Baby Corner

[Fandango 1,440]

Joyce, I had to LOL at your vision of what motherhood was gonna be like. I had one too, which involved total breastfeeding, him sleeping thru the night, and me getting 'rest' from my hectic work schedule while I was 'just a SAHM'. What was I thinking? LOL

Now, I'm no expert, in fact I'm more of an 'on the job trainee' but my doc told me to feed Nick every 2 hours. I don't know how I could have handled spacing it out longer. Even now, he's a week from being 4 mos, and he doesn't go 4 hours between feedings. He does, however, now sleep 8-10 hours straight (thank you Jesus!).

Regarding your little adorable one (I can't believe how much she looks like your hubby btw)....Nick would cry and fuss and thrash around about an hour after he ate, even did the hand to mouth thing, and for a while I was wondering if he was colic. But he didn't fit the colic criteria, though he was totally fussy. This was when we needed to start supplementing with formula, as he wasn't gaining weight. We had initially gotten the Tommy Tippee bottles, as they are the 'closest to nature' wrt resembling a woman's breast, as we primarily wanted to BF and were concerned about nipple confusion. And the burping! omG! it was out of control! Very hard to burp him, but he had massive man burps when they did come up.

Docs put him on Gentlease, which is partially pre-digested formula...it's like the middle step between regular formula and Nutramigen. We then ran into SEVERE constipation, where he was totally impacted. My heart broke for my little boy, it was so painful for him. And we still had the thrashing about, 1 hour after he ate, still the hard gas (burping), etc. Between appts, my mother contacted her friend google and did some info recon for us. First thing we did was change his bottle to Dr Brown's. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! The burping was easier, totally less than what he normally did, and he seemed happier. We also did have to put him on the Nutramigen for the constipation. But that left his trashing about and crying. I mistook his crying sometimes for hunger, and he would sometimes eat an oz or two an hour later. Anyway, my mother and her friend google found something interesting, called Silent Reflux. Turns out, it's acid reflux for babies, and happens after they eat. Due to the burning, they arch their backs - whether in your arms or in the crib.

Basically, they have reflux, but instead of spitting up, they swallow it back down when the stomach acid comes up, leaving a perpetual burning in their stomach and esophagus because it burns as it comes up and then again as it goes back down. Because of this, he wanted to be fed more, because the formula would 'coat' the acidy feel in his throat.

We happened across info that holding him like a 'football' face down after hour eating is a good way to help him. And keeping him upright immediately after feedings works best too. I don't think his case is severe...they do have meds for it...but on the next docs appt, we talked to her about it, she confirmed he probs has it, but she doesn't believe in meds for babies. Nor do I actually. So we are on the same page with my treatment plan (repositioning, soothing). She also said that as he gets bigger and the stomach repositions itself, he will most probs grow out of it.

It's gotten a lot better since then...he doesn't look to eat so often, he seems way happier, etc.

So now, with Nutramigen, Dr Brown's, and the football pose, he is happier, in way less pain, pooping normally, but not wanting to feed so often.

I have no clue if S.R. what you're dealing with, and I totally don't want to be an armchair pediatrician...but see if she has any of those symptoms and talk to your doc about it. The poop issue was a seperate issue, the gas might be better with Doc Brown, but wanting to eat every hour and the fussiness might be a sign of S.R., which can be managed effectively.

_______________

Btw, thank you all for your wonderful comments about Nicholas. And Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Edited January 1, 2011 by Lisa C

[CarolineM 0]

Hi all -

I haven't been around in ages, but am back on VJ since DH Is filing for naturalization finally. We needed to save up the money!

Anyway we had twin girls in September, so I can finally participate in this thread! looking forward to chatting.

