier for her to get, I think her mouth is getting bigger!! I am also weaning her off the nipple shields, and expressing is getting a lot easier, and quicker. Hooray for the Motilium and Oats and a growing bub!!!!

We have a weigh in today and I reckon she has put on weight easily, her face is filling out and she doesn't look as gaunt anymore, I didn't realise that she was so thin in the face until now she has rounded out more!! Her limbs are still all skin, but she will fill out in time!

Nakita has done a few projectiles mostly from drinking to much, she had a chucky day Friday, but hardly since, it is pretty funny cos it comes out the nose and mouth!!

Jean, I hope things have settled down!

Has anyone else not given bubs a dummy? We did use one while in SCBU while Nakita was being gavage fed to encourage her to suck, but havn't used one since. I did buy a couple the other day to take to the funneral just incase, instead put a bottle of EBM in her mouth!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by xxSerendipityxx
Ahh, vomiting.. I hate it, hahaha.. dont' mind if it's a dribble, but sometimes if you're holding bub up after a feed and trying to burp her and think she's ok, and then go to change her and she pukes everywhere, not fun!!

Yay looks like she's sleeping!! Although this happened to me before. She fell asleep earlier and I thought I would be able to get her into her bed but to no avail. I shall try again!

They are good tricksters huh! My boy is unbelievable, you think they are asleep and then whallaaa bright eyed and bushy tailed

Hehe Nakita keeps opening one eye at atime just to check who is around! Also you think she is aslepp but now wide awake wondering why have you put me down!!

Well must go, think I will drop into the office this morning...

[Serendypyty]

Sorry to hear about the passing of your grandfather

Nope, I haven't used dummies yet. My husband says that we should use them and we do have some in the house but I'm not really keen on the idea. I don't really want to use them unless we have to. The main reason being that some kids get so attached to them. I remember my niece used to scream her mum's house down for her dummy and wouldn't let up until she got it. I still remember the way she cried it too.. lol..
At my last clinic appointment I saw a girl who was around five years old who STILL had a dummy in her mouth... I felt like asking her mother what the hell was wrong with her.

Overall Josie seems to be settling without the assistance of dummies so I want to hold out as long as I can..

[satya]

Sheree - Hope Riley is doing well after his little ops. You are so right about going through a lot of clothes with a chucky bub. I have so much more washing to do than I expected - my clothes, his clothes, blankets, wraps, facewashers and bibs. He also has a bad habit of weeing as soon as I take the nappy off so if I'm not extra quick with the change I have wee all over it too. I also seem to spend considerable amounts of time cleaning chuck off the carpet, the rocker and the couch!!!!

Jean - I hope today is going better than yesterday was.

Beema - well done on the breastfeeding front. I have now officially given up. It just didn't work out. I wonder if it had something to do with my age but the MCHN said age has nothing to do with it. I am returning the pump to hossy this afternoon. It will be weird going back to the ward feeling so good, I could barely walk the last time I was there. We have given Brock a dummy. He was given one in the special care nursery as he just wouldn't settle one night and it was the only way he would be quiet.

I was really anti dummy before I came home from hospital but now I'm pro dummy. It helps settle him when nothing else works. He's not heavily reliant on it (yet) and usually finds it hard to keep in his mouth so when he does use it I have to keep placing it back in or he will cry. I used to be a finger sucker (two actually) and I think I would prefer Brock to suck something that we can eventually eliminate (can't chuck out those fingers). I kept my bad habit well past when I should've - I was at school and still doing it (at home). Luckily I didn't suffer any tooth damage.

Is anyone finding their bubs is noisy while feeding? Everyone is commenting on how loud he is when he feeds. I really don't know what's normal as I've not really been around a small baby before. I do admit he is quite noisy. He makes loud sucking noises and makes other noises that sound somewhat like a chook, other times pidgeon kind of noises.

[*Beema*]

Nakita is a month old today!

Nakita put on 130grams this week, so she is now 2480grams, we measured her and she is now 49.5cm long, so she has grown 4cm since she has been born, and added 0.5cm to her head circumference. We will be going back again next week as the MW wants to keep an eye on her weight. We haven't done many top us the last few days, so still happy with her gains. She is still a bit jaundice, it was up to me if we wanted to get her levels tested again, but I am not concerned, it is slowly getting less and less. Any way she looks good, is eating well and we are happy so we will keep on plugging along. We still give her one EBM feed a day via a bottle, DH did is last night so I got to sleep from 10-2 then fed until 3 ans slept until 6:30, tried to rock bubs back to sleep but she wouldn't have a bar of it so got up and fed again!!

