Baby Corner

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Ahhh I wish I had the confidence Anna, Im still pumping every 2-3 hours and Im now getting about 1oz between both breasts as opposed to 1/2oz but Im wondering when and if my supply will increase. Ive been pumping non stop, today is the 4th day. I know that my best bet is to breastfeed her but I just dont think its something I want to do. If my supply doesnt increase in the next week I will call a lactaction specialist.

So about 2 weeks ago my sisters son had RSV pretty bad. Well, my sister came in this past weekend (about 13 days after her son was diagnosed) and while her son was fine, (just had a little congestion) my sister and her fiance had boogery noses. Well, like any new mom, Im kinda freaking out. I know RSV is really dangerous for newborns and im panicky as hell. lol. I did my best to keep my house sanitized while they were here but I cant help but freak everytime salma or Zaid sneezes. I wonder how long I will have to worry? They were here Friday and Saturday so its been about 3-4 days since exposure but I cant help but worry that Zaid is gonna come down with something, or even worse, Salma.

Edited February 15, 2011 by ZaidsMommy

[Jenn! 918]

Argh! Kelly, I would be kind of pissed if I were you. She should not have visited if an illness that serious had just been through the family, IMO. Maybe we were a little OTT about it though. I remember when Adam was a newborn, my mom wore a mask when visiting because someone who my sister went to school with had H1N1.

[TracyTN 237]

@ Tracy: I'm sorry mamas treated you that way... That's really not helpful. I can't imagine how terrible it must have felt for you, it's really insensitive.

It's ok - happens all the time. LOL

I tried breastfeeding, but my son has a tongue-tie (we're getting it sorted soon hopefully, waiting on his doctor!) so I have expressed using a breast pump since day one. We had a very traumatic birth as well and breastfeeding was impossible for the first 10 days as he was in intensive care. I struggled with my c-section recovery too so pumping was much easier than dealing with a baby at the #######. He is now 4 months old and I'm still expressing for him. In my opinion it doesn't matter how he's getting my milk, as long as he is getting it! I am definitely in the mindset that formula is "okay", but you cannot beat the benefits of breast milk. I've even received 80oz of free donor milk because I refuse to give him formula when my milk supply drops.

I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, but that "okay" in reference to formula is another example of the attitude I see running rampant in new parent circles. If formula were simply "okay" (which to me implies it must in some way deprive infants of what they need to grow healthily), then there's no way women would ever choose it, or find it an acceptable replacement if they can't physically breastfeed like me. If I had any reason to believe that formula feeding a baby would somehow put a child at risk, or 'behind' in growth and development - quite frankly, I wouldn't have gotten pregnant.

I found this article quite interesting -and don't let the title put you off - I agree it sounds anti breast feeding but isn't. It's a pretty thorough discussion of the breast vs. formula question.

http://www.theatlant...t-feeding/7311/

Edited February 15, 2011 by TracyTN

[Staashi 371]

I love that article and have since it was published.

[Anna C. 4]

@ Kelly: I'd be mad too. The incubation period is 4-6 days, so if your kids are fine after those days, you are in the clear. But most people have had RSV by age 3, so most likely your sister had a regular cold and not RSV. Still a cold stinks especially with a new baby. You can read more about RSV here: http://kids.emedtv.com/rsv/rsv.html, but since most people really go through it as kids it is really unlikely the adults brought it in.

It might be that the pump in style is not strong enough for the beginning to establish a supply, but I have never used it so I don't know - I rented a hospital grade Ameda pump when Jona was first born and that thing was quite a "sucker", really strong. The amounts you pump aren't bad, don't be discouraged, it's a great start. Did you try warm compresses or a warm shower right before you pump? Heat gets the milk flowing.

[Jenn! 918]

That article is definitely considered anti-breastfeeding in the "pro-breastfeeding circles".

[TracyTN 237]

Is it really? I didn't see it that way. It left some open ended questions in my mind, on both sides.