[chnst 6]

Happy new years mommies! I worked my 3rd 12 hours shift in a row yesterday and was feeling kinda crampy and achy all day, so when my coworker saw me bend over in pain every few minutes she made me go over to L&D and get on the monitor. I was so embarrassed because I wasn't really that uncomfortable. And I couldn't believe it but I was having contractions every 5 minutes. So I rang in the new year in the hospital getting re-hydrated. I wasn't even all that uncomfortable but the baby's heart rate was in the 90ies and low 100's for a while with the contractions so I had to stay there for a few hours. Thank God his heart rate went back to normal and started to be more reactive.

My OB put me on bedrest but I only have today off- I have to work tomorrow and no sick days. But I feel a lot better today I think it was just stress, didn't drink enough and being on my feet for so many hours. Baby is still tansverse but very active, I hope I can make it a few more weeks!! I am totally unprepared for going into premature labor!

Joyce- Madeline is so cute! some babies are born "snackers" but in your case it sounds like it is wearing you out and you have to do something about it. I am totally against letting a baby cry it out, but I would not give in that easily because she does have some food in her tummy from the last "micro-feed" (lol) Try to distract her give her a paci, play with her and stretch it out, even if it means that she has to cry for a few minutes (not hours and not really bad screaming on top of her lungs) but it WILL get better. If you keep feeding her micro feeds will probably make this a habit and you will be completely worn out and unable to have a life or work/sleep etc.

I doubt that you will get her on a strict 4 hour schedule anytime soon, but if you get a decent feed in every 3 hours and then maybe top her off with another ounce about 3o min later (during the daytime) that should make her go longer. Also I talk to parents every day who say that the baby just won't take more than a few sips when they actually would drink the whole bottle. Try to analyze the situation- is she really hungry? Is there any way that you can delay the feeding a few more minutes by changing her, playing/cuddling etc?

Then how do you hold the bottle? A lot of new parents hold the bottle at the bottom. Get your hand as close to the nipple as you can- that gives you more control and feels more stable for the baby. I think that babies automatically drink more when you have a good technique of holding the bottle. Also, burp in between to get air out and to make her feel less full but don't draw out the feeding time too long. try to support her chin with one finger when you give her the bottle. Good luck, hang in there mommy it takes a while to establish a good routine!

I had a similar problem with Ben he wanted to nurse every 15 minutes during the night and it took me very long to realize that I could have either continued this for months or years and be a huge mess and completely burned out or I had to take some control and say no, find compromises and just delay delay delay his feedings until it got better for all of us because a stressed out mommy does not make a happy baby.

[Nikita2Charles 32]

Congratulations on the little ones.

Hi all -

I haven't been around in ages, but am back on VJ since DH Is filing for naturalization finally. We needed to save up the money!

Anyway we had twin girls in September, so I can finally participate in this thread! looking forward to chatting.

[Nikita2Charles 32]

Thans Zaid and Tracy, Thanks for the Amazon.com link, it's still there on their website for the same price.

One question I have, with the rail up on all side how difficult is it to set the baby and picking him from the crib?

i have the storkcraft monique...Ordered it from walmart.com and it was only 134$. I believe its still on their site. I love the crib. no complaints at all

[tnh9479 1]

It's not hard because there are different mattress levels. When they are newborn you can have it on the highest setting and get them no problem. We had a drop-side crib and never dropped it.

[anya-D 8]

Happy 2011 ladies!!!

I'm back in the USA and we (Sam and I) had a great time in Thailand. Sam was GREAT on the plane and didnt have any problem with the pressure even without the nursing.. he was just greet and flirt with everyone. The basinet was such a great help and Sam slept in it (he doesnt like sleeping on me anymore ) the longest flight was 17 hrs and he did great. he didnt like to nurse on the plane though, probably becsaue he hates the cover and he's more interested in other people. I love Korean air, they are so helpful. The people on the flight were very helpful too and some would take Sam away so I could eat..