Hehe about being a noisy eater, Nakita was hungry when I was in the MW's clinic so I started feeded her and the MW laughed and said you can hear her gulping the milk down, she is a loud drinker too, when we were in the funeral the other day I gave her a bottle, and had to turn it around as she was sucking the milk out soo quickly and loudly you could hear her over the service and was making me laugh!!

Thanks Satya, BF'ing is hard work and I feed great about it now, like I have really settle into it and I am really enjoying it, but it took a lot to get to this point and it isn't for everyone, don't feel bad about it, every bit you can give has made a difference! I don't think age makes a difference, some people just struggle with BF'ing.

Sheree, how is Riley going? Hope he is recovering well!

I just realised that I havn't washed clothes for a couple of days, but don't really need to but will do some tomorrow I guess!

Thankyou Serendipity, I feel at peace now he has gone, had a long hard battle so it is nice to know he is resting now

Must run and open the milk bar, don't want to upset my best customer!!

[MummyDuck]

Sorry havent read anyones posts.......

Just a quick one, I havent been around for the last few weeks. Ive been in hospital with DD recovering from a nasty case of Post Natal Depression. Today is my first day home alone with DD and if my intuition is right she has a nasty stomach ache (because so do I.... a preservative in the food hasnt mixed well with either of us) so she is very unsettled. I have this weekend home and then hopefully they will consider me well enough to come home for good, its a scary thought but Ive come so far in the 2 weeks Ive been there and she has grown so much..... we even got our first smiles last weekend.

Hoping to get to know some of you better and be around a little more when I get back.

[Serendypyty]

Heya,
Sorry to hear that you had PND.. I had a huge comedown at the hospital on day 2 after giving birth. Thankfully I still got to go home that day
Glad to hear that you are out of hospital and on your way to recovery

[satya]

Beema - Nakita is so small - Brock was 49cm at birth & 3.5 kgs so bigger than your bub is at a month. I guess it will take her a while to catch up, being so early and all. Let's face it, she wasn't supposed to even be born yet, was she?

Smudgies mum - Sorry to hear you have PND. It's good you've gone and got help for it nice and early. I hope all goes well this weekend, but if it doesn't remember we all have good and bad days with our bubs and more than likely when you have a tough one the next day will be much better. There's lots of support you can get on this forum so make sure you use it.

I took the breast pump back to hossy today, so that's officially it for breast feeding now. I had to park a mile away so I got a nice walk in, luckily the sun was shining so it turned out to be a nice stroll.

[Serendypyty]

Speaking of sunshine, I took Josie out to the mailbox with me this afternoon and she was not impressed, she threw herself backwards, arms flew backwards, turtle neck outstretched, and her face wrinkled in disgust! One of the funniest things I have ever seen!

[satya]

Brock went for his hearing test yesterday. He had to have this done as he was in special care for over 48 hours and apparently being in there can cause hearing damage in some babies as it's a very noisy environment.

It was supposed to take about 1/2 an hour but took an hour and a half. He had to be asleep for it and he just wouldn't stay asleep. Anyway his right ear test came out fine, but the left one was not good. The doctor used a different machine for that ear and said that he has fluid in that ear so hopefully that's what's causing the problem. It can take 6-8 weeks for fluid to disappear so we have to go back in two months to do it all again. Thankfully it's covered by medicare, I'd hate to get a doctors bill for that length of time - twice.

Apparently he has enough hearing for the stage he's at now so it shouldn't effect his development. Am hoping for a much better result next time.

We are picking up his cot today but still haven't purchased a mattress for it yet. It will still be a little while til he grows out of his cradle so it's not urgent, but it will be nice to get the nursery complete.

[Tan2705]

