Baby Corner

[KJandSH 0]

Savanphil/Tonya--Glad that your little Zakery and you are o.k. What a scary time you went through!

One of my twins(Haneul) was in the NICU for 12 days with a group B Strep infection and I had a hard time building up my milk supply since we got off to a poor start breastfeeding with her. Her sister had a good start, fortunately, but I still had to work to get my supply up for 2 after Haneul ended up getting a fair amount of formula.

Question: Did you get a prescription for a breast pump (like the Medela Pump In Style)? You should be able to get a free breast pump because you had a baby in the NICU. If you didn't, you may be able to get reimbursed retroactively.

Also, if you can, ask a lactation consultant about fenugreek or alfalfa pills. I've used both and found that alfalfa seems to work best for me. They are just herbal supplements, so most people say they are o.k. to use. You should ask because you had a preemie if they are safe though.

I know some people have had a lot of success with the prescription drug 'Reglan' for milk production too. I wish you the best. I know it is really hard to pump for your baby and not be able to fully supply him with milk. I hated the pump at first because I could never get as much as I wanted to. Right when I was super frustrated with the pump, at 6 week, Haneul decided to learn how to latch on. That was a fantastic day!

Eveline--Glad to hear that your baby was going through a growth spurt and now you have a bit of rest from the constant breastfeeding. Believe me, I know what it's like to constantly breastfeed all day long and it is so difficult! I do not fault you at all for trying some rice cereal with your breastmilk. It's nice that you can put off using it for now though.

It used to be--even 8-10 years ago--that doctors said that babies could start solids at 4 months, but I know that 6 months is what they say now. My doctor said, umprompted, that I could maybe start at 5 months. I think she feels sorry for me breastfeeding twins and also knows that I am going back to work then. I'm going to try and stick it out until 6 months if the girls are happy until then. I'm building a stockpile of breastmilk in the freezer now, so hopefully I will have lots saved up when I go back to work in September. I want to breastfeed them until they are at least a year old and would love to be able to skip formula, but I know that it will likely be hard to pump enough for 2 babies while working a full-time job.

I have pretty big babies for not yet 4 monthers--One is 16 lbs. and months and the other is at least 14 lbs. They've both more than doubled their birth weights. They like to eat A LOT, but we've gotten down to feedings every 2 hours or so during the day and that has been a major relief.

Kristi

Edited July 20, 2007 by KJandSH

[Savanphil 3]

Hi all,

I'm just checking in....I will catch up on replies tomorrow night..I hope. I managed to get some pics of Zack in my siggy. How do I put them in the post? I can't figure how to add them. I keep getting an error message everytime I try

*sigh* I had to add these to my Vj photo gallery in order to use them, I will keep trying.

[Lizzy 0]

He is an angel Savanphil! Bless him and you.

[Jackson1975 0]

Hi Ladies,

I am just dropping in, boy do I have Lots of catching up to do. Well anyways, I'm pressed for time so I'll make this quick.

I had a bad asthma attack in my 33 week, and I had to be hospitalized things went from bad to worse really fast...in order to stabalize me and save us both they had to emergency c-section me. Zackery Michael was born on June 23,2007 at 6:08am weighing 1.86kg. We spent his first few weeks seperated he was in neonatal intensive care, because he's a preemie and had problems holding his body temp. because of low birthweight. I was in adult intensive care. Everylthing that could have gone wrong did ...but Thank God it all turned fine.

Anywho all is well now, we are buth home recovering.....I will post pics later as soon as I can pry the camera hubby's hands.

~Tonya

Congratulations!!! You did have a rough time but like you said I'm glad everything has turned out good.

Get plenty of Rest!!

Angela

[kittykatwoman 0]

Question : I'm knitting a set (kimono sweater, booties, hat) for a baby shower to come and was wondering if I should knit some mittens too, if there are useful or not?

Thank you

[Lizzy 0]

Mittens are sooo useful for newborns! They are great to put on the baby if the baby scratches its face, also good for winter!

Wish i could knit

[Eveline 9]

Eveline--Glad to hear that your baby was going through a growth spurt and now you have a bit of rest from the constant breastfeeding. Believe me, I know what it's like to constantly breastfeed all day long and it is so difficult! I do not fault you at all for trying some rice cereal with your breastmilk. It's nice that you can put off using it for now though.

It used to be--even 8-10 years ago--that doctors said that babies could start solids at 4 months, but I know that 6 months is what they say now. My doctor said, umprompted, that I could maybe start at 5 months. I think she feels sorry for me breastfeeding twins and also knows that I am going back to work then. I'm going to try and stick it out until 6 months if the girls are happy until then. I'm building a stockpile of breastmilk in the freezer now, so hopefully I will have lots saved up when I go back to work in September. I want to breastfeed them until they are at least a year old and would love to be able to skip formula, but I know that it will likely be hard to pump enough for 2 babies while working a full-time job.

Wow Kristi. Kudos to you for trying so hard to breastfeed your babies. Most moms would have probably given up, especially with twins.

Adam is happy again on just breastmilk. I didn't know if I could just stop with the cereal but apparently he doesn't mind at all.

[chri'stina 190]

Cindy and Manzar due the first week of march 2008!! Im speechless. Inshallah cont good health to us all

Congrats!!