Edited February 15, 2011 by TracyTN

[Jenn! 918]

I had to pump in the first couple of weeks to help get my supply moving, as Adam was jaundiced. I remember the first week only pumping maybe 1 oz. total per session. I didn't have to pump after that first week, but I know that by 4 weeks or so I was pumping at least 5 oz. per session. So I wouldn't expect very much at this point, Kelly.

[Eveline 9]

I can only speak for my group of moms, we have formula feeders and breastfeeders and we all get along with one another. I don't know if I just don't feel the 'hate' part because I was the one breastfeeding and I hope I never gave anyone the impression that they were 'less of a mother' for giving formula for whatever reason. If I did, it sure wasn't intentional. We have moms collecting coupons and samples of formula and giving it to the moms who need it. There's no bashing or whatnot.

So far, knock on wood my kids didn't have RSV...and if they did then I didn't notice (if that is even an option).

[Ontarkie 14,383]

I was the only one in my family that breastfed, my sister did bottles. My mother did bottles when she had us, along with every other relative so I had the opposite problem. When I started with my first son I gave up too soon since I had no support what so ever. It was hard enough being a teenage mom. When I had my second son I was determined to not give in so easy. It turn out my son was a natural and he knew what he was doing. The nurses I had that time was great support. I had to do some pumping since he was jaundice but I tried real hard to get to the hospital for all the day feedings. Once he was home I just had to deal with the weird ppl in my family who were not comfortable with me breastfeeding. They got over it fast cause I didn't give em a choice. I never once thought any less of formula, for me it was just more work. I experienced both ways and I hope after all these years that when this baby is born I can breastfeed again. I find too many ppl like to stick their nose where it doesn't belong and can't for the life of me figure out why they can't just be happy for new moms. I've noticed that my tolerance of rude ppl is none existent these days so I can guarantee if someone pulls that ####### with me they will get an earful.

As for less allergies and such I don't think anything I could do would lesson the risk of allergies in my kids. I am literally allergic to everything. And I'm not exaggerating. I have four Kids, I haven't had all of them tested, but 2 are asthmatic and have allergies the youngest seems to get some seasonal stuff and he has so far outgrown his asthma. So that's what 3 out of 4 with allergies I don't think some of these studies look at ppl like me.

Anyways thought I would share a bit of my thoughts. Good luck to all the new mommies and their precious babies.

[TracyTN 237]

^^Right on!! And I'm sorry you didn't have much support in your family for your choice to BF.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Well, the pumping is coming along slowly but surely. The last two pumps ive been able to get about 2 oza... an ounce from each breast. Hoping things just keep moving forward from here. I really enjoy doing it and I feel alot better knowing I could be preventing all those HORRIBLE gas and colic problems Zaid had. Its exhausting, but Im happy.

Salma sleeps almost all day, literally. Yesterday I had to wake her after 3.5 hours to eat. She isnt SUPER crabby at night but she isnt sleeping 3 hours stretches like she does during the day. She normally sleeps about an hour and ahalf and then wakes up whining, eat, diaper change, and normally a few minutes of rocking her and a paci and shes back asleep. I shouldnt complain, i know, but today im trying to let her nap in sunlight so maybe her body will regulate days and nights in the next week or two.

Im still worried about the RSV. Zaid has sneezed a couple times this morning so im just keeping an eye out. I hate having to worry about a newborn getting sick. Didnt realize how much easier it would be when you have a toddler in the house.

[Anna C. 4]

@ Kelly: that sounds great! Did you try some nursing tea too? They have it at my supermarket and for sure at any health food place... I mix my own and bought the herbs in bulk since we all like tea anyways (I mix in spearmint and rosehips for great flavor, and have chamomille in there too so Jona just drinks it with me - main ingredients are fennel and fennugreek, the latter increases milk and fennel helps with gassiness in kids)...

Eloise sleeps more during the day than night currently, and now I do remember that phase from Jona and how it just takes time... In utero they tend to sleep during daytime and be awake during night time, so it just takes a couple weeks to rewire... Eloise sleeps pretty well (3-4 hour stretches) until 4am, and then I have to hold her or she keeps waking up... rough right now, but it will get better. Jona always pooped very loud so I knew, but she poops mostly quietly so at night I have to keep checking cause I don't want her to sit in poop!!! Babies really are very different....