Hi All,

Lots to catch up on since my last post so sorry if i dont get around to doing personals for everyone! DP is home FINALLY but not without the usual drama that seems to follow us! We were supposed to meet at the airport, his flight arriving 1hr before ours... just so happens that his didnt leave until 10hrs after ours landed! Needless to say we werent waiting that long so we drove to Coffs without him and made him catch a flight from Brissy to Coffs the next morning! Cooper is such a great traveller, slept the entire flight and than for the good part of the 5 hour drive! Must have his Daddy's nomad blood running through is lil veins! The last week and a bit has been spent with Cooper getting lots of cuddles n kisses from Daddy and Daddy learning that Mummy's job isn't as easy as he thinks... prior to this I am sure he thought i would be able to chop firewood and breastfeed at the same time... perhaps i should try juggling toasters while im at it... LOL We have a big week ahead of us - my MIL2B is visiting, Coop & I have our 6 week checks and are moving up to Innisfail and DP flys back out to work - getting sick of the MIL2B advice already GRRR, im nervous about our doctors appointments & not being ready to leave by wednesday and not looking forward to not having DP around for the next 28 days, bring on the kleenex! DS is still suffering from colic, nothing seems to settle him when it strikes! Im starting to think that its from using nipple shields?! Trying my best to ween him off them now that my nipples are healed but he is so used to sucking on it that my nipple just doesn't do it for him. Despite suffering from wind he has managed to fall into a routine (bless this child!) feeding 2 hrly from 6am to 7pm with 3/4hr sleeps in between than bath, feed and sleep 6-8hrs, dreamfeed than up at 6! Such a champ! Makes for a very happy mummy! And on the happy mummy front i finally got a chance to go view my belly photos that i had taken 3 months ago LOL Love, love, love them! Ordered 2 canvas, a set of three framed and 5 prints $2000 later.. but oh so worth it!

satya - my for Brock's next hearing test! Cooper is almost to long for his cradle he has grown 10cm in 5 1/2 weeks! Coop is so noisy when feeding - when my parents were down they walked up to the front door and could hear him two rooms away! Such a guts!

serendipity - too funny! Coop loves being outdoors in the fresh air but HATES sunlight, we get a similar reaction to that of Josie's!

smudge - good to see you back online! sorry to hear that you had PND but good on you for not ignoring the signs and seeking help so quickly! for the smiles they make those not so great times worth it!

beema - love the end of your post and speaking of upset customers Cooper wakes on cue - the milk monster is hungry!

[kristy J]

Hello...........

I thought i might join this thread too.

Our Twin boys were born on the 24th June by emergancy c/sect 5 weeks 2 days early. in short labour started / OB tried to stop it / Waters broke / Placernter ruptured / rushed to different hospital by ambo / babies born an hour later. even tho the start was a little traumatic and scary i was pleased with my c/sect and still really enjoyed it. I have enjoyed both my c/sects and recovered with no problems. they both spent 2 weeks 2 days in NICU.

My sons are Caleb adrian who was 2.580kg and Sebasstian Oliver who was 2.185kg. thay are still in a size 5/0's and look like they may still be for a while.
they need to have a few tests over the next few weeks to check for hip displacia and so on but they are healthy.

they are feeding well on breast, EBM and some formula. feeding both babies and looking after my 17 month old can take a long time and sometimes its quicker to express and then bottle feed, we have no issues going from one to the other, & as long as i feed or express every 4 hours i hope not to have any either.

Look forward to getting to know you all better.

[satya]

Welcome Kristy J. You sure have your hands full. Well done on the breast feeding front. They are so small. Brock is starting to get too big for his 000 Bonds suits now, even though he's still too small for much of his 000 other brand clothes. I wonder why Bonds stuff is so small compared to the others????

Smudgies mum - how are things going? I hope things are improving for you, and if they are not yet, they will soon. One of my cousins had a very severe case of PND so I know how bad it can be.

Tan - you've been pretty busy too. Don't worry about your appointments. It will all be fine. I'm sure a lot of partners think mum's job is easy until they start having to do things on their own. My DF sounded quite panicky the other night while I was dying my hair in the bathroom and had handed bubs over to him for a while. First of all he couldn't find the wipes (they were right there where they have been since the day we came home) then he couldn't find where the nappies were (again they were in the nappy stacker in the wardrobe, where they've always been, but usually I have a few at the change table). It was then that I realised that although when we are out and about he's more inclined to change a nappy, when we are at home it's usually me doing it.


We had our 6 week check up yesterday. All was fine. I should've had a pap smear but couldn't have it done as I'd had a little spotting earlier in the day so suspected AF was on her way. Sure enough she's here today. One of the downsides of having to give up breast feeding so early, but at least I can start some birth control now. As much as I'd love to try for another one I kind of feel that we were very lucky to have such a trouble free pregnancy and end up with a "normal" baby at the end of it all at my age. Let's face it at my age I would have to do it now if I was going to TTC again but the thought of being pregnant with such a young baby is enough to make me stress myself silly, let alone the thought of going through labour again so soon. Of course there's financial considerations as well, so Brock has to be it for me I'm afraid.

[*Beema*]

G'day mums and bubs!!

I have been MIA, from here mostly because so busy in our Belly Buddies Thread - it has been going crazy last few days - so many mums in labour and so many bubs!!

