Baby Corner

[chnst 6]

wow there... I was talking about parents magazine, not parenting. 2 different magazines. They actually do address the delayed schedule and adverse vax reactions. Sorry I offended you. will never share again.

[tnh9479 1]

The twins go Tuesday for their 15 month appointment. I was talking to my mom today and I remembered we delayed one of their 12 month vaccines because they got the second H1N1 that day. So...Tuesday night could be fun. I am interested in seeing how tall Hana is. When she stands next to Zak, she is easily 1 to 1.5 inches taller. At her 12 mo appt she was either 33 or 34 inches. I know she has grown since then because she can reach things she wasn't able to before. My good friend at school hopes she keeps getting taller. He said he is reserving a place on our volleyball team for her.

[Eveline 9]

@Chnst: Sorry, my bad. I thought it was the same.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Just curious if you have a link to that article Ev? I cant see how someone can say one would save money by asking a ped for coupons over breastfeeding. On the other hand, being a parent to a formula fed child, I think that is great advice because I didnt know that Peds had samples laying around their office and coupons as well until Zaid was almost 9 months old. Could have saved me alot of money seeing his formula was 30$ a can.

[Eveline 9]

Here's the article: http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Work--Family/Save-on-the-Top-3-New-Baby-Expenses

It's the 'eating up the budget' part that really irks me.

[Susita 175]

Hey guys

Thanks for all the congratulations! She came out screaming, a whole 8 lbs, 1 oz... 20" long! I did have a VBAC but man oh man was it crazy. I think I have just as many stitches as I would have had with my c-section. I got to the hospital Tuesday night and when the resident checked me I was 3cm. I was still going to have my c-section, but when my doc came in to check me again, I was 7 CM ALREADY! It was like an hour later. I was suffering in pain and the resident convinced me to try a VBAC, in part because they could get my epidural going right away and I was going nuts, I had major back labor. When I finally got to 10, I pushed for 4 HOURS and she wouldn't come out, my doc had to use the vacuum to help me out. I have a 4th degree tear/episiotomy because my pelvis was tilted and she couldn't get through. It was so bad I got a fever and so did Anna. The baby did too and she's in the NICU now getting antibiotics because we most likely got an infection during labor after my water broke. I was on IV antibiotics for 48 hours too.

I still feel the recovery is much easier than a c-section but the initial pain and stuff was SOOOO much worse.

I'm pumping like a crazy woman but she still needs to be supplemented with formula. Initially I was against it, but she's HUNGRY and this pump gets barely anything out. The lactation consultant said that I probably wouldn't get much with the pump at first, and that it's no real indication of what the baby is actually getting. And since I can't be there at the NICU to nurse her on demand all the time, I said ok. The good thing is she still latches on when I am there and nurses for like a whole hour, so there's no nipple confusion. She even takes a binky too. I am there for about 3 feedings a day and I pump at home every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night. I freeze whatever I get and bring it in to them, but she's not satisfied with that. Good thing is my milk should be coming in any day now and it most likely will coincide with when she comes home.

I'm proud of myself I didn't think I could do it!

[Staashi 371]

Just curious if you have a link to that article Ev? I cant see how someone can say one would save money by asking a ped for coupons over breastfeeding. On the other hand, being a parent to a formula fed child, I think that is great advice because I didnt know that Peds had samples laying around their office and coupons as well until Zaid was almost 9 months old. Could have saved me alot of money seeing his formula was 30$ a can.

I didn't know that I could ask my pediatrician or my obstetrician about coupons until someone told me later on. Since Enzo tried so many formulas, it would have been helpful as it would have saved me LOADS of money on what turned out to be wasted formula. I did finally contact Similac one time and they sent me various trial cans to see what would work with Enzo. It was a great help as it did take time. Fortunately, he loved the soy milk formula from Target - $13.49 a can. We now give him whole milk and he loves it, but soy at bedtime - then he won't suffer from gas.

[Staashi 371]

Hey guys

Thanks for all the congratulations! She came out screaming, a whole 8 lbs, 1 oz... 20" long! I did have a VBAC but man oh man was it crazy. I think I have just as many stitches as I would have had with my c-section. I got to the hospital Tuesday night and when the resident checked me I was 3cm. I was still going to have my c-section, but when my doc came in to check me again, I was 7 CM ALREADY! It was like an hour later. I was suffering in pain and the resident convinced me to try a VBAC, in part because they could get my epidural going right away and I was going nuts, I had major back labor. When I finally got to 10, I pushed for 4 HOURS and she wouldn't come out, my doc had to use the vacuum to help me out. I have a 4th degree tear/episiotomy because my pelvis was tilted and she couldn't get through. It was so bad I got a fever and so did Anna. The baby did too and she's in the NICU now getting antibiotics because we most likely got an infection during labor after my water broke. I was on IV antibiotics for 48 hours too.