From what I've read about the RSV, it tends to be bad in preemies but kids who get it later just show like normal cold symptoms or so, so who knows, our kids might have had it.... Maybe call your pedi to ask what to look for or bring in a sample of Zaids saliva? Maybe it could be detected already, just to be on the safe side. I made them test me when I was sick to rule out strep... Just be really concerned and they usually give in....

I just dropped MIL off at the shuttle to the airport, Jona was quite sad! She did say though she can make it every 4-5 weeks for the weekends thanks to the buddy pass (so no flying costs) and rent a car on the United discount to spend the weekend with the kids, she really wants to. That's awesome!

We already got her social on Saturday, so sometime this week I'll head to Colorado to pick up a bunch of birth certificates (I can luckily get them at any office within the state, so no drive to Denver!) and tackle the passports (German and American) and enrolling her in military insurance (we get I think 60 days automatically but then you need a birth certificate to officially enroll kiddos)... I hate paperwork, yikes. My photographer friend will do the passport pics for me, yeah!

I goodness I forgot to mention something funny. So we went in for her 2 week checkup, and she's wearing pink pinker ueber pink, but is in a blue infant car seat from Jona (not gonna buy a new one!!!!)... And there is also a pink kitty blanket over her... But all people see is the blue car seat and ask Jona: oh is that your baby brother? And he says NO, Eloise, knowing it's a girl. Hahaha. It's just funny, it was pretty obvious to me that it is a girl in the car seat with all that pink. Oh well.

@ Ontarkie: My mom bottlefed but is now very supportive, everybody in hubbie's family breastfeeds, so the support is great. I'm however one of few to nurse at our military mom's group, but a lot of them work not so great jobs so they barely have leave let alone a place to pump... Nobody is weird to each other there, we even nurse without covers (cause we wear nursing clothes, you can't see a thing) and nobody is offended either way, whether you pop baby on the breast or whip out a bottle... It's very relaxed, plus we are in our own facility there not open to the public... Other groups I tried were less tolerant (there are a bunch of different military moms groups and then local groups), I had bad experiences there despite using a nursing cover and such, I was asked why I would still nurse a 9 months old, isn't that too old and such... Like said so many times, there's always people who are offended either way....

Oh and I also enjoy my MOPS group, everybody is supportive, but it's a very nice group of moms... I skipped today since I just dropped off MIL and JOna is said, so I don't want him in childcare for 3 hours, he might get unhappy. But he's great at shcool...

Edited February 16, 2011 by Anna C.

[chnst 6]

funny with the breastfeeding and that animosity amongst other moms. I had constantly felt that I had to justify why I was breastfeeding to family and friends. My friends tried but as soon as they were back at work the baby was bottlefed and I always got weird looks for breastfeeding past the 6 weeks because I was home with Ben.

Personally I don't care what people think about it, I'd always choose breast over bottle it's easier and cheaper. I'd never judge someone for formula feeding though. It's not like you're not a good mom for choosig that for your baby!

The only time I'd probably say something is when I see someone put soda in their newborns bottle (aka my mentally challenged sister in law) she actually stuffed turkey and mashed potatoes into her 8 week old babies mouth on thanksgiving.

Kelly: good job, so glad it's working for you! Hope everyone stays healthy in your house, RSV sucks for a newborn, just have people wash hands and don't let anyone who is sick near her.

@Anna: that would be nice if your MIL could come more often, you guys have no family around so that's a big help. I can't really picture myself juggling 2 kids yet, I hope it will all work out somehow. I have to say that it was definitely very good for Ben to be around his grandparents a lot when I went to school, he has such a great relationship with them now.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Speaking of sick babies...This is the second round of antibiotics this month for Sebas

At the beginning of the month he had a high fever that was not breaking after 5 days, so the doctor had him do a 5 day treatment with Azithromycin. Now, 10 days later...He is running a fever and very uncomfortable, I took him to the doctor...he has tonsilitis, and the doctor said he's got a lot of puss...blood work indicates a bacterial infection, so here we go again

Saludos,

Caro