Welcome Kristy J, your bubs were either side of mine in weight, sounds like your birth was pretty interesting to say the least!!! Are you going to do a birth story? Nakita is soley on either the Boob or EBM, we give her one bottle of EBM a day and sometimes a top up.

Satya - I don't think I could handle getting pregnant straight away, hopefully this isn't the end of bubs for you, I guess yoiu never know what the future holds!! I am on the mini pill, but can't DTD for a bit longer. Thought I may have split my stitches from my tears ans Episiotomy, felt a pop, and a leak, thought I may have not done enough PFExercise, but no.. had bleeding, got it checked out today though and all good, but still have a bit of healing to go yet.

Wow Tan!!! That is fantastic growth in length - I thought 4cm in 4 weeks was great!!! Ihave to get Nakita off the shileds she just hasn't had a bar of it last two days Must persevere though!! Are you going to upload so photos of your piccies?

I hope you are getting there SmudgiesMum, itis brilliant that it was identified and you have been getting treatment look forwartd to getting to know you when you are ready

Serendipity, they do the funniest things!!!

Nakita put on 280grams this week - woohoo!!!, so she is now 2760grams

She is doing really well with the weight gain!! But her Jaundice isn't looking as good, it is back on her arms and leg, so my MW called her Paeditrician and she is now going in for a series of blood tests tomorrow and to get her levels done again. Then we are off to see the paediatrician on Friday rather than next week, he wants to check her out. They think that the Jaundice may be related to the fact that she is solely BF'd.

Nakita has also been an angel today, sleeping a lot, yesterday hardly at all, she was really unsettled, chucking and had trouble sleeping - we think she may be having a growth spurt, so I hope she sleeps tonight as well - I need it!! And she hasn't chucked since her 10am feed - woo hoo, she must have been off for the day or so!! I would love more than a couple of hours sleep tonight... please.

Night all!! Will try to post more regularly!

[Tan2705]

Be prepared i need to VENT!!!!!

Had our 6 weeks checks on Tuesday. I went to the OB first and all is well! He is the most kind hearted, amazing man and I would seriously consider moving back down to Coffs to have him deliver my next child (if and when that happens)! Then onto the PAEDS - which was more like a glorified (expensive) visit to the family health nurse only he is a JERK! Cooper recieved the once over, he sat at his desk and said "His weight gain is crap, no more breast for this baby!" I was floored! Then continued to say "Don't worry he (Cooper) won't even know the difference" So here I am doing my best to keep the tears at bay DP says "Yea but Tan will be devasted!" So the tears I have been trying so hard to hold back come rolling out. So than the JERK says "We men dont understand this connection you women have, we have concrete emotions" For F**K sake your job involves seeing mothers (& fathers) and their children every bloody day and in all these years you still cant understand the connection TWAT! All of which i would have loved to have said if I wasn't so busy crying! So $150 bill and I didnt even get a chance to ask about any of the other concerns I had! An afternoon, evening, night and morning of sobbing thinking I am a bad mother, that I am starving my child and that I should return to the OBs to change my depression test score from 2/30 to 28/30 later i get to thinking that my supply cant be all that bad if he has gains in length (10cm since birth) and in head circumference (2.5cm since birth) yeah his weight gain is minimal but he hasn't lost any.... *birth 4.365 *discharge 4.125 *clinic 4.21 *paed 4.68 he is sleeping well, smiling and giggling, feeding well (or so i thought) from both breasts on demand. ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! So now feeding him EBM so i know exactly what he is getting each feed. At first I was only expressing 70ml so the tears started again - oh s**t i really dont have enough and i have been starving him... but 24hrs on I am getting a good 150ml plus each time so attributing the inital short supply of EBM to stress! I just wish b**bs came with graduated measurements on the side so to give panicky mummies shattered by a**hole PAEDs doctors' horrible bed side manner some confidence in knowing they are indeed good cows! Have had alot of support from other BF mummies who have had similiar problems - peace of mind is fab! I am also thinking the nipple shields are a big contributor to insufficent supply?!?! Anywho - fingers are crossed tightly that next time he is weighed (and the subsquent weigh-ins which will now be on the same scales!) he has gained a significant amount!

Sorry it's all about me today.. will do personals sometime soon!

[satya]

Beema - I hope you can get that jaundice under control soon.