I still feel the recovery is much easier than a c-section but the initial pain and stuff was SOOOO much worse.

First and foremost - congrats on your little beauty! She looks like Luis. Which is just what every mother wants to hear after 9 months of cooking her.

On the other hand to what's in the bold post ---- Damn, Susita!!! That's f'd up. I can't imagine the tears you are shedding every time you have to teetee. My sister tore like a b!tch with her first one - doctor didn't realize the babies shoulders were so big - so no episiotomy. He came out like a linebacker and tore her to bits. Now that she's done having babies, the doctor will actually have to go in and repair her because it messed up her bladder wall so bad that she leaks urine.

After reading your story, I'm so glad I had my c-section. I like my playground and I'm so glad it's still intact - and I just can't imagine the world of hurt. TMI - I know, but damn - makes you cross your legs just thinking about it.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Susita, 4 hours!!! Good gawd. I thought the 2.5 I pushed Zaid out were bad! Im glad little Anna is here and doing well. She sure is a cutie!!

I also tore and had an episiotomy and It took me about 10 days to heal. I couldnt sit and had a hard time standing the first 3 days. The doc prescribed me meds but they flared up my stomach so bad I couldnt take anything except regular tylenol

[tnh9479 1]

I was lucky. My pediatrician gave me TONS of free formula and coupons every visit from visit one. His head nurse also talked to the formula rep and got me two cases of formula for free (they took pity on the twin momma). BTW...a lot of times they have pedialyte and tylenol/motrin samples as well. They have given me all sorts of stuff. Don't be afraid to ask.

Wow Susita...that was a lot of tearing. One friend of mine ended up with a 100 stitches after the birth of her first child. I am surprised after her experience that she is pregnant again and due in about two months. Another friend of mine ended up having a vacuum extraction and never tore at all. It is just amazing how every birth can be sooooo different!

[Eveline 9]

Congrats again Susita and sorry you had to go through so much pain and intervention.

With Adam I pushed 6hours with one hour rest in between so it was 'only' 5 hours of pushing and a c/s in the end. With Allie I did get an episiotomy (3rd degree) with no anaesthesia as there was no time. My husband almost fainted when he saw the blood come out and he couldn't believe that I didn't feel any pain. The stitching up hurt but I got a shot to numb the area before that. It still hurt a little bit. After all I'd take the episiotomy over 32 hours of labor and a c/s any day.

[Anna C. 4]

@ Susita: Congratz and speedy recovery! I hope your little girl can come home soon!

The episiotomy stinks, but I hope you'll recover soon. I didn't have it that bad, I had two 2nd degree tears that never felt worse than being sore from doing sports (Jona was under 6 pounds, but he was posterior throughout labor, hence the back labor, and didn't turn completely and had a nuchal hand in front of his face when he came out). They healed in no time. I did do a lot of sitzbathing though and I put my postpartum pads soaked with witch hazel water in the fridge.... That way it's nice and cool and it really helps!

Oh and like Evi's husband, DH was surprised I didn't feel the tearing - my midwife did give me a shot of lidocaine though right before crowning, but one tear was labial were I had no lidocaine, but all the pressure numbed me up. He was pretty pale and thought I was super injured... But I guess it looks worse than it is!

Are you using your Medela PIS? For the first days I'd recommend to borrow a hospital grade pump (Medela or Ameda), you lactation consultant should know where to do that. They are way stronger than home pumps and since your little one is in the NICU most insurance companies will pay for renting a pump. I had to use one of those the first 10 days or so, because Jona was too tiny to latch on and we pumped and then fed it in a SNS system (it's like a silicone tube you attach to your finger or nipple) and then we went on to the nipple shield and then to normal nursing. The first day I had like drops only, but within 4 days I got 10 oz per pumping (5oz on each side after 10 mins!). My MIL was flabbergasted at the gallons of milk we had in the fridge, lol.