The grandparesnts were in heaven with 2 grandsons (my sister's baby is 2 months younger than Sam) and I was so happy to get to eat real Thai food again. I ate so much but I lost like 5 lbs!! WHOO!! I didnt get to go places much but that's not the main reason for the trip. Sam got bit by mosquitos so much thouhg,.. he also got a huge rash from one of the mosquito bite it was so scary looking. I was conceren that it would bother him but it didnt.. my baby is a tough boy! Also from a cold weather to hot to very hot to extreamly cold weather, Sam did just fine and didnt get sick at all... i'm so proud of him.

on our way back on the 26th we got stuck in NY for 5 days becasue the blizzard We arrived in NY after about 22 hrs of flight and our flight got cancelled so we found a hotel and stayed there until the 30th. Good thing Sam is breathfeeding so I didnt have any problem with his food, but mine since the only food around were chinese takeout! We were so cold becasue I didnt pack any warm cloth and I didnt have my checked luggages (useless even if I do anyway, all warm weather cloth) and in the blizzard trying to get a taxi to the hotel, I thought Sam was going to freeze to death. Thank goodness we had a room or I couldnt imagine me and Sam on the airport floor!!! So this trip was longer than expected but thank goodness I got home before new year. I will never fly through the northern states in winter again!!

Sam is now 6 months old and he's super friendly, flirty and so sociable!! he can sit unsupported now and such a happy child. I'm soooo happy he's such a happy child or I wouldnt be able to deal with the trip and our ordeal!!!

[Anna C. 4]

@ Anya: Sounds like a good flight. It really isn't that bad to fly with an infant who isn't walking yet!

@ Joyce: I just saw that diaperjunction has Grovias on sale, in case you need more....

I went to the chiro yesterday and my lower back/hips do feel better, but she also adjusted something along my shoulder blades and my muscles hurt there now... I don't know if I should go back or rather just have a prenatal massage.... $40 a pop is quite expensive and my insurance doesn't cover chiro care at all.

[Nizzy 1]

Welcome back Anya! I am so glad that you didn't have trouble and everything went smoothly (minus the getting stranded in cold weather without winter gear).

Ladies, I am in full workout mode. Eman is going to be 4 in February and I don't want to wait any longer to give him a sibling. I was honesetly waiting for hubby and I to be on the same page about it and he had a sit down with me and told me he is ready. Although it freaks me out to think of doing it all over again, Eman is getting pretty independent and that helps ease some of my nerves. I just want to lose some weight and be a tad bit healthier. Ofcourse, I swear that I won't pig out during this pregnancy but I don't see that happening : ) So I don't want to go into it already being unhealthy. I am giving myself a good 2-3 months! I am super excited!

[Nizzy 1]

I don't know why it posted twice...delete!

Edited January 4, 2011 by Nizzy

[chnst 6]

Ben had his surgery this am and all went well, we are home already! We were the first ones on the schedule at 0630 this am. It took him a long time to calm down after he woke up I never saw him scream like that. He was so upset about the IV, that was his biggest problem. I don't think he has even noticed the bandage on his neck yet. The doc said everything looked ok underneath, and he sent it to the right pathologist. The whole procedure took maybe 45min. I'm so happy it's over, I am just praying that it will come back normal.

Nizzy: yay I am so excited for you, good luck with everything!! I am trying to eat well too but it's really hard when you have this huge belly and I am always hungry! It doesn't really hit you until you step on the scale for the first time after you give birth... I hope I will lose it as quick this time again.

[TracyTN 237]

. He said she shouldn't need to eat much more often than every four hours. So, basically I need to toughen up and stop the micro-feeding so that she'll be good and hungry (the pediatrician's words) and down a normal feeding without falling asleep. This means that she's going to throw a fit initially. I'm supposed to implement it by waiting at least a half hour to feed her when she gets the hungry fussiness going, gradually stretching the periods so that there are four hours between feedings. This is going to suck. Has anyone dealt with something similar? The doc's advice makes perfect sense, I just don't know how I'm going to deal with baby's crying. Overall, her sleep patterns are moving toward nighttime, so I'm grateful for that. But I'm so damn tired. And the burping! Oy, the burping!