Tan - what a horrible experience at the doctor. Was there a particular reason you had to see a different doctor for Cooper? My GP looked after both Brock and I and it cost nothing. Next time you give birth maybe you could just see your GP - you are bound to have a much more positive experience if you do. It could be that you express more milk than what he gets when he's feeding. It could be for a number of different reasons including the nipple shield. It might be worth your while to just keep expressing and that way you will know he's getting what he should. I can't believe the attitude of that doctor. I would've thought he might gently suggest topping up with formula or expressing like you are doing, the medical profession are usually over the top with pushing for breast feeding so his reaction was quite strange. I was lucky when I was having difficulties everyone I came across just said to go which ever way would work for us and in the end it was formula. Well done for not just giving up just cos the doctor said so!!!!!

For about a week now I've only been getting woken once during the night for a feed. It's fantastic. It's usually between 3 & 4 am, but one night it was at 1am but then he didn't wake again til around 7. I normally only have enough formula made up to get me through to the morning feed so it's great to find an extra one in there each morning. He's still feeding 3 to 3 1/2 hourly during the day.

[shereejoy]

Hi all, been missing in action for a week as we had paed appt and gyno appt in Mackay (3 hours away). Just a fleeting visit sorry, so sorry for no personals. I am following the Tizzie Hall routine for Riley and just started so trying to get it all happening. Really need a routine this time and a good one at that, having a toddler and all!

My appt went well, wound is had healed really well this time. Had a papsmear and find out results in 3 weeks. So hopefully it is still only low grade or even disappeared - NOW WOULDN'T THAT BE GR8.

Riley's appt didn't go so well. I have just been told by paed he has a heart murmor. This has really put a good run to a negative spin. Not only has he got a belly button hernia, tongue tie, hyraceal (fluid on the testicals), but now a god dam HEART MURMOR. Poor tyke. I need to do some research to find out if I should be worrying or not! I guess I am just guilt ridden atm! Wondering what I did wrong when I was pregnant. And also wondering if other things are going to pop up with his health in the future. I know I should be positive, but I just feel ordinary - like I have caused these things. Sorry for the downer gals, just needed to vent!

[Serendypyty]

Oh Sheree, sorry to hear about Riley's health problems but better that you find out now and are able to do something about it than find out in a few years time.. big hugs to you and your family... and feel free to vent, that's what we're here for!

[*Beema*]

Oh Sheree, I am so sorry to hear Riley has so many hurdles ahead of him We are following the same routine as you, albeit a little losely, ie give or taken half an hour or so!

Tan I am so sorry about your appointment, I hope you are going to keep going with the EBM/BF Just give him some more time and if he is happy and settled then it shouldn't be a problem, might be taking him a bit longer to get going. I am still using shields Nakita is refusing the "plain boob" at the moment, but we will keep trying if not I will keep using the shields as the BM is the best for her!!

Wow Satya - that is great!! I hope when Nakita decides to sleep longer it will be great!! Though she is pretty good!!

Now me....

Just to update you with our progress, Nakita started putting on weight, at 3 1/2 weeks she got back to her birth weight (after going backwards our first week at home - which was very disheartening), but we then followed with gains of 170grams, 130grams and the last week to Wednesday she put on 280grams.

We had however both noticed that her jaundice was returning to her arms and legs, so my MW called her Paediatrician and we had to get her bilirubin levels redone. That was a nightmare, the nurse didn't want to do the heel pr!ck, instead she went in the arm - OMG her arms are very tiny, I had to hold her down and her arm our straight, by the time she started getting blood she had drawn the needle almost all the way out and only got 1/2ml, so had to do the other arm, she poked and prodded, blood everywhere outside of the needle, none in it, Nakita still screaming. She blamed me for not getting the blood, I held her arm damn still so we could get it over and done with. Eventually she did the heel pr!ck and got a good flow, poor little tike, 15minutes it took I was in tears and she had her first tears, not happy!!

Our appointment with the Paediatrician got brought forward to Friday, and he did the full 6 weeks check up. Her Bilirubin levels were 169, the exact same figure as they were when we finished the phototherapy at WCH, the levels went back up after we finished it, so it too her 4 weeks to get the levels back down herself. It is referred to as Breast Fed Jaundice, which is caused by the same thing that breaks down Breast Milk, breaks down Bilirubin, so they are competing, there is no concern as her direct levels were only 5, it may take until she is 3 months for it to go completely. All her other BT's were great. Which I am thrilled that we don't have to go through the BT's again, for hopefully a long time!!

The Paediatrician is still astounded by her development, one of the best performing prems he has seen in a long time. He gave us the all clear!! Woo Hoo!!!

So as we approach her EDD, we have a fit and healthy, 00000 wearing, solely breast fed, not MCN wearing yet (needs to be a bit bigger to fit them!), and gorgeous (albeit a bit yellow still) little girl, we are thrilled!!

Must run hopefully we have so nice happy posts in here soon!!