[MrsAmera 41]

Hi everyone - so exciting in here it almost makes me want to have another baby but 2 is plenty for us! Back to the food issue. Khalil is 6 1/2 months and eats cereal+1/2 jar of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a bottle. He started eating solids around 3 or 4 months as he has had a lot of problems with formula. He can only eat rice cereal - oatmeal makes him throw up. He is still spitting up a lot of formula and for awhile wasn't gaining any weight, that's why we started on the solids. I also thought if we gave him cereal he would sleep all night - oh no. He has slept all night MAYBE 3 or 4 times and it is sooooo hard for us. Both my husband and I are exhausted and him getting up at night is not helping! I wish I could figure out how to get him to sleep all night but no luck. He hasn't gotten any teeth yet either. So back to my question - anyone have tips on how to get them to sleep? I've tried letting him cry himself to sleep which worked amazing with my first - no luck. We have to swaddle him and rock/sing him to sleep because he refuses to go to sleep otherwise.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Hi everyone - so exciting in here it almost makes me want to have another baby but 2 is plenty for us! Back to the food issue. Khalil is 6 1/2 months and eats cereal+1/2 jar of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a bottle. He started eating solids around 3 or 4 months as he has had a lot of problems with formula. He can only eat rice cereal - oatmeal makes him throw up. He is still spitting up a lot of formula and for awhile wasn't gaining any weight, that's why we started on the solids. I also thought if we gave him cereal he would sleep all night - oh no. He has slept all night MAYBE 3 or 4 times and it is sooooo hard for us. Both my husband and I are exhausted and him getting up at night is not helping! I wish I could figure out how to get him to sleep all night but no luck. He hasn't gotten any teeth yet either. So back to my question - anyone have tips on how to get them to sleep? I've tried letting him cry himself to sleep which worked amazing with my first - no luck. We have to swaddle him and rock/sing him to sleep because he refuses to go to sleep otherwise.

Have you tried sorghum/millet (sold in desi grocers as ragi)?

[Lizzy 0]

Hi everyone - so exciting in here it almost makes me want to have another baby but 2 is plenty for us! Back to the food issue. Khalil is 6 1/2 months and eats cereal+1/2 jar of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a bottle. He started eating solids around 3 or 4 months as he has had a lot of problems with formula. He can only eat rice cereal - oatmeal makes him throw up. He is still spitting up a lot of formula and for awhile wasn't gaining any weight, that's why we started on the solids. I also thought if we gave him cereal he would sleep all night - oh no. He has slept all night MAYBE 3 or 4 times and it is sooooo hard for us. Both my husband and I are exhausted and him getting up at night is not helping! I wish I could figure out how to get him to sleep all night but no luck. He hasn't gotten any teeth yet either. So back to my question - anyone have tips on how to get them to sleep? I've tried letting him cry himself to sleep which worked amazing with my first - no luck. We have to swaddle him and rock/sing him to sleep because he refuses to go to sleep otherwise.

I was told that the worst thing i could do was rock my first to sleep, as then they always rely on that to sleep, i was lucky Emily slept through at 3 months. I would not recommend the leaving them to cry method as i think thats a bit cruel, after all thats the only way they can tell you they need anything.

I made sure she had all needed and then she just fell asleep, pure luck i am sure. The baby whisperer book was a life saver for me, maybe that would be the way to go. Heres to lots more sleep! Good Luck!

[sara535 15]

well, my method with my son sucked. I let him sleep with me, which unfortunately continued off and on until he was like 6. I wouldnt recommend it (LOL) and I am not going to do it with this one,thats for sure.

However, I TRIED the letting him cry it out plan once and I hated it. He cried for 6 hours, all night, and I just thought no way, I cant do it. I guess thats why he was still slithering into my room at the age of 5 or 6....

so no, I dont have any helpful ideas but I will watch to see if anyone else does

[anxious 0]

Cindy and Manzar due the first week of march 2008!! Im speechless. Inshallah cont good health to us all

Welcome to the baby club!!! Congrats!!!

[dalegg 143]

Has anyone tried using "FAM" (Fertility Awareness Method) to predict the best days to achieve pregnancy? Does it actually work?

[Savanphil 3]

Savanphil/Tonya--Glad that your little Zakery and you are o.k. What a scary time you went through!

One of my twins(Haneul) was in the NICU for 12 days with a group B Strep infection and I had a hard time building up my milk supply since we got off to a poor start breastfeeding with her. Her sister had a good start, fortunately, but I still had to work to get my supply up for 2 after Haneul ended up getting a fair amount of formula.

Question: Did you get a prescription for a breast pump (like the Medela Pump In Style)? You should be able to get a free breast pump because you had a baby in the NICU. If you didn't, you may be able to get reimbursed retroactively.

Also, if you can, ask a lactation consultant about fenugreek or alfalfa pills. I've used both and found that alfalfa seems to work best for me. They are just herbal supplements, so most people say they are o.k. to use. You should ask because you had a preemie if they are safe though.

Kristi

Hi Kristi,

I am happy that the twins are doing well, thank you so much for the advice

I have a Madela Lactina Select, it is a rental my insurance covered it. Before I was discharged The hospital arranged for it as well as all of my other home care. Eventually I will have to return it. I hope that my insurance covers it when I have to buy one. I need something to increase my milk supply, I had heard about the Fenugreek being used. honestly I need to increase my pumping sessions....I don't pump every 3 hours as suggested. I only pump 3-4 times a day:blush: I will ask the lacation consultant about taking the hebs to help my supply.