@ chnst: ugh I didn't realize either that there are two different magazines! I just hated Parents or whichever one the one is that they send you for free with all my heart It even had an article that advised CIO on 8 week old babies. That was the trigger for me to finally get rid of it. I don't subscribe to any magazines anymore.... There was always too much controversy!

My husband doesn't want the MMR at all, but I want measles, so we will get that particular shot in Germany since singles are available there. I asked my parent's doc back home and she said it's 47 Euros for the shot and then like 10 Euros doctor's fee for it. Maybe something to consider for you guys too since I remember you wanted them as singles, but then Merck decided to stop that.

About the article: what irks me is that it is a breastfeeding article - which is hard enough as it is with so little support around here (e.g. Jona was gaining weight like crazy after his low birth weight, yet the ped wanted me to give him formula - he gained 1lb a week and was within 8 weeks in the 99th percentile of weight, so please, give me a break you dbag of ped!). A breastfeeding article shouldn't talk about formula. Moms who are set on it have so many obstacles already.... DH's family mostly nursed their kids, but never longer than 6 months (apart from hippie aunti who nursed hers for 4 years), so as soon as he hit 6 months everyone tried to stuff my kid's face with solids and wanted me to buy formula. I had a wonderful supply, why wasting money on formula then? Plus he always was huge, so he was getting enough! I just think such articles should set out to really help mothers, and not to undermine breastfeeding efforts. It is fine to post the coupon info in the formula section, how about an article how to save on formula? There a journalist could compile all the information needed.

Edited April 18, 2010 by Anna C.

[chnst 6]

wow Susita, what a crazy story. You can definitely be proud of yourself!! I feel bad for the tear, holy cow that shouldn't happen to anyone. I hope they give you lots of pain meds. I had a episiotomy but don't remember being in a lot of pain from that. I was in more pain from breastfeeding and my pelvic separation but they gave me tons of oxycodone, I guess that took care of the episiotomy.

I wish you all the best, hope you can take Anna home soon! Stinks that they don't let moms room in at the NICU's here. I never understood that. Are the boys excited about her little sister? I bet they can't wait to meet her.

[chnst 6]

Parents is actually a decent read, my Inlaws gave us a subscription. I don't have enough time to read it every month but so far I was never disappointed. They don't just write bs about their own personal experiences with their 1 or 2 own children. They actually research, cite ressources and give you mostly unbiased facts. They had a very neat article on pediatric pain management a few months ago. Last month they had a really good one about constipation, I hope our pediatric gastroenterologist has read it.

What annoys me is when people think they need to tell other parents what they think is right, based on their own very limited experience as parents.

I do not believe in injecting 8 vaccines into a newborn infant, but on the other hand I strongly believe vaccines are absolutely essential. It is so hard to find accurate and un-biased facts. I think they did a good job with the article. It makes me feel a lot better about the MMR.

We just hung out with friends whose little boy (he is 13 months) has been battling cancer since he was 6 months old. He never had a chance to get most vaccines and now that he just got a liver transplant his life depends on healthy people getting their vaccines up to date. A case of chicken pox could actually be fatal for him.

[Nizzy 1]

Parents is actually a decent read, my Inlaws gave us a subscription. I don't have enough time to read it every month but so far I was never disappointed. They don't just write bs about their own personal experiences with their 1 or 2 own children. They actually research, cite ressources and give you mostly unbiased facts. They had a very neat article on pediatric pain management a few months ago. Last month they had a really good one about constipation, I hope our pediatric gastroenterologist has read it.

What annoys me is when people think they need to tell other parents what they think is right, based on their own very limited experience as parents.

I do not believe in injecting 8 vaccines into a newborn infant, but on the other hand I strongly believe vaccines are absolutely essential. It is so hard to find accurate and un-biased facts. I think they did a good job with the article. It makes me feel a lot better about the MMR.

We just hung out with friends whose little boy (he is 13 months) has been battling cancer since he was 6 months old. He never had a chance to get most vaccines and now that he just got a liver transplant his life depends on healthy people getting their vaccines up to date. A case of chicken pox could actually be fatal for him.

There was actually and episode of law & order about a case like this. Very sad. Oh and I love Parents magazine. Very informative articles.

@Susita: I was cringing while reading your post. It brought back memories. Although, the end product is muy adorable! Congrats! She is too cute.

My ped gave us cans of similac but Eman ended up being allergic. He was able to take Bright Beginnings and I lucked out cause if you buy from their website you get it for real cheap.