I agree with the PP who said 4 hours is a long time. Another verbosity alert before you continue

At the hospital, the nurses told us to make Emily wait 4 hours between bottles. In fact, damn near insisted on it. This worked to a point when she was so brand new and sleeping so much; but about a week after we got her home, we were about convinced she had colic because of the uncontrollable crying she'd do about 2 1/2 hours into that 4 hour gap.

Desperate, hubby read a book we'd been given (for free) from Publix from the American Pediatrics association which suggested the 'feed on demand' regime, and how some babies are just that way. The minute we started feeding on demand, our lives became MUCH much easier, and we had a very happy baby to boot. Obviously, you can't feed on demand forever, and we've been stressed about breaking her from that. But since we started cereal, we've been able to stick much more closely to a breakfast, lunch, dinner/bedtime bottle routine so all our stress about breaking her from it was unfounded. Babies just figure it out somehow - the damnest thing!

Your sweetie sounds a little more like a 'grazer' as you described, which obviously isn't optimal. At her age, I would shoot for 2 hours between feedings and see how that goes. 4 hours to me - at her age and with her eating habits - sounds crazy. But as a first time mom, take that 'advice' for what it's worth.

As an aside on another point - I don't know how you managed to work from home and care for her as long as you have!!! I used to work from home 1 day a week for convenience sake. Now I don't unless I'm ill or Emily has a dr appt or something. Even though hubby is looking after her, I still focus in too much on her if she's crying or whatnot where I'm not focusing on work. I just basically cannot work from home anymore and be productive.

Thans Zaid and Tracy, Thanks for the Amazon.com link, it's still there on their website for the same price.

One question I have, with the rail up on all side how difficult is it to set the baby and picking him from the crib?

As a PP said, it isn't difficult at all given the mattress height. I really love that crib. HTH!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Stef, ill be praying for you guys <3 Glad today went well for Ben.

Nizzy. I was sooooooooo hell bent on losing weight before getting pregnant but didnt. But as soon as I was pregnant I commited to being healthy and while I didnt work out at all I walked and ate different. I have lost 6lbs to date this pregnancy. So the way i see it, once baby + fluids + placenta/afterbirth comes out, I should be about 20lbs lighter than I was before I ever got pregnant Im so happy about that. Good luck! You can do it.

Im officially so DONE being pregnant. My back is killing me and my pelvic bones hurt so bad. Tomorrow I have another OB appt and am doing the GBS test then (I thought it was last week, guess not.) I am thinking they will probably want me to do a NST and might even examine me. Cant believe that in a week and a half im officially "full term"

[MARM 7]

Ben had his surgery this am and all went well, we are home already! We were the first ones on the schedule at 0630 this am. It took him a long time to calm down after he woke up I never saw him scream like that. He was so upset about the IV, that was his biggest problem. I don't think he has even noticed the bandage on his neck yet. The doc said everything looked ok underneath, and he sent it to the right pathologist. The whole procedure took maybe 45min. I'm so happy it's over, I am just praying that it will come back normal.

Nizzy: yay I am so excited for you, good luck with everything!! I am trying to eat well too but it's really hard when you have this huge belly and I am always hungry! It doesn't really hit you until you step on the scale for the first time after you give birth... I hope I will lose it as quick this time again.

Glad that the surgery went well! Hope that Ben recovers soon and that the pathology report comes back normal.

Nizzy: Kudos to you! In a perfect world I too wanted to get into shape prior to being pregnant. But trying to get pregnant itself becamse stressful as we tried for about 9 months and then had our miracle. I didn't gain any weight until this week, and now I am hungry all the time. It was hard for me to imagine being hungry all the time at first and I was glad that my diet was in control, but now, it's crazy, I want to eat all the time! After the baby it will be serious exercise for me! (And I hope that I can bf so that would be an added benefit).

[Eveline 9]

Steffi: So glad everything went ok. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the biopsy results come back negative.